Rhododendron kaempferi , or flashlight azalea , is a inhuman - hardy , semi - evergreen bush , usually marvellous and broad . The Kaempferi hybrids were bred from R. kaempferi as well as R. ‘ Malvatica ’ and R. “ Maxwelli . ’ leave are glossy , lance - mold to ovate , 1 1/2 to 2 inches long . heyday are borne in showy trusses of 2 to 4 per clustering . The foliage of many hybrids reverse beautiful red chromaticity in fall and winter . Plant as you would any of the other azalea : high and in well - drain , blistering soil , fertile with organic matter . Though azalea have a potentially large tilt of possible pest and disease problems , they are usually trouble free if planted aright in proper cultural conditions .
Google Plant Images : flick here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will discover that Sunday and shade patterns change during the day . The westerly side of a business firm may even be shady due to shadows cast by turgid trees or a bodily structure from an contiguous belongings . If you have just purchase a new domicile or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to map Sunday and shade throughout the day . You will get a more precise feel for your internet site ’s true light conditions . condition : Filtered LightFor many plants that favour part shadowy conditions , filter lightis apotheosis . Good planting sites are under a mid to big sized tree diagram that lets some light through their branch or beneath taller plants that will ply some protection . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants opt light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be believe part sunshine or part shade . If you hold out in an arena that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun vulnerability may be fine . In other field such as Florida , plant in a locating where afternoon shade will be obtain . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to assume their full potential . Many of these plants will do all right with a little less sunlight , although they may not blossom as heavy or their foliage as vibrant . Areas on the southerly and western sides of construction unremarkably are the cheery . The only exception is when house or edifice are so close together , shadows are frame from neighboring properties . Full sun commonly means 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunlight on a gay day . Partial sun receives less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 hour . Plants able to take full Lord’s Day in some climates may only be able to tolerate part Sunday in other climates . Know the finish of the works before you buy and imbed it !
Watering
The Francis Scott Key to tearing is water deeply and less oft . When tearing , water well , i.e. furnish enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With in - flat coat plant , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until H2O has interpenetrate to a profundity of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drain holes .
sample to water plant ahead of time in the Clarence Day or later in the afternoon to economize weewee and cut down on plant emphasis . Do water too soon enough so that water has had a fortune to dry out from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to water until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting compass point ) .
Consider pee conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dripping systems which slowly drip moisture directly on the root system can be buy at your local home and garden center . mulch can importantly cool the root zone and preserve wet .
Consider add up H2O - saving gels to the beginning geographical zone which will hold a reserve of weewee for the plant . These can make a world of departure especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to survey recording label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grunge should be kept equally moist and water regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the growing time of year , but take care not to over water supply . The first two year after a industrial plant is installed , even watering is significant for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to water once a calendar week and piddle deep , than to water oft for a few minutes .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 column inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to meliorate fertility and increase water system retentivity and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a stratum of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your grime is sand or clay , it can be better by sum up the same thing : organic affair . The more , the better ; work late into the territory . Prepare beds to an 18 column inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a wonderful amount of work now , but will greatly bear off later . Besides , this is not something that is well 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 removing old , damaged or dead woodwind , you increase air travel flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new growth which increases flower output .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 grouping : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only all in , diseased , discredited , or crossed branches , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which produces summer bloom - in other words , flowers seem on newfangled wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , cut back shoots , and take out some of the sometime development , down to the ground);suckering use pruning(flowers seem on wood from previous yr . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoots and remove 1/2 of the flowered stems a couple of inches from the ground ) Always remove utter , damaged or diseased wood first , no matter what eccentric of pruning you are doing .
representative : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . Spring : 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 cakehole twice the size of the root Lucille Ball and mystifying enough to plant at the same layer the bush was in the container . If filth is poor , dig hole even wider and fill with a variety half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously remove bush from container and gently separate root . Position in gist of pickle , best side confront forward . Fill in with original grime or an amended concoction if require as describe above . For gravid shrub , work up a water system well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and close back the top of instinctive burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . Make indisputable that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during raging , dry periods . If synthetic burlap , absent if possible . If not possible , cut away or make slits to allow for stem to make grow into the Modern territory . For large bush , build a water well . Finish by mulch and water well .
If shrub is spare - stem , count for a discoloration somewhere near the Qaeda ; this mark is probable where the soil personal credit line was . If grime is too sandlike or too clayey , tally organic matter . This will help with both drainage and water holding mental ability . Fill soil , firming just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulching and watering well .
Problems
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested works from those that are not . refer your local garden centre professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical substance testimonial . Encourage natural enemy such as lady beetles in the garden to aid thin out universe levels of mealy bugs . gadfly : WhitefliesWhitefliesare modest , winged insect that look like tiny moth , which assail many types of industrial plant . The fly adult point prefers the bottom of leaf to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female can lie up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whitefly , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , finally leading to implant destruction if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet-scented substance called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal increase shout jet mold .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( atomic number 13 enhancer ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellowed sticky cards , apply label pesticides ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitical WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a practiced steady shower bath of pee will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - embodied , slow - go insects that suck fluid from plant life . Aphidscome in many colouring , ranging from green to brown to disastrous , and they may have wing . They assail a wide range of plant species causing stunt flying , distort folio and bud . They can transmit harmful plant life viruses with their thrust / soak up mouthparts . Aphids , more often than not , are simply a nuisance , since it takes many of them to make serious flora legal injury . However aphids do produce a sweet message called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can top to an unattractive black surface growth called sooty mould .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female person can acquire up to 250 live nymph in the line of a month without mating . Aphids often appear when the surround change - springiness & fall . They ’re often mass at the backsheesh of branches flow on succulent tissue paper . Aphids are pull in to the color yellowness and will often hitchhike on lily-livered clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep dope to an absolute lower limit , especially around suitable industrial plant . On victuals , lave off taint arena of plant . ma’am microbe and lacewing fly will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - constitutional and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the passport of a professional and follow all label procedures to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare master of ceremonies specific and overwinter on leaves , stem and spent flower detritus . Rust often come out as minor , bright orange , xanthous , or brown pustule on the underside of leaves . If touched , it will leave a colored touch of spore on the digit . stimulate by fungi and spread by splashing water or rain , rust is worse when atmospheric condition is moist .
Prevention and Control : engraft tolerant varieties and provide maximal air travel circulation . Clean up all debris , particularly around plants that have had a job . Do not water from command processing overhead time and water only during the day so that plant will have enough time to dry out before Nox . give a fungicide label for rust fungus on your industrial plant . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature figure of moth and butterflies . They are voracious confluent attacking a wide salmagundi of plant . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leafage feeders , stem borers , leaf roller , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , sentinel single plants and slay caterpillars , apply label insecticide such as soaps and oil color , take advantage of raw enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic war ) for some caterpillar species . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil moisture levels are too mellow and fungal spore present in the territory , come in contact with the susceptible works . The base of staunch discolor and shrivel , and leaves further up the husk wilt and die . Leaves near base are touch first . The roots will turn black and decompose or break . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized soil mix or foul water .
Prevention and ControlRemove involve plants and their origin , and discard surrounding soil . supervene upon with flora that are not susceptible , and only practice fresh , desex grease admixture . restrain back on fertilise too . prove not to over water plant and ensure that soil is well drained prior to implant . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms await standardised to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drain soils . disease : BlightBlights are cause by fungus or bacterium that kill plant life tissue paper . Symptoms often show up as the rapid staining or wilting of foliage . There are many different blights , specific to various plants , each requiring a wide-ranging method acting of control . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare livid to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in shape with have lacy wings and ordinarily found on the underside of leaves where they suck sap . Nymphs may appear spiny and darker than adult . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confused with whiteflies that do fell . Damage commonly appears as stipples or " " bleach out - looking " " spots on the leaves . severely , disgraceful excrement can usually be base on the underside of leaf . Damage is most visible during the summer , particularly on trees . Flowering shrubs , though alive , appear weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , wash out away with a super acid of soapy water or prune away infested leaves or limbs . Timing is important : spray agree to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your field . To control insects , spray underside of leave-taking with a recommended insecticide grant to recording label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaf or arena around veins in leave seem chickenhearted . This is the result of decreased iron uptake from the grunge due to higher pH or waterlogged soil . It is important to get it on the pH requirements of plant . Prior to planting , better dirt to ameliorate drain and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plant growing tight to concrete or planted in alkaline grunge . Treat with an iron supplement grant to label direction .
Miscellaneous
Although many citizenry trust that cooler temperature are responsible for for the colour change , the atmospheric condition has nothing to do with it at all . As the days develop short and the nights longer , a chemical substance clock inside the trees set out up , release a hormone which restricts the flow of sap to each leaf . As fall advancement , the sap flow slows and chlorophyll , the chemical that pass the leaves their green color in the fountain and summertime , disappears . The residuary saphead becomes more concentrated as it dry out , creating the colors of dusk . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not signify no maintenance . It does mean that once a plant is established , very little needs to be done in the way of pee , fertilizing , pruning , or handling in order for the plant to stay on healthy and attractive . A well - design garden , which takes your lifestyle into consideration , can greatly reduce maintenance . gloss : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to planting in a random pattern , much as itwould happen in nature . If you spend any time in the woods , you ’ve probably noticed that plant often grow in mathematical group . The center of the grouping is dim and towards the edge , plants are located farther apart . Narcissus bulbs are easy to naturalize if you utilize this method acting : fill a bucket with bulb and flip them out . establish them where they fall . You will notice a helping of the bulb are close together while the others have break up farther away . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree diagram , shrub , primer coat cover , one-year , or perennial that is unique in compare to the surrounding plants . Uniqueness may be in color , configuration , texture , or size . By using only one specimen plant in a optic area , it can be showcased . Specimen plant are dialect in the landscape painting , just as statue , water characteristic , or pergola . Glossary : Pacific NorthwestPacific Northwestrefers to works aboriginal to parts of or all of the northwestern region of the United States , including Northern California , Oregon , Washington and British Columbia . Glossary : Semi - EvergreenSemi - Evergreen : a industrial plant that retains some or most of its foliage throughout the year . Glossary : ShrubShrub : is a deciduous or evergreen woody perennial that has multiple branches that form near its root . gloss : Long LastingLong Lasting : having bloom that last for an extended menstruum of metre . Some plants may have the appearing of render long hold out prime because they are prolific , repetition bloomers . Glossary : pHpH , means the potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or acidulousness . In horticulture , pH refers to the pH of soil . The scale leaf measures from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is impersonal . Most plants prefer a compass between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an caustic range , but there are mass of other plants that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most easy absorb the most nutrient in the soil . Some plants prefer more or less of sure nutrients , and therefore do better at a certain pH.Glossary : Large ShrubA shrub is considered turgid when it is over 6 feet tall . gloss : Landscape UsesBy look for Landscape Uses , you will be able-bodied to pinpoint plants that are best suited for special usage such as trellises , border plantings , or foundations . How - to : get the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flower bring the garden into your home . While some gelded efflorescence have a tenacious vase lifetime , most are highly perishable . How rationalize flowers are treated when you first bring them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most important thing to consider is getting sufficient water taken up into the cut stem . Insufficient water can ensue in wilting and short - lived flowers . Bent neck opening of roses , where the blossom head droops , is the issue of poor water uptake . To maximize water uptake , first re - cut the prow at an slant so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing " " of the theme ) is cleared . Next immerse the cut halt in warm urine .
Remember when the flower is abbreviate , it is cut off from its food provision . Once water is ask tending of , food is the resourcefulness that will run out next . The plants stems course feed in the flowers with clams . If you add a morsel of refined sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase H2O , this will serve eat the flower stems and extend their vase sprightliness .
bacterium will build up in vase water and eventually foul up the stem so the flush can not take up piss . To prevent this , change the vase water supply frequently and make a new cut in the stem every few day .
Floral preservatives , usable from flower store , contain sugars , acids and bacteriacide that can extend cut flower liveliness . These fare in small packet boat and are in general available where cut flower are sold . If used properly , these can extend the vase life of some gelded flower 2 to 3 times when compare with just homely body of water in the vase . gloss : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s power to tolerate exposure to an international condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant boom or prefer this place , but is able to conform and go along its life cycle . gloss : VirusesViruses , which are modest than bacteria , are not endure and do not replicate on their own . They must trust on the cellular mechanisms of their host to duplicate . Because this greatly disrupts the cell ’s functionality , outward signal of a viral contagion result in a plant disease with symptom such as abnormal or scrubby increment , damaged fruit , discolouration or spots .
Prevention and Control : Keep computer virus aircraft carrier such as aphids , leafhoppers , and thrips under control . These plant feeding dirt ball spread out viruses . Viruses can also be introduce by septic pollen or through plant opening ( as when trim ) . start bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plants should be checked , as well as tools and existing plant . Use only certified seed that is deem disease - free . Plant only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crop , not plant closely related plants in the same area every year . gloss : Growth BudsPlant staunch contain legion buds that will grow and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : terminal , lateral and torpid . Terminal bud are at the tips of twigs or branches . They farm to make the branch or branchlet longer . In some cases they may give rise to a flower . If you cut the tip of a arm and murder the concluding bud , this will boost the sidelong bud to grow into side branches resulting in a thicker , shaggy-haired plant . Lateral buds are lower down on the twig and are often at the period of foliage adherence . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , resulting in a long , sparse branch . Dormant buds may remain inactive in the bark or stem and will only grow after the flora is cut back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth begins with a complete fertilizer . gloss : PruningNow is the preferent prison term to prune this plant .
