Azalea is a beautiful, flowering plant that is often used as an indoor decoration. Though azaleas require some upkeep, the steps to growing azaleas are relatively simple. To start, azaleas need soil that is rich in organic matter and well-draining.
They also prefer acidic soils with a pH of 4.0 to 6.0. Azaleas should be planted in an area that receives partial shade or filtered sunlight. When watering azaleas, be sure to use lukewarm water and avoid getting the leaves wet, as this can cause leaf spots.
Azaleas should be fertilized regularly with an azalea-specific fertilizer or a slow-release fertilizer. Finally, azaleas need to be pruned in late winter or early spring to encourage new growth. With a little bit of care, azaleas can be easy to grow and make a beautiful addition to any home or garden.
Essentials
Soil
Azaleas are beautiful indoor plants that thrive in acidic soil with good drainage and light soil. Moist soil and high organic matter is good for healthy growth. Add mulch, and pine straw. Repeat annually. Azalea has shallow roots and dislikes too much moisture.
Azaleas are one of the most popular indoor plants because they are easy to care for and provide vibrant color all year round. When choosing an azalea for your home, it is important to select a variety that is best suited for your particular climate. For example, azaleas that are native to colder climates will not do well in warm, humid environments.
Once you have selected the right azalea for your home, provide it with acidic soil that has good drainage and light soil. Moisture is also important for healthy growth, so be sure to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Mulch and pine straw can also help to retain moisture and protect the roots from extreme temperatures.
Annual applications of mulch and pine straw are typically sufficient, but you may need to apply more frequently if your azalea is growing in an especially hot or dry environment.
Watering
Tiny hair like roots of Azalea cannot tolerate too much water retention in the soil they are in. However, these roots dpnot do very well in dry soil.
Well drained, nutrient rich soil that is watered just enough to make sure soil is not try but does not retain water for too long to start root rot is what we are after.
Flowers
Azaleas grow in woodlands and they flower in full bloom. They do not bloom all season but they do bloom for parts of summer.
Different varieties bloom at different times of the year, a phenomenon called spot-flowering.
They come in many colours and bloom together which is one of their most attractive features. Some blooms are fragrant. Flowering takes a lot of nutrient out of the potting mix where the plant grows. Fertilize the soil right after flowering.
Diseases and Pests
Petal blight is a common malady that afflicts azaleas. Flowers turn brown and hang around and slowly other flowers turn brown.
Spraying is commonly done to rid the plant of this disease. Common pests are two spotted mite and lace bugs.
Irritation to pets
Azaleas are toxic to pets. Common symptoms of poisoning are nausea, vomiting, drooling. Ingestion of large quantities of this plant may lead to coma and sometimes even death.
Propagation
Stems of azaleas can be used to propagate new plants. A 10cm long stem can be used. All flowers and leaves from the start of the cutting to about 2-3 cm from the top are removed. Azalea stems do not root in water and need soil.
Soil should be mixed with draining components such as mulch and coir and stem should be planted in it. Soil should be well draining such as sand, a good rooting hormone speeds up the rooting process. Rooting also speeds up in a humid environment.
You can optionally, cover cutting in plastic bottles that have their bottoms cut away. This creates a humid mini greenhouse for these cuttings.
| Azalea | |
| Water | Water the plant twice a week; though the plants like water, waterlogging for more than 1-1 1/2 hours may cause the root to die. |
| Soil ph | 4.0-6.0 |
| Sunlight hours | Grown in full sun for about 4 hours or part shade. |
| Pests and Diseases | Leaf and flower gall, ovulinia petal blight, root rot and top dieback, powdery mildew are some of the pests. |
| Temperature | Average room temp of 60-70- deg F (16-21 deg C) favourable, exptemely cold or too hot temp may prevent buds from forming. |
| Soil composition | Likes slightly acidic, well-draining soil with a friable structure; adapted to a fairly wide range of soil structure. |
