Azalea

Heather family. Azalea (Rhododendron) are beautiful flowering shrubs in the form of low-stemmed plants with a spreading crown, grow them in potting culture and as garden plants.

Historically, azaleas grow in India and China, in the mountainous regions of the Caucasus and Siberia, as well as the southern states of the United States. The genus of rhododendrons is very extensive, includes evergreen, semi-deciduous and deciduous species, mainly have a bush shape, but there are also ampel and pyramidal forms of rhododendrons, in total there are more than 1000 species. One of the parents of modern hybrid varieties of indoor azaleas is Rhododendron Sims Rhododendron simsii or Indian azalea (synonym Rhododendron indicu), Rhododendron Japanese Rhododendron (azalea) japonica.

Azalea (rhododendron) is a well-branched shrub, the leaves are alternate, sessile or on short petioles, obovate, the flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences, less often solitary. The flowers are bisexual - they have both stamens and a pistil in one flower, pollinated by insects. The fruit is a multi-seeded box.

Currently, from a taxonomic point of view, the name Azalea Azalea is obsolete. And it is correct to call all these plants Rhododendrons, including those grown at home. But the beautiful name Azalea has stuck so much that even flower suppliers often sell them under the old name. However, some experts (for example, Brian Johnston, Canada) distinguish potted azaleas in a separate group in the genus rhododendron, based on the formation of flowers. So, on rhododendrons, flowers are formed in multi-flowered brushes. During flowering, the shrub is so abundantly covered with flowers that green leaves are practically invisible. At the same time, indoor hybrid rhododendrons - we call Azaleas, as a rule, have single flowers. I.e. differ from all other rhododendrons precisely by the presence of one or two flowers on the branch (terminal flowers). In addition, azaleas have a much smaller bush (stunted), smaller leaves, and flowers too. For example, in species rhododendrons (and garden forms), leaves can reach a length of 10-15 cm or more, in Azalea grown at home, usually no more than 4-5 cm (much larger in the garden).

The selection of Rhododendrons has been intensively carried out for two hundred years, and the result of such work was the presence in the gardens of greenhouses of the world of about 10,000 different varieties. Among the Azaleas, also as true Rhododendrons, there are deciduous and eternally green varieties. Among evergreen Azaleas, hybrids of interest are: Dutch breeding (Kaempferi hybrids and Vuykiana hybrids); Pennsylvania hybrids (Gable hybrids by Joseph B. Gable - among them there are amazing azaleas with flowers exactly like a rose), in general Pennsylvania is famous for collectors and breeders of rhododendrons and azaleas; Japanese hybrids (Satsuki hybrids - among them varieties specially grown as bonsai, Kurume hybrids, etc.)

Azalea varieties

It is not always possible to determine the variety of azaleas in such a variety of many thousands, here are some of the most popular of them:

Azalea care

Rhododendron Sims or Azalea Indian (and all hybrids) is a rather capricious plant, you need to water especially carefully, adhere to the optimal temperature of the content, carefully select and prepare the soil, maintain optimal air humidity. Consider how to care for azalea.

Temperature

In summer, the usual temperature for the house, but on hot days when the temperature is above 28 ° C, it is advisable to rearrange the pot with azalea to a cooler place (for example, make it from the windowsill to the floor). In winter, azaleas are kept in cool conditions (optimal temperature 10-15 ° C). It is advisable in the fall, during the laying of flower buds, to maintain a temperature of about 6-8 ° C, and then, after two months, by the time of flowering, increase to 12-15 ° C.

Stimulation of azalea blooms

Different varieties of azaleas bloom at different times of the year in winter, spring, summer or autumn. Many of them have a pronounced dormant period, with a decrease in temperature in autumn and a decrease in daylight hours. But the laying of flower buds is facilitated by the cool temperature, and it is not necessary to withstand 2 or 3 months in the cold, it is enough to create a contrasting temperature difference: night and day with a difference of about 7-8 ° C. I.e. enough when during the day 22 ° C, at night 16 ° C. Sharper jumps and temperature fluctuations lead to stress.

Spring pruning of the crown and pruning of the roots during transplantation also stimulates azaleas flowering.

Lighting

Bright light, direct sunlight is allowed for azaleas only in the morning or evening. Without shading, rhododendron grows well on the eastern windowsill, northwest, worse on the north (there is still little light). On the southern and western window, the azalea is too hot, shading is necessary from 11 to 17 hours. These rules apply only to the spring-summer season - from about January to August. From autumn to mid-winter, azaleas are not afraid of even the midday sun if you live in central Russia or in the northern regions - since the sun does not indulge us during this period with frequent appearances and rises too low to leave burns. Thus, the autumn-winter sun does not threaten the azaleas.

Watering

The soil in azaleas should be slightly moist inside the root coma all the time, but not excessively damp. From re-drying, azaleas lose not only flowers, but also leaves. Azalea is one of the few houseplants that tolerates both excessive dampness and complete drying of the earth very poorly. It is also necessary to navigate with the frequency of watering by temperature, something like this: when it is hot (24-28 ° C), the ground on the surface is dry, you can water. When it is cooler - about 20-24 ° C, as the ground dried on the surface, wait one day or a little longer and then water. If the temperature is about 15-18 ° C, after the earth has dried from above, wait until the next time for another 3-4 days.

You can also navigate with watering according to the degree of lightness of the pot. Just remember what it is about weight, when the soil is dry and each time dry until about the same lightness.

The fibrous thin roots of azaleas from the overflow easily rot, and complete drying out very quickly leads to the death of the plant. This should be especially taken into account when growing azalea as bonsai and potensai. To prevent the soil in small pots from drying out quickly, especially in the heat of summer, cover it with moss (forest or sphagnum) or sprinkle it with small gravel crumbs. But in this case, drainage to the bottom and large holes in the pot should be mandatory! If it gets colder, on the contrary, remove moss from the soil surface so that it dries faster.

Air humidity

Azalea loves moist air, the optimal rate is between 50-70%. They spray it only with soft settled or boiled water. During flowering, they are sprayed from a very small sprayer, since drops can cause spots on the petals. You can also put pots of azaleas on a tray with wet pebbles or moss. In general, the need for azalea in moist air is much higher than in abundant watering. And frequent watering does not compensate for the lack of relative humidity. The only periods when you can forget about spraying are the off-season, when houses turned off the heating (in late spring) until hot summer days and, when they have not yet turned on - from late August to mid-October. Due to precipitation, humidity at this time is naturally kept in optimal mode.

Dressing and fertilizing azaleas

Indoor azaleas can begin to fertilize from April to September (or at other times of the year in very good light). Fed, once every three weeks with special fertilizer for rhododendrons. Fertilizers for ornamental flowering plants, such as Fertica Lux, or others can also be used if they do not have an alkaline reaction.

Pruning azalea

Adult flowering azaleas can be pruned every spring in order to slightly reduce the growing crown, increase the number of future flower branches. After flowering, all shoots of the previous year and strongly grown or stretched shoots are shortened, branches are thinned densely, and weak growth is removed. Old specimens are rejuvenated by short pruning and their subsequent planting in the ground for the summer. Azaleas with falling leaves during the dormant period are kept in a cool and dark basement.

If the azalea has undergone severe crown pruning, it is desirable to simultaneously prune the roots in order to balance the tops and roots in volume. Remove the azalea from the pot, cut the lower part of the root coma with a sharp knife horizontally (about 2 cm), remove the layer of earth 1-2 cm from above. Do not touch the root coma itself (inside), but put it back in the old pot (or the same size), adding fresh earth. After such a procedure, water with zircon (1-2 drops per 1 liter of water).

Azalea transplant

It is necessary to transplant azalea at the very beginning of the vegetation, when the buds of new young leaves appear. You can also replant after purchase when flowering ends. Azaleas have a superficial root system, so the pots for them should not be too deep, but rather wide, but taking into account drainage - preferably 2-3 cm high.

Soil for azalea

The soil for azalea is nutritious, porous, and quite acidic. Optimum pH value is 5-5.5 or in the range from 4.5 to 6. The best soil for azaleas is coniferous soil, which is used without special preparation, pH 4.5-6.0. If you collect land somewhere in nature yourself, then you can take it in mixed undergrowth, where birches and pines grow, but peat land is also suitable. Azalea does not tolerate heavy loam, and land taken in places where oaks grow. Pieces of pine bark (they acidify) and coconut substrate (it can be neutral) can be added to the soil for azaleas.

Many ready-made soil mixtures can be found on the market. What soil to choose for azalea? Only from proven manufacturers, for example, soils from "Fasco" and "Sad" were repeatedly caught in the inconsistency of the composition (examination of St. Petersburg for 2013). From store soils for azaleas, we can recommend:

Reproduction of azalea

Azaleas are usually propagated by cuttings, although this presents some difficulties. Cuttings are cut after flowering, they take not green, but beginning to be slightly covered with brown, not yet bark, but with a thin crust, i.e. semi-lignified. Cuttings are rooted in the ground, using peat with sand or sheet earth. Half of the vermiculite can be added to the substrate. In water, cuttings root poorly, often rot. From the cut handle, you need to remove the lower leaves, leaving 3-4 leaves at the top, it is advisable to dip the tip into the root or heteroauxin and immerse it in the ground, no more than 2 cm in depth. You can hold the handle in advance, before planting, for 16-18 hours in a heteroauxin solution at a temperature of about 22 ° C in a dark place.

The care of azaleas also consists in the timely removal of wilted flowers, thinning the crown. Maintaining the beautiful shape of the bush is carried out by pinching and pruning. Pinched for better branching of branches in early spring, with a new increase. Azalea shoots can be cut off radically after flowering, or if the lower part of the stems is exposed from violations of the conditions of maintenance. Do not break out the branches, but simply cut with scissors at the desired length. No need to sprinkle or grease the sections

The challenges of growing azaleas

Azalea has a short flowering period: when the plant is too hot and the air is too dry. Place the pot as far away from the central heating batteries as possible, and spray the leaves daily. Too bright sunlight and insufficient watering can also be the reason for the premature end of flowering.

Leaves turn yellow at azalea: excessive dampness, hard water, soil latching (hard or chlorinated water), iron is not absorbed (leaf chlorosis).

Poor growth, browning of the lower leaves, few buds or lack of flowering may be associated with planting azaleas in unsuitable soil.

Why is azalea sick after purchase?

Seeing a pot of blooming azaleas in a store makes it hard for some people to resist and not buy it. But many do not know that azaleas will not be able to grow and bloom in normal home conditions (some features of the varieties). They will need to provide a cool and humid atmosphere. You can place pots with azaleas between the window frames, it is much cooler there, but you will have to regularly monitor the thermometer so that it does not fall below 8 ° C, at the time of budding, and during flowering it was about 13 ° C.

The problem with azaleas after purchase is also that the frequent change in care conditions is a big stress for them (changes in temperature and irrigation regime in greenhouses, then in the store and in our house). Therefore, azaleas that were bought immediately after entering the store take root better, they simply will not have time to stand on dark shelves or rot from diligent watering. Although, according to the statistics of some flower shops, the "survival" of azaleas after purchase is about 45-50%, i.e. almost only every second plant will take root, and will bloom. Therefore, in order for this plant to bloom and delight you, try to provide it with decent living conditions.

Azalea pests

Shields and false shields: sometimes you can notice brown plaques on the surface of leaves and stems, shields suck out cell juice. The leaves lose their color, dry and fall. Control measures. For mechanical cleaning of pests, the leaves are wiped with a soap sponge. Then pour the earth in a pot with a plant with a systemic insecticide actara or confidor. In the absence of these drugs, you can spray 0.15% actellic solution (1-2 ml per liter of water).

Spider mite: appears with too dry air - a spider web appears in the internodes on the stems, it becomes noticeable already with severe damage. The leaves become lethargic, punctures are visible in the lumen. Control measures. Wipe the plant with a soap sponge and wash under a warm shower. Maintain high humidity. To kill pests, they are sprayed with acaricides (for example, the drug Apollo).

Mealy worms: small white, as if shaggy pests affect leaves, shoots and flowers, often accumulate in the basal zone or in internodes. The leaves curve, dry and fall, the plant dies. Control measures. Wash the pests with a soap sponge and under a warm shower. Water the soil with a systemic insecticide (actara, confidor).

Azalea FAQ

Propagation of azaleas by cuttings