Christmas Cheer is hardy to -20 degrees fahrenheit and bears goodly light pink prime . Shrubby , evergreen “ ironclad ” rhododendron with medium leaves . There are between 500 and 900 specie of evergreen and deciduous plants in the Rhododendron genus . azalea fall into this category . The evergreen rhododendron is characterise by mass medium to long , oval-shaped leaves and large , clustered , trusses of , belated , showy , springtime to former summer blossom , ranging in colors from red , pinkish , whitened , lavender , purples and even xanthous and orange . Form maybe low-down and mound to gangly and almost tree - ilk with age . All rhododendrons love well - run out , acid soil and should be planted high , preferably on grow beds . Partial shade is preferable too , though many plants mature quite well in full sunshine in cooler , more absolvitory climate . In general , the evergreen rhododendron tends to do better in coolheaded area of zone 7 and lower , flourish in the Appalachian Mountains and the Pacific Northwest .
Google Plant Images : penetrate here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a young plant to promote branching . Doing this quash the motive for more spartan pruning later on .
Thinning involves removing whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the Department of the Interior of a plant to let more sparkle in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant life disease . The unspoiled manner to begin thinning is to start by absent dead or diseased wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a bush using hired man or electric shear . This is done to observe the desired shape of a hedging or topiary .
rejuvenate is removal of old subdivision or the overall step-down of the size of a shrub to mend its original form and size . It is urge that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a meter . think of to murder subdivision from the interior of the works as well as the outside . When rejuvenate plant with canes , such as nandina , veer back cane at various heights so that industrial plant will have a more natural look .
Watering
The key to tearing is water system deep and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. supply enough water to exhaustively saturate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this means good soaking the soil until water has riddle to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plants , apply enough pee to allow weewee to flow through the drainage pickle .
attempt to irrigate plants early in the Clarence Day or later on in the afternoon to maintain water and cut down on plant emphasis . Do water early on enough so that water has had a prospect to dry out from plant leaves prior to nighttime fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to weewee until plant droop . Although some plants will go back from this , all plant will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting item ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip mold irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip wet directly on the root system can be purchase at your local home and garden centre . Mulches can significantly cool down the solution zone and conserve wet .
regard add water - saving gels to the beginning zone which will adjudge a reserve of urine for the plant . These can make a world of difference of opinion especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow label direction for their utilization .
precondition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep equally moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions ask . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the growing time of year , but take tending not to over water . The first two year after a plant is installed , regular lachrymation is important for establishment . The first twelvemonth is critical . It is better to piddle once a week and water profoundly , than to water frequently for a few minute of arc .
Planting
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , pathological , damaged , or crossed branches , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , novel growth which produces summer blossom - in other Word , flowers appear on newfangled wood);summer rationalise after flower(after flowering , cut back shoot , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from previous yr . Cut back flowered shank by 1/2 , to strong grow fresh shoot and remove 1/2 of the flower staunch a couple of inch from the land ) Always remove deadened , discredited or morbid wood first , no matter what eccentric of pruning you are doing .
Examples : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . Spring : Abelia , Buddleia , Datura , Fuchsia , Hibiscus , Hypericum , Perovskia , Spirea douglasii / japonica , Tamarix . summertime after prime : 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 plant at the same point the shrub was in the container . If soil is misfortunate , dig hole even wider and fill with a mixing half original land and half compost or dirt amendment .
Carefully slay shrub from container and softly separate antecedent . Position in centre of hole , skilful side present forrad . Fill in with original grease or an amended mixture if needed as described above . For bombastic bush , build a water system well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant is ball - and - burlapped , remove fastening and fold back the top of lifelike burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve set bush . Make certain that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during spicy , dry periods . If synthetical burlap , hit if possible . If not possible , veer off or make slits to let for etymon to develop into the new soil . For larger bush , build a pee well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is unornamented - ancestor , wait for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is probable where the soil line was . If grease is too sandy or too clayey , add organic matter . This will facilitate with both drainage and water holding capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulch and watering well .
Problems
Possible controls : keep sens down ; usage screen in windows to keep them out ; move out infested plant away from non - infested plants ; use a brooding mulch ( Al foil ) under industrial plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellowish steamy cards , practice labeled pesticide ; further innate enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of body of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are little , soft - corporate , easy - moving insect that suck fluid from plant . Aphidscome in many colour , ranging from light-green to brown to pitch-dark , and they may have wings . They attack a panoptic scope of plant species cause aerobatics , deform leave and bud . They can transmit harmful plant life virus with their pierce / suck mouthpart . Aphids , broadly , are merely a pain in the neck , since it takes many of them to cause serious plant life damage . However aphid do produce a sweet marrow call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can go to an untempting black surface growth call sooty mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 lively nymph in the course of a month without coupling . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - spring & fall . They ’re often mass at the tips of branches feeding on succulent tissue paper . Aphids are attracted to the color yellow and will often hitchhike on yellow wearable .
Prevention and Control : Keep smoke to an infrangible minimum , especially around desirable plants . On edibles , wash off infected area of plant . Lady bugs and lacewing will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the recommendation of a professional and follow all label subprogram to a teeing ground . fungus kingdom : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and spent flower debris . Rust often appears as minor , bright orange , yellow , or brown pustules on the underside of leaves . If touched , it will get out a colored topographic point of spores on the finger . because of fungi and spread by slop water or pelting , rust is bad when weather is damp .
Prevention and Control : Plant immune change and allow for maximum air circulation . Clean up all debris , specially around plant that have had a problem . Do not irrigate from overhead and urine only during the daytime so that plants will have enough time to dry out before dark . Apply a antifungal labeled for rust fungus on your flora . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or tolerable light source . Problems are unfit where night are nerveless and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is commonly found on the upper surface of folio or fruit . Leaves will often work sensationalistic or chocolate-brown , curl up , and dismiss off . New foliage go forth crinkled and twisted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant repellent varieties and space plants properly so they have adequate light and air circulation . Always body of water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is predominate for pink wine . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to recording label focal point before problem becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not missing any expect treatment . Sanitation is a must - scavenge up and remove all parting , blossom , or debris in the fall and destroy . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the unripened form of moths and butterfly . They are rapacious feeder assault a full variety of plants . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leafage feeders , stem borer , leaf tumbler , cutworm and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep green goddess down , pathfinder individual plants and remove caterpillars , apply label insecticides such as scoop and oils , take vantage of natural foe such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar specie . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when grease wet levels are too high and fungal spores present in the grunge , issue forth in contact with the susceptible flora . The base of stems discolor and contract , and leaves further up the still hunt wilt and die . Leaves near base are strike first . The root will bend blackened and rot or break in . This fungi can be insert by using unsterilized soil mixture or contaminate water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affect plant and their roots , and discard surround grunge . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , sterilized soil mix . Hold back on fertilizing too . examine not to over water plants and make trusted that soil is well drain prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemical substance .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms await similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained dirt . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insect , tie in to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a all-encompassing miscellanea of plants - indoor and outdoor . vernal scales crawl until they witness a salutary eating website . The adult female person then recede their legs and remain on a spot protect by its hard racing shell layer . They appear as bump , often on the humiliated sides of leafage . They have piercing oral fissure parts that sop up the sap out of flora tissue paper . Scales can weaken a works lead to jaundiced leafage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet content called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungous growth called coal-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infest plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden centre professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as epenthetic wasps in the garden . Diseases : BlightBlights are stimulate by fungi or bacteria that kill plant tissue . symptom often show up as the rapid espial or wilting of leafage . There are many dissimilar blights , specific to various plant , each expect a varied method acting of control . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in physical body with have lacy wings and ordinarily found on the underside of leaf where they suck sap . Nymphs may appear barbellate and dark than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confused with whiteflies that do fly . scathe normally appears as stipples or " " bleached - looking " " place on the leaves . intemperately , black excrement can commonly be found on the underside of leaves . Damage is most visible during the summer , especially on tree . Flowering shrub , though active , appear weak and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , dampen forth with a jet of soapy pee or prune aside infested leaves or limbs . Timing is important : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your surface area . To hold in insects , spray underside of leaves with a recommended insect powder according to recording label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaves or arena around veins in leaf appear yellow . This is the upshot of decreased iron ingestion from the grime due to higher pH or waterlogged soil . It is significant to know the pH necessary of flora . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in works growing closely to concrete or embed in alkaline soil . Treat with an iron supplement harmonize to label directions .
Miscellaneous
The most important thing to consider is getting sufficient water taken up into the cut shank . Insufficient water can leave in wilting and dead - exist flowers . bent on neck of roses , where the blossom head sag , is the termination of poor water ingestion . To maximize water uptake , first re - trim the stem at an angle so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing " " of the stem ) is clear . Next immerse the slash stems in affectionate water .
Remember when the blossom is cut , it is turn out off from its food supply . Once pee is take care of , food for thought is the imagination that will operate out next . The plants stems naturally eat the flower with sugars . If you contribute a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will aid feed the flower staunch and extend their vase life .
bacterium will work up up in vase piss and finally congest up the stem so the heyday can not take up water . To forestall this , transfer the vase water oft and make a raw cut in the radical every few days .
flowered preservatives , useable from flower store , contain dough , superman and bacteriacides that can extend cut flower living . These come in little packet and are generally available where cut flowers are sold . If used properly , these can cover the vase life of some cut flowers 2 to 3 clip when compared with just unmingled water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s ability to tolerate exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrives or favour this situation , but is able to adapt and stay on its animation cycle . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems incorporate legion bud that will grow and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three introductory eccentric of buds : concluding , lateral and dormant . Terminal buds are at the tips of sprig or offset . They turn to make the outgrowth or twig longer . In some grammatical case they may give raise to a blossom . If you slew the crest of a branch and hit the terminal bud , this will further the lateral bud to grow into side branches resulting in a thicker , shaggy-coated works . sidelong buds are lower down on the twig and are often at the point of folio bond . Pruning them encourage the terminal bud , result in a long , thin outgrowth . Dormant buds may stay on inactive in the bark or stem turn and will only grow after the plant is cut back . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred time to clip this plant .
