Azalea: home care, replanting, and propagation, photos

Flowers

If a capricious, beautiful azalea appears in your home, you can't avoid trouble. However, in return, it will provide immense aesthetic pleasure every year and reward you with a lush bouquet that will outshine all other houseplants. Its character can be compared to the Rose from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's "The Little Prince," which needed to be screened from the sun and covered with a glass dome at night to protect it from drafts.

Azaleas, like true women, require constant care at home, repotting, propagation, and are susceptible to disease. Only those who cherish and nurture them can truly understand them.

Azalea: How to care for it at home

Azalea is a close relative of such ancient and famous genera as rhododendron and heather. Literally translated, its name means "dry rosewood" (from the Greek "rhododendron" meaning rosewood and "azalya" meaning dry). This accurately captures the main characteristics: rosebud-like flowers and the dry wood of the trunks and branches.

Rhododendron means "rose tree" in Greek, and the word "azalea" means "dry." The plant was named for the dry wood of its trunks and branches.

In open ground, azaleas grow to the size of a full-fledged shrub, decorating gardens, squares, and parks. Their indoor relatives are no less beautiful, but they don't grow taller than 50 cm.

Azaleas are native to Southeast Asia and North America, and are also traditionally grown in southern Europe. They were introduced to Russia at the beginning of the last century.

https://youtu.be/aT6sXJd3Ank

For reference!

The mild climate of the Black Sea coast is perfect for the delicate azalea. These shrubs are often seen in lush bloom in promotional photos of Sochi hotels and parks. The azalea's affinity with Sochi residents is reflected in the fact that a large shopping center and a popular hotel bear the same name.

There are approximately 350 species of this plant in the wild, but only the Indian and Japanese species have become established in indoor gardening. They differ little from each other, only in the size of their leaves and flowers. Japanese azaleas have dense, dark green, pubescent leaves up to 3.5 cm in size, and flowers up to 5 cm in diameter, with multiple petals, some species having double edges.

The Indian azalea has much smaller leaves and flowers. Incidentally, despite its name, it also originates from Asia.

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Plants begin to bloom when they reach 3-4 years of age. Traditionally, azaleas display all shades of pink. However, breeders have developed azaleas with a wide range of colors. Bicolored specimens are also found, usually with double petals.

Home careThis is designed to help the azalea maintain its blooms longer. When purchasing, choose unblown plants. The key is to be able to tell the color from the first blooms. Multiple buds ensure the azalea will adapt more quickly to the apartment and will delight you with abundant and long-lasting blooms.

Please note!

If the leaves of a plant you like are drying up or falling off, or there are webs on the branches, this indicates a possible disease. You shouldn't buy such a plant.

However, the presence of a green coating or even moss on the surface of the soil is considered normal, as it indicates that the soil is acidic – just the way this flower likes it.

Azaleas require careful care at home. Only in a favorable microclimate will they bloom regularly.

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Lighting

Azaleas are sun-loving plants, so caring for them indoors begins with choosing a permanent location with good lighting. Windowsills of any window, except those facing south, are suitable. Azaleas should be shaded from direct sunlight.

During bud formation (October-November), additional lighting will be needed to help the buds gain strength. For this, you can install a fluorescent or LED lamp and turn it on to extend the daylight hours.

Advice!

While blooming, the azalea can be moved, rotated, or relocated. This flirtatious plant clearly wants to please everyone. But after flowering, it should be returned to its rightful place, preferably in the same position as before.

Temperature

Temperature is equally important for azaleas. The plant thrives in cold temperatures. Therefore, the air temperature where the azalea is located should be no higher than 15°C and no lower than 18°C. By the time buds form, it should be reduced to 10°C or 12°C.

Azaleas bloom for two months or longer. During this time, the room temperature should not exceed 15°C.

Good locations for azaleas include enclosed verandas and insulated balconies with plenty of light and cool air. An air conditioner can be used to lower the room temperature.

Important!

Experienced gardeners apply snow from outside to the soil around azaleas before and during flowering. This cooling process, coupled with the simultaneous moistening with melted snow, has a beneficial effect on the plant's health.

Just be sure the snow you bring is free of any harmful impurities, dirt, chemicals, etc. Ice cubes from a freezer are also suitable for passive cooling and watering.

Humidity

Daily misting with filtered, cool water is required. Continue misting during flowering, but be careful not to let droplets of moisture fall on the delicate petals. This can leave brown spots on the flowers. Sunny days can cause burns to the azaleas.

To increase air humidity, open containers of water are placed near the plant.
When caring for azaleas in winter, you need to devote even more time to spraying, since the air in a home can be overdried by central heating radiators.
In summer, it's beneficial to give azaleas a "vacation"—move them into a shaded spot in the garden, under a gazebo, or onto a terrace. They tolerate drafts well.

You can stack several flower pots on a tray, fill the empty space with pebbles or decorative stones, and add a thin layer of water. This will provide both moisture and a beautiful floral arrangement.

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Watering

An incorrect watering regimen can destroy a delicate plant. It's important to establish rules once and for all and follow them strictly:

The lump of earth must not dry out.
If the soil in a pot has become very dry, place it in a bucket of water, making sure the water doesn't reach the rim or run into the pot. Within a few hours, the soil will absorb as much moisture as it needs.
Excess liquid must be drained from the tray to prevent the roots from rotting and the growth of pathogenic microbes.
A flowering plant consumes more moisture than usual, so watering is increased.
Don't use tap water for watering. It should be filtered first and allowed to settle for a few days to allow the chlorine to evaporate.

Soil for azaleas

Azaleas are one of the rare houseplants that require acidic soil with a pH of 4-4.5. A soil with increased looseness and heat retention—so-called heather soil—is recommended. It is prepared by removing the top layer of humus from beneath heather plantings.

If such soil is unavailable, substitute it with a mixture of leaf mold, peat soil, and river sand in a 2:4:1 ratio. In exceptional cases, orchid soil may be suitable. Azaleas do not tolerate dense clay soil.

Fact!

Azaleas thrive when grown using advanced hydroponic methods. This method requires a strictly regulated watering schedule, and acidity is maintained using a special solution.

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Pruning and pinching the plant

When caring for azaleas indoors, regular pruning and pinching of apical shoots is necessary. Photos from catalogs can be used as a guide when shaping the crown.

Basic rules for formative pruning:

The first pruning is carried out in May and continues until the first buds form.
Remove weak and elongated shoots.
They get rid of excess thickening by thinning.
New growth is pinched at a height of 4-6 leaves.
Be sure to remove shoots that appear near the buds.
Carefully and promptly remove all faded flowers.
The crown is formed in the form of a tree with a standard trunk or a bush with several equal-sized shoots.

It is important to remember that the more lush the crown, the more sparse the flowering will be, and vice versa.

Fertilizers for azaleas and growth stimulants

Caring for azaleas at home requires regular fertilization. For this purpose, use the specially selected ready-made mineral complex "Azalea."

During bud formation, superphosphate is added to regular fertilizers (prepared at a rate of 1.5 g per liter of water). Special bud formation stimulants, called phytohormones, are used.

Transfer

An important step in caring for azaleas is repotting them at home. Before you begin, carefully study the step-by-step photos or watch the video instructions.

Before repotting, remove excess shoots, dried leaves, and flower heads from the plant. This will help it establish more easily.

The bushes are replanted with the root ball still attached. Azaleas have thin roots that are easily damaged. Therefore, the soil should not be loosened between replantings to avoid damaging the surface roots.

The new pot is slightly larger than the previous one. The empty space in the container after repotting the bush is filled with new soil. Azaleas grow very slowly and do not require a large volume of soil.

It's important to have a drainage hole at the bottom of the pot and a good layer of expanded clay for drainage. The plant's roots shouldn't be buried too deep, so it's best to choose a low pot.

Propagation of azaleas

It's possible to propagate azaleas yourself, although it's quite difficult. Cuttings 5-8 cm long are rooted in the usual way in moist, acidic soil. Woody branches left over from pruning can also be used.

The cuttings are soaked in a root-stimulating solution called Kornevin for 2-6 hours, then planted in a container with prepared soil of the desired pH at a depth of 2 cm. The container is covered with clear glass, plastic, and plastic wrap. The seedlings are periodically uncovered for ventilation, watering, and misting.

When flower buds appear, pinch the shoots. The roots of the young shoots should develop into a full-fledged system in about two months. Then, the cuttings are replanted following the general rules for replanting. The upper shoots are pruned to form a properly rounded crown.

The plant will fully develop in about six months. Mature azaleas can be carefully divided during repotting, minimizing damage to the root system. This will achieve two goals: propagation and rejuvenation of the bush. If everything was done correctly, the new azaleas will bloom on time the following year.

The next division can be carried out no earlier than after 3 years.

Propagation by seed is the preserve of professional breeders and is rarely practiced by amateur gardeners. Most seeds fail to germinate, and young seedlings die at the slightest mistake. But if you enjoy experimenting, why not give it a try?

Diseases and pests of azaleas

Demand for gorgeous flowering azalea bushes continues unabated. They're a great alternative to cut flower bouquets, as living plants last much longer.

Caring for azaleas at home should begin immediately after purchase and methodically follow the established rules.

Signs	Cause	Elimination
The leaves dry up and fall off.	The burn occurred due to excess sun and insufficient watering.	Change the location. Increase the frequency of watering and misting. Install humidifiers.
Brownish, rusty or ashy coating.	Fungal disease.	Damaged leaves are removed. The remaining ones are treated with solutions of soap, potassium permanganate, baking soda, or commercially available products.
Flowers wither and turn yellow prematurely.	Lack of fertilizer or poor quality water.	Increase the frequency of feeding. Water is thoroughly filtered and allowed to settle.
Reduction of the flowering period.	Very hot climate, dry air.	Move to a cool place, additional spraying.
The leaves curl, change shape and color.	Phytophthora damage due to overwatering.	Repotting, reducing watering. Spraying with copper sulfate.
The leaves become spotted, the edges partially dry out, and a spider web and insects are visible.	Infestation with mites, scale insects, whiteflies.	The leaves are wiped with a cotton swab soaked in a solution of laundry soap, then sprayed with insecticides: Actellic or Aktara.

"Slowly but surely" is the motto of all azalea growers. The plant can expect a long, flourishing life. Its blooms will become more profuse with age. Because it tolerates pruning, bonsai enthusiasts use azaleas to create whimsical living studies.

Once you've mastered caring for a single azalea bush, you'll surely want to amass a vast collection and create a unique azalea mix. After all, if you've managed to tame such beauty, the love promises to be long-lasting and mutual.