How to care for azaleas? Reblooming azaleas also thrive
Answering netizens' questions about the knowledge of caring for azaleas at home, how to care for azaleas? Reblooming azaleas also thrive. Let's learn about it together next.
How to care for azaleas? Learn from the experience of retired flower craftsmen caring for azaleas, because the planting conditions in every household are different, if you also want to grow azaleas, you should never copy others, you must care for azaleas according to your own conditions, and you must figure out a method to care for azaleas by yourself.
I have put the most important growing conditions at the beginning, azaleas are kept indoors for half a year in the northeast, with heating in winter and a temperature of about 24 degrees. They are kept outdoors for half a year, placed on the north-facing terrace, exposed to sunlight for 2-3 hours a day. For those without a garden, the north-facing terrace or balcony is the best place to spend the summer.
Many friends say that azaleas are difficult to care for, and I used to think so too. Every time I bought azaleas, the seller would tell me to water them when the soil is dry and wet. As a result, I have killed countless azaleas, with symptoms such as the edges of the leaves drying up, flowers not dared to touch, leaves falling off in large numbers when touched, and flowers hanging because the potting soil was not dry yet, and I was still reluctant to water.
In the summer, watering azaleas when the soil is dry and wet is not enough, they need a lot of water. If too much water is given, the leaves will fall off, and if too little water is given, the leaves will also fall off. The timing of the two watering sessions must be mastered. Caring for azaleas requires careful attention. Whether you keep them indoors or outdoors, you must figure out a watering method by yourself, which no one can teach you. Just remember, they need more water than ordinary plants. The key to caring for azaleas is the watering. If you master the watering, then caring for azaleas will be no problem. Different varieties require different amounts of water. My 'Hong Shuangxi' variety requires less water than the other two.
The methods of caring for azaleas in the south and north are definitely different. The air humidity is high in the south, while the climate is dry in the north, so it is essential not to let the azaleas in the north lack water.
Take my azaleas as an example. They are kept on the north-facing terrace outdoors. Now the temperature is a little over 30 degrees, almost needing to be watered every day. In extreme cases (very high temperature + strong wind), they need to be watered in the morning and evening. The watering schedule cannot be fixed and must be adjusted according to the needs of the plant. If you keep them indoors, it is another watering method. Now I don't even need to look at the potting soil to water; I just touch the surface of the potting soil, and if it's not wet, I water. Or if the surface soil doesn't stick to my hand when I dig into it, I water.
After the beginning of autumn, the weather cools down in the morning and evening, with a large temperature difference. The watering of azaleas also changes, and less water is needed than in the first few days. Two of the azaleas are about to bloom, and I watered as usual, but some of the flower buds couldn't open and wilted. I let the potting soil dry a bit before watering, and the flower buds opened. The watering of azaleas should not be a fixed pattern and must be flexible.
In late October in the northeast, the flowers need to be brought indoors. At this time, be sure to pay attention to the watering of the azaleas and do not overwater. Remember this, remember this.
In December in the northeast, it's already very cold. The indoor temperature is about 22 degrees during the day with sunlight, and about 15 degrees at night. When the flowers are first brought indoors, the azaleas basically do not grow or bloom for a period, the leaves lose their luster, and there is no vitality. I think this is because the azaleas are not adapted to the indoor temperature. At this time, you should not be anxious. The watering must be careful, and the water should not be too much. You must wait for the potting soil to turn white before watering. As for how white it should be, you have to observe carefully. But you should never let the potting soil dry out completely, as the leaves will fall off if the soil is too dry. When you see the flower buds grow larger, change color, and new leaves appear, it means that the azaleas are slowly adapting to the indoor environment. When your azaleas bloom more and more, the watering should be gradually increased. You still need to observe carefully and master it.
If your azalea buds do not bloom and the small buds dry up in the winter indoors in the northeast, this is a sign of too much water. If there is too much water, the leaves will fall off.
Usually, azaleas need to be repotted after purchase. When repotting, the potting soil should not cover the old roots, the top of the original potting soil should be visible, not even a bit of soil should be covering it. This makes it easier to judge the dryness or wetness of the potting soil and is also better for the azalea roots to breathe.
The old flower工匠 really has limited skills, and even with so many words, it may not be clear how to care for azaleas well in the northeast. Friends, don't be discouraged. Azaleas are so beautiful and bloom for a very long time. As long as you pay attention to the watering of the azaleas carefully, you will definitely be able to care for them well.
Generally, the purchased azaleas come in soft plastic pots. When I get home, I always repot them, but you can also choose not to repot, and do it after the flowers have finished blooming. The new pot should not be too large, just a little bigger than the original pot is fine. The purpose is to make the pot a little bigger to accommodate more soil and fill the space fully. Never let the original soil clump of the azalea disintegrate, this point must be noted. The soil I use is 3 parts peat and 1 part perlite, and I don't use any fertilizer. The flowers bought recently are the most beautiful, and they don't lack any nutrients. Maintaining the azaleas after flowering is no problem at all.
Some friends ask how to fertilize azaleas. I almost never fertilize azaleas when they are flowering. Maybe towards the end of the flowering period, when I fertilize other flowers with liquid fertilizer, I also add a little to it, but not much. I feel that azaleas do not need too much fertilizer. Before May 1st, when the flowers are moved to the north-facing terrace, and new leaves start to grow obviously, it's time to fertilize. I use ordinary compound fertilizer, buried a little bit at the edge of the pot, not too much. Once a month, provided that the azaleas are growing very well. I applied the last dose of fertilizer a week ago when I saw the flower buds. I fertilize with compound fertilizer three times in total. It's better to use less fertilizer than more.
I pruned the branches once in the spring when the flowers were moved outdoors. Azaleas grow new leaves when they bloom, because the flowers bloom at different times, with a difference of 2-3 months. After the blooming period, the leaves are uneven in height. When the azaleas are moved outdoors in the spring, the long branches should be pruned. After pruning the branch tips, 2-3 new branches will grow, making the azaleas look lush with many flower buds. This way, the growth of the new branches is synchronized. When I pruned the branch tips, some long branches already had flower buds, while others were just starting to grow leaves. This results in uneven blooming and is not as beautiful.
Azaleas need to be brought indoors around October 20th in the northeast. At this time, it is especially important to pay attention to the watering after moving the flowers indoors. Do not water them as frequently as when they are outdoors. If you are not careful and overwater, the leaves will all fall off, which would be a whole year of hard work wasted. Once the leaves fall off, it's hard for the plant to recover, and the ornamental value is greatly reduced.
As long as you master the watering and understand its habits, azaleas are still very easy to care for in the summer with a suitable environment. If left to grow naturally, the blooming period is quite long, and the leaves are also beautiful when not in bloom, lush and green.
The above content about how to care for azaleas and how to make reblooming azaleas thrive, have green plant enthusiasts understood?