How to care for azaleas after they bloom
If you want to know how to care for azaleas after they bloom and the key points of maintenance after the blooming period of azaleas in terms of green plants and flowers, the following article introduces the information to netizens by the site editor.
Azaleas bloom very beautifully and vividly in winter, and the blooming period is also very long. Most of the flowers that are planted early have already finished blooming. Recently, many people have been saying that azaleas can rebloom after finishing flowering, as long as the operation is proper. Can the azaleas we keep at home bloom a second or third time? Can they really bloom all year round? Don't be deceived by them. Azaleas are plants that bloom only once a year. If you follow their methods after buying and finishing flowering, it will only delay its growth season and delay the differentiation of flower buds in the second year, so don't listen to them. If you want to make it bloom again next year, you just need to take care of it like this and it won't cause any problems.
1. Pruning
After the azaleas finish flowering, the first step is to prune it. The method of pruning is to remove the top of the new tender buds that have just grown, retain some stems, usually keeping two to four leaves. For the branches that have finished flowering, cut them short properly, remove all the remaining flowers, and剪掉 the dense and weak branches inside, as well as the buds that grow from the bottom. After this pruning is done, it will quickly recover and grow enough new buds, which will be strong enough to bloom well the next year without flower drop or bud drop.
2. Repotting
Since many people buy azaleas just after buying them and usually don't repot them when they have flowers, if you want to repot them now, it's okay, just after pruning you can repot them. Choose a pot that is about the same size as the original pot or one size larger. When repotting, remove it from the pot, discard 1/3 of the soil to expose most of the new roots. Use well-draining soil when repotting, and the ready-made nutrient soil we buy can be used, but do not use soil with slow-release fertilizer, as this can easily cause root burn. As long as the soil is well-draining and similar to its original soil, you can directly fill it up, water it thoroughly, and place it in a place with diffused light and good ventilation to recover.
3. Fertilizing
After the seedlings have recovered and it is obvious that they are growing, we need to supplement the fertilizer appropriately. Do not fertilize during the recovery period. When new buds appear, apply fertilizer, and then use a balanced multi-element fertilizer every 15 days or so. Do not use single-element fertilizers. Do not use too high a concentration; dilute it a bit and pour it directly into the water when watering. Continue using this until summer, then switch to phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, such as monopotassium phosphate, to make the branches age quickly. By autumn, flower buds can grow directly from the top.
How to care for azaleas after they bloom
The most crucial fertilizer is ferrous sulfate because azaleas prefer acidic conditions. It is prone to yellow leaves at home, so it should be watered with ferrous sulfate every one to two months to ensure that the leaves remain green and do not turn yellow, which does not affect its growth.
4. Watering
Azaleas are plants that require a higher humidity level. Watering should control the humidity properly. Generally, under the premise of good indoor ventilation, water the soil when the surface is dry and water thoroughly to avoid root rot. If the indoor ventilation is poor, let the potting soil dry down two to three centimeters or half before watering. This will not cause problems, but it is necessary to humidify the plant properly under the premise of good ventilation by misting the leaves, which can maintain enough humidity and prevent dry and rotten leaves. If indoor ventilation is poor, use the method of adding water to the saucer by placing a brick or block of wood in a large saucer and putting the pot on the brick or wood block, then adding water to the saucer. The evaporating water can increase the humidity of the air.
If you follow the four steps mentioned by Xiaoqi after your azaleas finish blooming, your plants will quickly recover and grow new branches. If well cared for, they can grow flower buds in autumn. However, remember that azaleas are also light-loving plants. In summer, provide 50% shade, and give them more light in spring, autumn, and winter. This will make the leaves darker after they grow. If they lack light, the leaves will be small and light in color, and it will affect their flowering performance.
The above is the complete introduction of [Green Plant Enthusiast Website] on how to care for azaleas after they bloom and the key points of post-blooming maintenance, hoping it can be helpful to you. Don't forget to visit Green Plant Enthusiast Website more often for more experience and knowledge!