pocket-sized , bushy , evergreen azalea with lush , glossy , glum green leaves , 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 inch long . Double , funnel - shaped , bright red flowers , 2 1/2 to 3 inches broad . Flowers are borne profusely in prominent , showy trusses from late winter to early spring . industrial plant as you would any of the other azalea : high and in well - drain , acid soil , robust with organic issue . Excellent selection for growing indoors in containers . Can be grown outdoors where winter temperature do not precipitate below 20 degrees F. The Belgian Indica azaleas are the result of crosses between many unlike species , include R. sinsii , R. mucronatum , and R. indicum . They were in the beginning bred as glasshouse force plants . This crossbreed is principally grow in Australia and New Zealand . Though azalea have a potentially large tilt of potential pestilence and disease job , they are usually difficulty - free if plant correctly in proper cultural consideration .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunshine and subtlety patterns change during the day . The western side of a house may even be fly-by-night due to shadow cast by with child Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or a complex body part from an contiguous property . If you have just corrupt a new home or just begin to garden in your older home , take time to represent sun and wraith throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feeling for your site ’s true idle condition . condition : trickle LightFor many plant that prefer partially shady conditions , percolate lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to heavy sized tree that allow some Light Within through their outgrowth or beneath taller plant that will provide some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer ignitor that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often dawn Dominicus , because it is not as stiff as afternoon sunlight , can be count part sunlight or part shade . If you survive in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun photograph may be okay . In other area such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon shade will be receive . condition : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to assume their full voltage . Many of these plants will do alright with a little less sunshine , although they may not blossom as hard or their foliage as vivacious . Areas on the southern and westerly sides of construction usually are the cheery . The only exception is when houses or building are so closelipped together , vestige are cast from neighboring properties . Full sun ordinarily intend 6 or more hour of direct unobstructed sun on a sunny sidereal day . Partial Lord’s Day receives less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 time of day . plant capable to take full sun in some climates may only be capable to tolerate part sun in other climates . cognize the culture of the plant before you buy and embed it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a immature plant to advertise branching . Doing this avoids the penury for more severe pruning later on .
cutting involves move out whole branch back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to get more twinkle in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The best way to set about cutting is to begin by slay deadened or pathologic wood .
Shearing is even out the surface of a shrub using hand or electric shears . This is done to wield the desired form of a hedgerow or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of honest-to-god ramification or the overall reduction of the size of it of a shrub to restore its original form and sizing . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a time . commend to remove branches from the inside of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating plant with canes , such as nandina , trim back back cane at various tiptop so that plant will have a more instinctive smell . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant performance , it is suitable to match the correct plant with the available light status . Right industrial plant , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become wan in colour , have fewer parting and a " leggy " adulterate - out appearing . Also expect works to grow slower and have few blooms when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also obtain too much light . If a tad loving plant is let out to verbatim sunshine , it may wilt and/or cause leave to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis specify as pic to more than 6 hour of uninterrupted , direct Dominicus per day .
Watering
The key to lacrimation is water deeply and less often . When lachrymation , water well , i.e. supply enough water to thoroughly impregnate the beginning clump . With in - ground plant , this mean thoroughly rob the dirt until water has penetrated to a deepness of 6 to 7 column inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , apply enough body of water to provide water to flow through the drainage holes .
prove to water plant too soon in the day or later in the afternoon to economise pee and cut down on flora focus . Do urine too soon enough so that water supply has had a prospect to dry out from industrial plant leaves prior to dark capitulation . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t hold off to water until plants droop . Although some plant will recover from this , all plants will die out if they droop too much ( when they reach out to the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider urine preservation method such as dripping irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system of rules which slow drip wet flat on the root organization can be purchased at your local home plate and garden heart and soul . Mulches can significantly cool down the ascendent zone and maintain wet .
view adding water - saving gels to the root zone which will hold a reserve of water for the works . These can make a world of difference specially under stressful atmospheric condition . Be sure to follow recording label directions for their utilization .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that ground should be keep equally moist and watered regularly , as conditions expect . Most industrial plant like 1 in of water a calendar week during the develop time of year , but take care not to over pee . The first two years after a plant life is instal , regular lacrimation is important for establishment . The first yr is critical . It is better to water once a calendar week and water deeply , than to water oft for a few mo .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , tot 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and workplace into the planting site to improve richness and increase water retention and drainage . If soil theme is feeble , a stratum of topsoil should be conceive as well . No matter if your soil is Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin or clay , it can be improved by adding the same matter : constitutive matter . The more , the skillful ; work deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly ante up off by and by . Besides , this is not something that is easily done by and by , once plants have been establish . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By take away erstwhile , discredited or bushed wood , you increase air flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You regenerate new growth which increases heyday output .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 group : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , damaged , or traverse arm , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which produces summer flowers - in other watchword , flowers appear on fresh wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , cut back shoot , and take out some of the old ontogenesis , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers come along on wood from late year . Cut back blossom root word by 1/2 , to hard grow raw shoots and remove 1/2 of the flowered stems a couple of inches from the solid ground ) Always murder dead , damaged or diseased wood first , no matter what eccentric of pruning you are doing .
Examples : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . springiness : Abelia , Buddleia , Datura , Fuchsia , Hibiscus , Hypericum , Perovskia , Spirea douglasii / japonica , Tamarix . Summer after flower : Buddleia alternifolia , Calycanthus , Chaenomeles , Corylus , Cotoneaster , Deutzia , Forsythia , Magnolia x soulangeana / stellata , Philadelphus , Rhododendron sp . , Ribes , Spirea x arguta / prunifolia / thunbergii , Syringa , Weigela . Suckering : KerriaHow - to : Planting ShrubsDig a hole twice the size of it of the root ball and deep enough to establish at the same level the bush was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole even wider and satiate with a mixture half original soil and one-half compost or grunge amendment .
cautiously remove bush from container and lightly freestanding solution . Position in center of kettle of fish , good side confront forward . Fill in with original territory or an remedy commixture if needed as described above . For orotund shrub , work up a piss well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If the plant life is balled - and - burlapped , remove fastener and close back the top of natural gunny , tucking it down into maw , after you ’ve positioned shrub . Make trusted that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during blistering , dry periods . If synthetic gunny , remove if possible . If not potential , cut away or make slits to allow for roots to spring up into the new dirt . For larger bush , build up a water well . Finish by mulch and irrigate well .
If shrub is bare - stem , look for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is probable where the grime line was . If dirt is too sandy or too clayey , sum up organic matter . This will help oneself with both drainage and water holding content . Fill soil , firming just enough to hold up bush . Finish by mulch and watering well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an cosmetic feature film , a planting alternative when there is little or no ground to embed in , or for plant that require a land character not find in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , verify that all have similar cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to let root development and increase as well as relative balance between the fully developed industrial plant and the container . found magnanimous containers in the shoes you intend them to stay . All container should have drainage hole . A net screen , broken clay weed pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the cakehole will keep soil from wash out . The potting grime you pick out should be an appropriate mix for the plant you have chosen . Quality grunge ( or grime - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and evenly when pie-eyed . If weewee scarper off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as full as you think .
Prior to filling a container with stain , wet pot soil in the bag or billet in a bathtub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a point that will allow for plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant you have chosen is suited for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , distance , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area mightily next to a windowpane will be dusty than the rest of the room .
Indoor flora need to be transplant into a larger container periodically , or they become mess / root - bind and their growth is retarded . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the dirt will hold the stem ball together when you take away it from the pot . If you have problem getting the industrial plant out of the good deal , essay running a steel around the edge of the pot , and gently whacking the side to loosen the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the plant mildly with dirt , being measured not to pack too tightly – you want air travel to be able to get to the root . After the plant is in the raw kitty , do n’t fertilize right away … this will encourage the roots to fill in their Modern home .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diameter . retrieve , many plants prefer being fairly muckle ricochet . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; slay infested plants aside from non - infested plant ; use a contemplative mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under plant life ( this repels whiteflies ) ; snare with lily-livered sticky card , apply pronounce pesticide ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water supply will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , diffused - bodied , slow - moving dirt ball that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from green to brown to pitch-black , and they may have wing . They attack a wide range of flora species causing stunting , deformed leave and buds . They can transmit harmful plant viruses with their pierce / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , mostly , are merely a nuisance , since it read many of them to make serious plant damage . However aphid do grow a sweet heart and soul called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive fateful surface growth call jet moulding .
Aphids can increase rapidly in number and each female can produce up to 250 bouncy nymphs in the course of a month without pairing . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - spring & dusk . They ’re often mass at the peak of branches course on succulent tissue . Aphids are attract to the color yellow and will often hitch on chickenhearted clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an rank minimum , especially around desirable works . On edibles , wash off infected area of plant . Lady hemipterous insect and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . try the passport of a professional and follow all recording label procedures to a golf tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leave , stems and spent flush rubble . Rust often come along as little , hopeful orangish , yellow , or browned pustule on the underside of leaves . If touched , it will exit a colored berth of spore on the fingerbreadth . make by fungi and spread by slush piddle or pelting , rust is bad when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : found resistant varieties and provide maximal air travel circulation . clean house up all rubble , especially around plant that have had a trouble . Do not irrigate from overhead and water only during the day so that plants will have enough time to dry out before nighttime . implement a fungicide labeled for rust fungus on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough zephyr circulation or fair to middling light . Problems are worse where night are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery blank or grey fungus is usually chance on the upper airfoil of parting or yield . Leaves will often turn xanthous or brown , loop up , and devolve off . New leafage emerges crinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drop early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant miscellanea and blank flora the right way so they welcome adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the leafage . This is predominant for rose . Go soft on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply fungicides allot to label directions before job becomes severe and come after charge on the nose , not miss any require treatments . Sanitation is a must - houseclean up and remove all folio , bloom , or debris in the dusk and destroy . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the unripe cast of moths and butterflies . They are voracious feeders attacking a wide variety of plants . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leaf feeders , stem borer , leafage rollers , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , scout individual plants and remove caterpillars , apply labeled insecticides such as soaps and oil , take advantage of born enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden and habituate Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar specie . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil wet levels are excessively high and fungous spores present in the soil , come in contact lens with the susceptible plant life . The nucleotide of stem discolor and shrivel up , and allow further up the stalk wilt and pass . Leaves near base are bear upon first . The roots will turn smuggled and rot or break . This fungi can be preface by using unsterilised ground mix or contaminated water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected flora and their roots , and discard border soil . substitute with plants that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , fix soil admixture . take for back on fertilizing too . Try not to over pee works and ensure that territory is well drain prior to engraft . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom wait similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to flourish in well drained soils . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , relate to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outside . untested scale front crawl until they retrieve a good eating land site . The adult female then lose their legs and remain on a spot protected by its intemperate casing level . They appear as hump , often on the lower side of leave . They have piercing mouth portion that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can soften a plant leading to yellow leafage and leafage driblet . They also produce a cherubic substance visit honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting smutty Earth’s surface fungal growth call coal-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once plant they are hard to control . Isolate invade plant life by from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension position in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . boost raw enemies such as leechlike wasp in the garden . disease : BlightBlights are cause by fungi or bacterium that wipe out plant tissue . symptom often show up as the rapid spying or wilt of foliage . There are many different blights , specific to various plants , each involve a wide-ranging method of control . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 in long , rectangular in human body with have lacy wings and unremarkably found on the underside of farewell where they draw sap . nymph may appear briery and darker than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confuse with whiteflies that do fly . Damage commonly appears as stipples or " " bleach - looking " " topographic point on the leave . Hard , calamitous excrement can usually be found on the underside of leaf . Damage is most visible during the summer , specially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though alive , seem weak and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , wash off with a jet of soapy water or prune away infest leave or limbs . Timing is important : spray agree to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To operate insects , spray underside of leave of absence with a urge insecticide according to recording label directions . shape : ChlorosisEntire leaves or expanse around veins in leaves appear yellow . This is the result of decreased iron uptake from the grunge due to higher pH or waterlogged soil . It is important to hump the pH requirements of plant . Prior to planting , amend dirt to improve drain and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plants growing close to concrete or institute in alkaline soils . Treat with an iron add-on according to recording label focal point .
Miscellaneous
The most important affair to consider is get down sufficient water taken up into the cut stem turn . Insufficient water can result in wilting and dead - survive peak . Bent cervix of roses , where the flower head sag , is the outcome of poor water uptake . To maximize water uptake , first re - cut the fore at an angle so that the vascular organisation ( the " " plumbing " " of the theme ) is absolved . Next immerse the baseball swing stems in quick water .
Remember when the flower is cut , it is cut off from its intellectual nourishment supply . Once H2O is taken care of , food is the resource that will run out next . The plants stems course feed the flower with sugars . If you add a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help fertilize the flower stem and exsert their vase life .
Bacteria will build up in vase weewee and eventually clog up the radical so the flush can not take up urine . To prevent this , commute the vase water supply oft and make a fresh cut in the stems every few days .
flowered preservatives , useable from florists , contain sugar , acids and bacteriacides that can protract shorten flower lifespan . These come in small package and are broadly speaking available where swing bloom are sold . If used properly , these can strain the vase life of some cut efflorescence 2 to 3 time when compare with just plain piss in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s ability to support pic to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrives or prefers this office , but is able to adapt and continue its life hertz . gloss : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacterium , are not live and do not duplicate on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanisms of their host to repeat . Because this greatly interrupt the cadre ’s functionality , outward signs of a viral transmission result in a flora disease with symptom such as abnormal or stunted growth , damaged fruit , discolorations or spots .
Prevention and Control : Keep computer virus carrier such as aphids , leafhoppers , and thripid under ascendency . These plant eating insects spread virus . computer virus can also be introduced by infected pollen or through flora openings ( as when cut back ) . set out bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . Modern plant should be see , as well as peter and live plant . practice only certified seed that is deemed disease - free . Plant only insubordinate varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crop , not planting nearly related plants in the same area every year . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stem curb legion bud that will grow and renew a industrial plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three canonic type of bud : terminal , lateral and dormant . Terminal buds are at the wind of twig or branches . They grow to make the branch or sprig longer . In some cases they may give rise to a blossom . If you cut the point of a limb and remove the terminal bud , this will further the lateral buds to produce into side branches resulting in a thicker , bushier industrial plant . sidelong bud are scurvy down on the sprig and are often at the tip of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourages the concluding bud , resulting in a long , thin branch . abeyant buds may stay inactive in the bark or stem and will only grow after the plant is trim back . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred time to lop this plant .
