How to properly care for Belgian azaleas
This article provides an introduction to the topic of caring for Belgian azaleas at home. In the following sections, the editor will introduce how to properly care for Belgian azaleas.
Belgian azaleas (also known as Western azaleas) are woody plants, originally introduced from Belgium to China. They can bloom throughout the year, and their blooming period can be controlled. Flower colors include red, white, butterfly, pink, bright red, and flag red, making them one of the main types of potted flowers produced worldwide.
If you want to keep the plant lush with leaves and full of flowers for an extended period, you must now剪去 some of the flowers on the branches to save nutrients. Since flowers require a lot of nutrients to bloom, if you only focus on the immediate beauty of the flowers, once the azalea's nutrients are exhausted, the plant will wither and approach death. This is also the main reason why sometimes the best-looking flowers die shortly after purchase.
In addition, the roots of the azalea are as fine as hair, with very few thick main roots. They are afraid of both dryness and waterlogging. If watered too much, the fibrous roots of the azalea can rot when soaked in water; if watering is forgotten or insufficient, the plant will have wilted leaves and petals will fall off within a few days, putting the plant's life at risk. Therefore, after purchasing an azalea, you should first check the moisture level of the potting soil. If it is wet, there is no need to water, or you can spray the leaves with water. If it is dry, you can first add water to a basin and then place the pot in the water to soak thoroughly, waiting for half an hour before removing it. This can sustain the plant for 4 to 5 days without watering.
After the flowers fade, you must剪去 the remaining flowers to avoid nutrient consumption from fruiting. When new branches sprout, you should thin them appropriately, depending on the plant's growth. If the plant is strong, you can thin more branches; if weak, fewer branches. For sprouting, overly long, intersecting, inner, conjoined, dead, and diseased branches, they must be剪去. Keeping them not only consumes nutrients but also affects ventilation and light penetration.
Azaleas prefer acidic soil and dislike alkaline; they like semi-shade and dislike strong sunlight; they like good drainage and dislike high temperatures and enclosed spaces. Additionally, they need shade in the summer and should be kept indoors for warmth in the winter. During the growing period, fertilize with a thin solution of fermented fertilizer every two weeks and spray with pesticides to prevent and treat diseases and pests.
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