2. Advice from V.S. Ivanova from Tyumen.

Adult azaleas falling into city ​​apartment with central heating, they do not tolerate new conditions well and do not always get used to a new place of residence, so it is better to grow an azalea yourself. I remove the cuttings from the plant purchased in the spring (March-April) - then they root better. The substrate can be two-layer (lower - horse dung, top - sand); I usually use peat: I take slightly decomposed peat with plant residues, fill a pot with a diameter of 12-15 cm with it and moisten it. I cut 4 cuttings 5-6 cm long from the azalea and plant them at an equal distance from each other, deepening by 2-2.5 cm. I cover the pot with a plastic bag from above and fix the bag around the pot with an elastic band. I remove the package only when the substrate for irrigation dries up (after about 2 weeks). If the cuttings are taken from a healthy azalea, then they all take root.

After about 2 months, during which the cuttings are rooting, new leaves appear. I begin to gradually accustom the plants to the dry air of the room, opening them for 2-3 hours a day. After a week, I take off the bag completely and feed the young azaleas. In September-October, when the cuttings are well rooted and grow up, I carefully plant the azaleas in separate pots and cover them again with plastic bags for 1-2 weeks, since the roots may be damaged during transplantation. Azaleas obtained from cuttings develop well and subsequently bloom annually.

Lucy shares her experience:

I bought a small azalea bush in the store, or rather they gave it to me (so as not to throw it away), since it was very weak and sick. This, as I understand it, happened only because of a simple tap water which the store used for watering. I would like to advise all lovers of azaleas to buy a solution at the pharmacy boric acid and use it in a ratio of 10 drops per liter of settled water for watering flowers. You will be pleasantly surprised by the result, my azalea, for example, appreciated this "drink" !!!

Lyudmila tells:

Azalea is a capricious flower, as it requires humidity and ventilation of the room, as well as a low air temperature, lighting for 12 hours, and does not tolerate transplants, moreover, it must be humid upper layer soil. More than 2 years old bush in dry and warm room does not live.
When growing azaleas, the acidity of the substrate is very important, as well as moisture and air permeability. Air permeability is also very important for azaleas. It responds well to drip irrigation, ice covering the soil. The substrate should include peat, spruce soil, which cannot be turned into compressed loam.

In order to keep the azalea longer in room conditions, you need to keep it close at the slightly open window, separate it from the dry air of the battery, if there is no air humidifier - for example, with a film in which the bouquets are wrapped, and never take it off (at least to admire the flower).

When it's summer heat outside, I put the azaleas in the refrigerator until the heat subsides, and take care of the azaleas, as before: you can highlight there too chinese lantern(battery powered). Therefore, I specifically buy small and low bushes of azaleas (I keep the flower pot in cellophane) and certainly root the stalk, observing the above listed conditions of its habitat.

Flowers in the house: lush azalea.

Azalea, or rhododendron, from the Heather family is rightfully considered one of the most ornamental shrubs that adorn the house. bright bloom in the most dark time years and surprising abundance of flowers, behind which leaves are sometimes not visible. Beautifully flowering species and varieties are native to China, Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe and North America. Funnel-shaped flowers - white, pink, crimson, bright red - monochromatic or bicolor - collected in brushes or corymbose. The most valuable are the varieties originating from the species of Indian rhododendron and Sims rhododendron, blooming in large flowers in winter until spring. The Japanese azalea has small flowers, it blooms in April, sometimes at Christmas. In eastern countries, azaleas have been cultivated as the most beloved flowering plants since ancient times, their flowers are a symbol of joy, peace and freedom.

With careful care, azaleas become more beautiful every year. After flowering, you need to cut off all faded flowers and thickened shoots (be careful: rhododendrons may contain toxic substances!). Pruning shoots is necessary several times in early summer to form a lush bush. Also, young shoots that form immediately before, or during flowering, are pinched.

Azaleas love light to partial shade, but cannot stand the sun. Provide it with coolness (in autumn and winter 5-10 degrees for the ripening of the buds, when the buds swell 18 degrees) and a lot of fresh air, from the beginning of May you can keep it outdoors in partial shade. Watering with soft water, avoiding waterlogging or overdrying of the earth. In summer, watering is plentiful, in autumn, reduce watering to form buds. Spray in spring and summer. In the summer, once a month, put the pot on a short time into a bucket of water, wait until the excess water is drained and put it back in the same place as it was on the window (mark the pot with electrical tape), otherwise the change in position in relation to the light may cause the leaves to fall off.

Young plants are transplanted annually, old ones every 2-3 years in rhododendron soil (or prepare a mixture of peat, turf soil and sand in a ratio of 5: 1: 1), the plants do not tolerate lime. When transplanting azaleas, it is undesirable to disturb the root ball (since there are useful soil fungi on the roots), instead of transplanting, transshipment with the addition of fresh substrate is recommended. From the end of February to August, feed with flower fertilizer without lime 2 times a month, or add low concentration rhododendron fertilizer to the water for irrigation.

If the temperature is too high and the air is dry, the azalea is attacked by a spider mite, which can lead to yellowing and leaf fall. A spider mite or red spider is a very small sucking pest that forms an interlacing of thin white threads on the underside of the leaves. Rinse the leaves of the plant with a stream of water from the shower, covering the ground with cellophane, and treat the leaves with the preparation until the pests disappear. Due to their toxicity, treatment with chemical preparations is undesirable in a residential area, therefore, prepare and use preparations from plants: decoctions and infusions of tobacco, onions, garlic, pepper, yarrow, calendula, etc. Increase the frequency of spraying not only the plant itself, but also the space Around him. The humidity can be raised by using an electric humidifier or by placing a wide flat pan of water next to the plant.

Azaleas are good for making bonsai, but keep in mind that the trunk is a little brittle and should be supported with your hands when gently bent. In autumn, well-groomed azaleas are given the desired shape (semi-cascading or panicle) and transplanted into bonsai dishes.

Tell us how to properly care for an azalea. The leaves dry at the end, loses the color of the leaves, buds have accumulated, and do not bloom.

Azaleas are difficult to provide optimal care at home.
For the development of azalea flower buds, a temperature of 18 degrees is required (therefore profuse flowering the azalea passes in winter when fresh air in the cool); a lot of light, but not in the sun; high air humidity and moderate watering soft water (the earthen lump should not dry out); fertilization 2 times a month in spring and summer. Azalea does not like abrupt changes in conditions of detention ( large swings temperature and humidity, drafts, drying out earthen coma, turning the pot on the window). For supporting high humidity air, the pot with azalea is placed on a stand (so that water does not get into drain hole) into a pan with water. Until the buds are colored, the azalea is sprayed with water 2-3 times a day, after staining the buds, the air around the azalea is often sprayed. Young shoots growing next to the buds are plucked out.

Azalea leaves can dry at the end from excessive soil moisture and insufficient acidity: the leaves can also lose color when using hard water for irrigation, with an excess of calcium. Water the azalea as needed, without stagnant moisture - use water infused with peat (preferably rainwater or taken from a natural reservoir, and if tap water, then filtered). Loosen the soil surface regularly.

Ziborova E.Yu.

Azalea. Care and cultivation of azaleas (indoor flowers)

Azalea is an evergreen blooming and very beautiful bush height 40-50 cm. Azalea leaves are small, leathery, dark green. Azalea blooms beautiful flowers with simple or double corrugated petals different colors... There are azaleas with whites, pinks, bright red, purple flowers. Different varieties azaleas bloom from November to June for 40-60 days.

For decorativeness, gardeners love azalea, and it is a frequent guest in home greenhouses. Azalea is often used for decoration. New Year's table... But at home, azalea can be grown only by following the rules of care.

If you decide to breed an azalea at home, then take care to choose it appropriate place... Azaleas require a cool, bright room in winter, and open air in summer. From sun rays shading is necessary. Azaleas do not tolerate heat and dry air.

Azalea is moisture-loving, so it needs to be watered and sprayed regularly in the morning, especially when the heating is turned on in the apartments and the air becomes dry. Azalea is sprayed with cool water both during growth and during flowering. It is recommended to place the pot of azalea in a gravel pan filled with water. In October, watering is slightly reduced, and the plant is placed in a cool place (15-16 ° C).

It is better to buy young azalea plants in spring, put on the lightest and coldest windowsill, where the temperature is 8-12 ° C. Within a month, the azalea must be formed, for which the tops of young shoots are pinched, creating a crown in the form of a round ball. Azalea blooms almost end in June. Therefore, in summer period they especially strictly monitor watering and feed them 3-4 times with fertilizers that contribute to flowering. Such feeding is carried out from June to September.

With this care, your azalea will bloom from the beginning of December and will delight you until March - April. At the end of flowering, you need to transplant the azalea into ready soil for azalea and heather. You can cook it yourself potting soil: you need 1 part of coniferous land, 2 parts of high-moor peat and some coarse river sand.

It is difficult to propagate an azalea. In March - July, cuttings 5-6 cm long are cut from shoots that have been growing for 5-6 months, that is, they have not yet matured, and are rooted in moist nutrient soil especially for azaleas, deepening by 3 cm. At a temperature of 28-30 "With high humidity, rooting lasts up to 1.5 months.

For grafting, take semi-lignified shoots, cut them into cuttings 5-8 cm long, lower leaves remove, 2-3 upper ones are left completely. Rhododendrons take root rather hard, so it is better to hold the cuttings in a solution of growth stimulants for 12-16 hours: heteroauxin, indoleacetic (IAA), indole-butyric (IMA) or succinic acids at a concentration of 0.02%, and for difficult-to-root varieties - 2-4% ... Further rooting technique is the same as for other crops.

Helpful hints:

During flowering, snow can be added to the soil on top of the pot of azalea instead of watering.

In May, the branches growing inside the room are cut off, leaving only those that contribute to the one-sided development of the crown, and the young shoots are pinched.

The more young branches, the thicker the crown is, but to the detriment of flowering.

The blooming azalea can be rearranged to other places, but after flowering, the plant is placed in the same position in which it grew and formed before flowering.

Reproduction of indoor azaleas. Master Class

Maya Alexandrova

Azaleas are cut in June. Semi-lignified 4-6-month-old shoots are cut on cuttings.

Drainage is laid out at the bottom of the pot (broken pot shards and river sand) with a layer of 3-5 cm, and on top - coniferous soil with a layer of 5-7 cm.

Rooted cuttings are planted in coniferous soil and grown without pots for two to three years - this will make them stronger and more resilient. Three-year-old plants are ready to be transplanted into pots.

by the way

Endotrophic mycorrhiza develops on the roots of heather plants, including azaleas. (Endotrophic mycorrhiza is the joint mutually beneficial existence of higher plants and fungi, in which the cells of the fungal mycelium are inside the plant.) Therefore, the best substrate for propagation by cuttings is coniferous land, rich in beneficial mushrooms and having the most suitable structure for azaleas. You can root cuttings of azaleas in sand or peat. But in this case, the root system of the cuttings develops poorly and after planting they take root worse.

Growing problems

Shriveled leaves: The most likely reason for shrinking and falling leaves is insufficient watering. You can immerse the pot in a container of water several times a week until it is completely saturated. Others possible reasons there may be low air humidity (place the pot in wet peat), too high a temperature or too bright sun.

Short flowering period: Warm dry air is usually the culprit. Place the pot as far away from the batteries as possible central heating, and spray the leaves daily. Too bright sunlight and insufficient watering can also be the reason for the premature end of flowering.

Yellowing of leaves:- Excessive dampness or hard water.

Poor growth, leaf browning, poor budding or no flowering may be associated with planting azaleas in unsuitable soil.

Seeing a pot of blooming azaleas in a store, some people find it difficult to resist and not buy it. But many do not know that azaleas will not be able to grow and bloom in normal indoor conditions. They will need to provide a cool and humid atmosphere.

You can place pots of azaleas between 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.

According to the statistics of some flower shops, the "survival rate" of azaleas after purchase is about 45-50%, i.e. almost only every second plant will take root and bloom.

Therefore, in order for this plant to bloom and delight you, try to provide it decent conditions content.

Shields and false shields: brown plaques on the surface of leaves and stems, sucking out cell sap. Leaves lose color, dry out and fall off.
Control measures. For mechanical cleaning pests, the leaves are wiped with a soapy sponge. Then spray the plant with 0.15% actellik solution (1-2 ml per liter of water). Nice results gives treatment with actara and karbofos.

Spider mite: appears when the air is too dry - a cobweb appears in the internodes on the stems, the leaves become lethargic and fall off, the buds dry.
Control measures. Wipe the plant with a soapy sponge and wash it under a warm shower. Sprayed regularly. Often, only these procedures are enough for the pests to disappear. If azaleas are very strongly affected by a mite and regular moistening does not help, spray with 0.15% actellic solution (1-2 ml per liter of water).

Mealybugs: Leaves, shoots and flowers are affected. The leaves bend, dry and fall off, the plant dies.
Control measures. Wipe the plant with a soapy sponge and wash it under a warm shower. Sprayed regularly. In case of very severe damage, the plant can be sprayed with 0.15% actellik solution (1-2 ml per liter of water).

Heather family. Well-known flowering shrubs in the form of low-stemmed crown plants. More than 350 species are known. It grows in India and China, in the mountainous regions of the Caucasus and Siberia. Garden forms Rhododendron Sims Rododendron simsii- Indian azaleas (or simply azaleas) are extremely diverse. The flowers are usually pink, but there are also white, yellow, red, cream, as well as decorative bi-colored, for example, pink with a white border around the edge of the petals (Inga) and white with a pink center (Osta). Flowers can be double, non-double and with corrugated petals. Ampelous and pyramidal forms have recently appeared. The Japanese azalea has smaller flowers, but it has the advantage over the Indian that it can continue to grow as ornamental shrub, if after the end of flowering it is planted in open ground. "Adventglokhen" with bell-shaped flowers, non-double or slightly double at the edge, crimson-red, 6 cm in diameter. "Doberlug"- with double dark pink flowers with a white border, irregular shape, 7.5 cm in diameter. Dresden 1936- with shiny flowers of medium doubleness, salmon pink color, 6.5 cm in diameter. "Orange Bowin"- with semi-double crimson-red flowers, 5-6.5 cm in diameter. "Ensett Dagmar"- with shiny hot pink double flowers 7 cm in diameter. "Eri"- with semi-double flowers, carmine pink with an irregular white border, 7 cm in diameter. "Helmut Vogel"- very early variety- with double red-purple flowers, 6 cm in diameter. "Weisse Sheme"- with double flowers, broadly funnel-shaped, white with a pinkish (cream) shade, 6 cm in diameter.

Mid late azaleas- bloom in January-March - "Albert-Elizabeth"- with double flowers of white or pale pink with a bright red border along the edge of the petals, 8.5 cm in diameter. Apollo- with non-double or slightly double flowers, brick-red, slightly wavy at the edge, 7 cm in diameter. "Abner"- with semi-double flowers of bright salmon-carmine color, 6.5 cm in diameter. "Knut Erwen"- with double intense red flowers, 6.5 cm in diameter. "Leopold Astrid"- with double flowers, slightly corrugated along the edge, gently Pink colour with a bright red border, 7 cm in diameter. "Max Sheme"- with double flowers, the petals are strongly corrugated along the edge, bright salmon color with a white border, 6.5 cm in diameter. "Florida"- with non-double, intense red flowers, 5-6 cm in diameter.

Late varieties of azaleas- bloom in February - April - "Celestinum"- with non-double flowers of bright carmine color, 6 cm in diameter. "Kontsinna"- with non-double flowers, broadly funnel-shaped, light lilac in color with bright crimson-lilac specks, 7 cm in diameter. "Hexe"- with bright double flowers of wine-red color, 5.5 cm in diameter. "Niobe"- with double white flowers with red dots on the petals, 7.5 cm in diameter. "Professor Walters"- with non-double, funnel-shaped flowers, bright light salmon color, with an almost white edge and red dots on the top three petals, 7.5 cm in diameter. "Shakuntala"- with double white flowers, with green dots in the throat, 7.5 cm in diameter. Ernst Thierce- with semi-double crimson-pink flowers, 8 cm in diameter.

CARE TIPS

Temperature: Keep in cool conditions ( optimum temperature 10-15 ° C). It is advisable in the fall - during the period of flower buds laying - to maintain the temperature at about 6-8 ° С, and then, two months later, by the time of flowering, increase to 12-15 ° С.

Lighting: Bright light, but not direct sunlight.

Watering: The soil should be moist all the time; only soft water is used for irrigation. From overdrying, azaleas lose not only flowers, but also leaves.

Air humidity: Requires very high humidity. Spray only with soft, settled water. It is helpful to frequently shower the plant with cool water. During flowering, they are sprayed with a very fine spray bottle, because drops may cause stains on the leaves. You can also place the azalea pots on a tray of wet pebbles or moss.

Transfer: The best soil for azaleas is coniferous soil, which is used without special preparation. Such soil is well ventilated and does not retain excess moisture. Azaleas have a shallow root system, so their pots should not be too deep, but rather wide. It would be nice to plant an azalea in clay pot, which is placed in the pots. And fill the space between the walls of the pot and the pots with damp moss. During growth, especially during the formation of the kidneys, it is useful to give liquid organic fertilizers, alternating them with mineral. Plants are fed no more than two decades later.

Cut off adult blooming azaleas every spring. After flowering, all the shoots of the last year are shortened and the overgrowing ones that move forward, thin out the densely growing shoots, and remove branches with weak growth. Old specimens are rejuvenated by short pruning and then planting them in the ground for the summer. Azaleas with falling leaves during the dormant period are kept in a cool and dark basement.

Reproduction: After flowering with azaleas, you can take cuttings - young shoots that come out from under the flower. The cuttings are planted in the ground (the azalea does not tolerate the soil taken from under the oak) and covered with glass and a black rag. They are kept at a temperature of 18-20 ° C in absolute darkness. Before planting in the ground, the stalk is dipped into a heteroauxin solution (a tablet per 1 liter of water) and pre-moistened in a slightly pink potassium permanganate solution. Watering is moderate. The water temperature for irrigation is slightly above room temperature. Rooting of the cuttings takes place within two or more months. When the stalk is growing, you should open the glass for one hour during the day (preferably in the afternoon), protecting it from the sun's rays.

The beautiful gesture of giving fresh flowers in pots as a gift for the holidays has become a tradition. In almost every home there is a flower pot with an exquisite plant. Very often, an azalea is chosen as a gift - a flower - a rhododendron.

Despite the beauty of inflorescences and foliage, Azalea very quickly loses its attractive appearance - it dries up. Here the question arises of how to save the azalea, because you really want this flower to retain its vitality as long as possible and please with its bright colors... You can revive the plant, and this is confirmed experienced florists... For resuscitation of azaleas, several simple techniques are used.

Causes provoking the death of azaleas

Dry indoor flower may be due to several factors. And they are all related to the conditions of plant care.

The foliage and shoots of the azalea lose their strength - they wither and subsequently die when:

• lack of regularity of watering;
• excess moisture;
• increased air temperature in the room;
• direct sunlight on foliage;
• lack of light;
• pest infestation;
• lack of fertilizing with fertilizers;
• a sharp drop in temperature;
• damage to the root system;
• when landing in unsuitable soil.

What to do if azalea dries up

If at least one of the above factors occurred before the azalea shed its foliage, and only bare flower shoots remained in the flower pot, the dying azalea should be carefully examined. The identification of living buds provides a basis for helping the plant.

Before resuscitating the azalea, you need to make sure that it has not died completely, otherwise all measures to save it will be in vain.

Watering disturbance

In the absence of proper watering, the root system suffers first of all, the plant receives less nutrients for the formation of new shoots, begins to fade. Weak roots are unable to develop without water, even in the right soil. To resurrect the azalea, in this case, it is not enough to fill the flower with water.

Need to:

Firstly, you should remove the plant from the flower pot, carefully remove the excess soil so as not to damage the weak roots.

Secondly, soak azalea roots for half an hour in a solution containing special growth stimulants for flowering plants.

Thirdly, plant the azalea in the renewed soil and, as a consequence, observe the regularity of watering. Water the azalea should be separated warm water no more than twice a week.

What to do if the flower wilted due to too much watering? With an excess of moisture, the roots of the azalea begin to rot. If the flower has already dropped its foliage, this indicates that almost all of its roots are damaged.

In this case, it is also impossible to do without the so-called transshipment of azaleas:

The wilted azalea should be removed from the pot.

Next, gently clean the roots from the wet soil, rinse in water at room temperature, inspect all branches, cut off rot, treat the living roots with special agents for plants from pathogenic bacteria.

Azalea with the remainder of living roots is transplanted into the renewed soil and subsequently moderate regular watering is performed.

Influence of high temperatures and lighting

If the azalea has dried out due to the high temperature in the room, it will be difficult to reanimate it. But you can still try to revive the plant.

Often, high temperatures have a negative effect on plants if no reserve moisture is accumulated in the soil. That is, the plant is either watered little, or there is little soil in the pot to retain moisture.

How to save the azalea in this case?

If it is not completely dry, then proceed as follows:

To ensure the optimal amount of soil, the plant is transplanted into a larger pot.

Before planting azaleas, the soil is fertilized with shoot growth stimulants.

If there are no shaded areas in the room and the transplanted azalea cannot be protected from the influence of high temperatures, then after each watering on flower pot put on plastic bag for 1-1.5 hours to create the so-called greenhouse effect... This procedure should be done before forcing new azalea leaves.

The sun's rays burn the azalea leaves, they begin to turn yellow and fall off. In this case, the plant needs not only resuscitation, but first aid.

It must be rendered in the following order:

The affected azalea must be removed in partial shade and all damaged yellow and dry leaves must be removed from the shoots.

In insufficient light, the plant can also die, therefore, after a week of standing in the shade, the azalea should be gradually turned towards the sun, perfect option- diffused lighting.

Azalea quickly dies with a sharp change in temperature. For example, if it grew at + 20 ° С, and then conditions for growth were created at + 10 ° С. Azalea is not afraid of cold weather if it is gradually tempered. Do not despair if the azalea begins to shed its foliage in the coolness. It should create a neutral temperature regime growth + 18 ... 20 ° С. And at the same time provide the plant with more solar heat.

Pests and diseases

Azalea is very sensitive to spider mites, aphids and scale insects. The foliage of the plant, which turns yellow and falls off, suffers from these insects.

Reanimation of azaleas in case of pest damage is:

Removing damaged leaves;

Treatment of the plant with special solutions from pests for indoor plants;

If necessary, replace the soil.

With planting soil, a fusarium fungus can be brought into a flower pot, which negatively affects the development of azalea roots, from which they can completely die. The salvation of the flower in this case consists in watering it with a solution of potassium permanganate and the antifungal drug Fundazol.

Poor quality soil

Plants of the rhododendron family prefer to grow in acidic soil.

Often, azalea disappears due to non-compliance with this requirement:

If not all the leaves of the flower have dried up, you can revive it with the help of regular watering with a settled weakly acidic solution of citric acid (1 liter of water + 2 grams of acid).

If the plant is practically dry, then you can try watering with a solution of boric acid (1 liter of water + 3 drops of acid).

With the full value of the root system, it will be appropriate to make the usual transshipment of the flower, picking up more quality soil under it (peat + coniferous soil).

When the azalea has dried up, it is important to determine the root cause of the incident. It is one thing how to save a plant planted with your own hands, and another thing that is bought in a store. Having received an azalea as a gift in a small pot, it should be transplanted by the transshipment method immediately after it fades without waiting for wilting.

Azalea is a whimsical floral plant. During resuscitation, it is extremely important to provide the plant timely assistance... The above recommendations will help to preserve its beauty and strength, the implementation of which is mandatory in caring for a indoor flower.

Azalea is a garden and indoor plant. Belongs to the genus Rhododendron. In winter, the flower blooms profusely, so it is in great demand among flower growers.

We discovered a culture at the end. XVIII - early. XIX century in England. Then the Dutch botanist Jacob Breinius discovered the plant. He brought it home, but the flower died without taking root. After a while, the scientist Conners repeated his attempt to grow an azalea, but unsuccessfully. In the beginning. 19th century Captain Wellbank brought the flower from India, and it caught on. With the help of breeders, many varieties and species of plants that are striking in their beauty have been collected on the flower industry market today.

In a natural environment, culture grows in China, North America, Japan, southeast Asia. Only two types of flower are grown in pots: Japanese (a frost-resistant variety, can be planted in the ground after flowering) and Indian (characterized by small leaves and is more often grown indoors).

Azalea adaptation period after shop

For a plant to grow well, it needs to get used to new conditions. To do this, the gardener examines the soil for mold. If there is a disease, the flower is treated with drugs against the fungus. Further, the azalea is accustomed to a different habitat.

Quarantine condition

Having brought home a culture, which, by the way, is finicky in growing, you cannot put it with the existing pets in the house. Even if the azalea looks beautiful, this does not mean that the plant is healthy and not in danger. To do this, the flower is placed in a separate room, creating a quarantine for at least two weeks. If after the time there are no problems, the plant is put to the rest of the green mass.

Do I need to transplant azalea

A change of soil and flowerpot is needed if necessary. A three-year culture is transplanted once a year. If the plant is older, the procedure is done 2 times a year. A flower is transplanted with abundant root growth or soil decay. Immediately after buying the flower, it is better not to disturb the flower for as long as possible. First, the adaptation period must pass.

When to transplant azalea

Usually the flower is transplanted in the spring. Pre-cleaning aerial part- remove dry branches, leaves. During transplantation, it is necessary not to damage the roots; if possible, replace the completely old substrate with a new one.

Choosing a pot and substrate

When choosing a flowerpot for a flower, give preference to deep and wide flowerpots. Speaking of the pot material, clay and plastic containers are suitable for azaleas.

Post-purchase room azalea care

Growing a plant at home requires certain skills. It is not always possible to "defeat" a flower. The culture is capricious and finicky. Quite often, after acquisition, the plant drops flowers. To achieve re-flowering, the gardener needs to try.

Temperature, humidity and lighting

Comfortable temperature for an azalea is 10-15C. In other words, coolness. V winter period, on which the flowering of the plant falls, the necessary conditions are easy to provide. A battery-insulated window sill is an excellent choice.

For a rhododendron, the most crucial period is the formation of buds. At this time, the temperature should be at the level of 6-8C. To achieve required temperature sometimes they even manage to put the azalea in the refrigerator. I would like to highlight that this method helps to restore a weakened plant. During flowering, the temperature rises to 12-15C.

Like most houseplants, rhododendron loves rich, diffused light.

The next important factor for a flower is high humidity air. At home, this rule is difficult to fulfill, so the plant is constantly sprayed from a spray bottle. Do not allow large drops of water to hit the flower. Otherwise, it will be covered with spots.

How to water an azalea

When growing a plant, watering plays an important role. The main thing is to maintain the correct balance of substrate moisture. The soil in the flowerpot should always be moist. Overdrying the ground is unacceptable, otherwise the flower will throw off the leaves and flowers.

Watering the culture, use soft water. You can take snow or rain. Azalea reacts perfectly to water mixed with lemon or apple cider vinegar (just add a few drops to the water).

Top dressing and fertilization

If you want to fertilize a crop, which is done only during the flowering period, it is best to buy prepared mixtures in specialized stores. Fertilizers are applied according to the instructions. The most known drugs considered: Epin, Zircon, Ecogel-antistress, Ferovit, NV-101, Fitosporin-M.

Azalea care rules after flowering

Plants usually rest after flowering. Many gardeners believe that you can relax at this time, but this is a delusion.

After flowering, the azalea needs to be cut, transplanted, formed a crown, and pinched. First of all, all dried leaves, buds, flowers are removed from the plant. The culture is transplanted after flowering, from the moment the young branches grow. If there is little experience, it is recommended to do the transshipment at the first, so as not to disrupt root system flower. The peculiarity of the procedure is to wash out the soil from the roots. It is impossible to rinse the roots strongly, so as not to remove all beneficial microorganisms from them.

Azalea Bonsai Shaping

In home gardening, it is popular to plant bonsai trees without side shoots. Creating a crown for a flower in the form small tree with a thick trunk and a fluffy tip will take a lot of effort. This form is not inherent in nature for a plant. Recall that bonsai is also made from adenium, fat woman. In other words, from varieties with miniature flowers and leaves.

To get bonsai from rhododendron, you need to form a crown from the first year of the flower's life. The plant must be young. For this, more than one year will pass. The number of scraps will be required at least five.

The first pruning consists in choosing the main massive shoot from which the trunk of the future bonsai will turn out. The side branches are cut completely. The top is not cut off for the first 12 months. Thus, the azalea grows rapidly upward. An important point 1st stage - shaping the stem, growing its length. In order for the main shoot to be straight, it is attached to the support, constantly turning in different directions to the light. When the rhododendron melts required height, the top is cut off. Further, all forces are directed to creating the top. It can be pyramidal, rounded, elongated.

How to propagate an azalea at home

Having learned all the rules and nuances of caring for an azalea, you need to practice your skills in plant propagation. The culture is propagated by cuttings, seeds, grafting, dividing the bush. The seed method is usually used by professional gardeners to propagate new varieties. All other methods are available for inexperienced florists.

The most common method for propagating azaleas in indoor conditions is cuttings. In the spring, a cutting of 5-8 cm is cut from a flower. The cut is treated with a preparation that stimulates root growth. For rooting, use a peat mixture, a coniferous substrate. The pagon is planted vertically to a depth of 2 cm. From above it is covered with a transparent container, cellophane to create a greenhouse effect. The sprout is grown at a temperature of 25C, constantly moistening the soil.

Inoculation of a flower is carried out by choosing a lateral shoot with a bud and a pair of leaves on it. An incision is made under the kidney. The layering is pressed to the ground and pinned with a staple. Soil is poured on top. After the shoot sprouts, it is carefully separated from the bush and transplanted.

Choosing the method of reproduction of rhododendron by dividing the bush, it is taken big flower and carefully, without damaging the root system, it is divided into small parts. Each piece is planted with a separate pot. For a newly-made azalea, care is needed the same as for an adult flower.

Difficulties of growing azaleas

As with many other indoor plants, growing a flower can come with a number of difficulties. All of them appear due to insufficient lighting, incorrect temperature and watering, improperly selected substrate or feeding. The main azalea diseases are tracked according to the following signs:

1. Flowers turn yellow, become lethargic, fall off. This indicates improper watering. To solve the problem, you need to try to water the flower. boiled water with admixtures of fertilizers.
2. The leaves turn yellow, wither, fall off along with the inflorescences. Such problems indicate poor watering, an excess of sun rays. The issue can be corrected by normalized watering, spraying.

Read again about the rules for growing crops and care at home and your beautiful azalea will delight you with its flowering for more than one year.

Indoor flower pests

A frequent unexpected guest of the azalea is spider mite... It appears when there is a lack of moist air, watering. A cobweb forms on the stems of the plant, the buds wither, fall off. They fight the "enemy" with the help of soapy water and rinsing the flower under a warm shower.

Caring for an azalea at home requires special skills and abilities. In order for a flower to grow well after purchase, you need to own complete information on growing crops. This will require constant attention and observation of the flower grower.

The question "How to revive an azalea?" most often occur in people who are unprepared for the appearance of this flower in the house - it is usually given as a gift, trying to please the hostess. Everyone admires at first flowering plant, and later the excitement begins due to yellowing, blackening or drying of the leaves, as well as the falling of flowers. In such cases, an urgent need to decide how to save the dying azalea.

It is advisable to know at least something about rhododendrons before settling them at home. Azalea, due to the complexity of care, is called a capricious beauty. But if she settles in comfortable conditions, she will delight the owners. healthy look and lush bloom. You just need to line up behind it so that everything is balanced.

Azalea feels great when the air temperature does not exceed +22 ° C in summer and +15 ° C in winter. In this case, it should be sufficiently light, but without direct sunlight. It should be humid in the pot and in the air (80%), but you cannot spray during flowering. The soil needs acidic. Trouble begins when these conditions are violated.

If the leaves begin to dry out, change color, become covered with spots, you need to find out why this is happening and eliminate the cause. Leaves can fall off very quickly. They turn yellow as a result of an attack of pests - then you need to quickly take action. And if a lot of calcium has accumulated in the soil, then adding a little citric acid to the water will help.

Excessive dryness and high air temperature are the main reason for leaf fall. As soon as the greens begin to dry, you need to lower the air temperature (this way the plant will recover more easily), water with settled acidified water, spray the flower.

If the azalea dries up, give it a cool shower. Most likely, tap water contains a lot of salts and unnecessary impurities (which is why it is defended), so you will have to use a watering can with a fine sieve to bathe it with clean, settled water with the addition of citric acid. You can immerse the pot in a bowl so that the water is 2 cm above the edge, leave it for 20-30 minutes, then let the excess water drain off. Just fill the flower with acidified water!

If the azalea is withered

What to do in the event that the azalea has dried up, completely losing its leaves? Do not rush to throw it away, even if it is dry. If the roots are still alive, that is, they are not dry, then the plant can be reanimated with water, cooling and boric acid. You just need to be patient.

First you need to get rid of the old soil. To do this, the plant is removed from the pot, the roots and a clod of earth are poured clean water... As the soil becomes soaked, slowly and carefully remove (wash) it with your hands, you can substitute the soaked roots under a stream of water and rinse. Then the plant can be planted in new soil purchased specifically for azaleas and laid on a quality drainage layer in a new pot. It is advisable to add to the soil wood ash or activated carbon, put a layer of pine needles on top. The transplanted flower should be placed in a softly lit place with an air temperature of no higher than +20 ° C and left until morning.

The next day, the plant must be watered with water that has been settled for at least two days, adding a few drops of boric acid and "Zircon" to it. When all the soil has flowed well with water, the excess must be poured out of the pan.

The roots will absorb better useful material at a lower temperature, so the pot can be overlaid with ice. Some gardeners argue that in the summer for a day, the pot of azalea should be put in the refrigerator. Such procedures - watering with boric acid and Zircon, cooling - must be repeated daily until new leaves start to grow. Then you can water every other day, sometimes replacing boric acid with citric acid, and replace the refrigerator with sprays.

How to reanimate after pests

Having got rid of the reason why the azalea damaged by pests has dried up, you can start restoring the plant.

Affected leaves need to be removed (if they have not fallen off themselves), bare branches should not be cut off. In order for the azalea to revive its branches, it must be in comfortable conditions, but it is advisable to increase the air humidity even further by covering the plant with a transparent lid (bag, jar). To enhance immunity, it is sprayed with a solution prepared from the drug "Elina". Watered often (daily or every other day) with acidified settled water.

How to reanimate after illness

Azalea diseases are the result of mistakes. They can be caused by changes in air temperature and humidity levels. If azalea leaves turn black, then the cause may be the Black Triassic or infection with fungal diseases. Septoria (red-yellow spots with black dots), cercosporiasis ( brown spots with red edges with bottom side leaf), phyllostictosis (brown or gray spots) are characterized by the presence of spots that appear and grow on the leaves and stems of the plant. Late blight affects the roots, and indicates the twisting and drying of the leaves, which first darken, starting from the very tips, change color, and then curl and.

Special drugs that need to be used as early as possible will not allow these diseases to progress: Bordeaux liquid, "Fundazol", "Ditan", "Topsin-M" or other fungicides. With verticillosis, the base of the stem darkens, and not the leaf, this can rather lead to death. Timely processing will save copper sulfate or fungicides. The sooner the disease is established, the sooner treatment will begin, which means there will be more hope on the full recovery plants.

After using special preparations, it is necessary to destroy all affected parts of the plant in order not to give the disease a chance to return. An azalea that has undergone illness needs recovery procedures no less than after an invasion of pests or drying out due to poor care... The main goals are the same: restore immunity, improve conditions, and help absorb nutrients.

Azalea is certainly transplanted into new soil, be sure to check the condition of the roots. Then apply frequent watering and spraying with water with boron and citric acid alternately, sometimes using Elina solution to enhance immunity.

It is important that at this time the air temperature does not rise above + 20-22 degrees, and the lighting is soft without direct sunlight.

Video "Why Azalea Withers"

In this video, you will learn how to cure an azalea that has begun to fade.

How to care for an azalea

Azalea is difficult to tame or adapt to room conditions... This flower in wildlife grows in the mountains of Asia, so it loves coolness. To some extent, breeders have succeeded in instilling tolerance in azaleas for moderate temperatures during the warm season, but in winter the azalea should be kept in a bright room with an air temperature of no higher than 13 ºC.

Do not water the rhododendron too often, try to maintain a water balance: the soil in the pot should not be allowed to dry out, but at the same time, the water should not stagnate in the roots of the azalea. This can be achieved by placing the plant pot on a pallet of wet pebbles so that the roots do not touch the water. In this case, the air around the plant will be quite humid.

In no case, do not rearrange the azalea in warmth, trying to speed up the onset of flowering - this is a common and, alas, fatal mistake of many florists.

As soon as the flowers have blossomed, the plant needs to be provided with additional support in the form of wooden slingshots. Withered buds must be carefully cut off - this measure will prolong the flowering of the azalea.

After the end of the flowering period, the rhododendron does not look very attractive, since all the forces of the plant have been invested in this process. To breathe life into the plant, the azalea must be transplanted. Rhododendrons love heather and deciduous soils, and clayey soils are contraindicated for them. The optimum soil pH for azaleas is pH 4.0-5.5.

Azalea summer care

At the end of May, when there is no longer frost at night, you can transfer the azaleas to the balcony. In summer, it is better to keep the rhododendron on a windowsill or in the fresh air, having organized it to be protected from drafts. If the summer is too hot and dry, it is advisable to wrap the flowerpot with damp moss, the humidity of which is maintained by spraying. If it is too stuffy at home, despite your best efforts to keep it cool, transplant the azalea to open air, straight into the ground.

We buy azalea - how to choose

When choosing an azalea in a store, you need to pay attention to the condition of the soil in the flowerpot - it should be moderately moist. Do not buy azalea if the soil in the pot is dry - after a while, already at home, it may develop some kind of disease. Choose an azalea in a pot that is at least half the width of the flower's crown. If there are flowers on the azaleas, then check that they are developed, not wilted, and have an even color. The leaves must be clean.

• You cannot twirl the pot of azalea often - it is very sensitive to changes in lighting.
• Some florists advise sprinkling the azalea with water and wine vinegar. At least sometimes.
• In summer, it is better to shade the window, near which the azalea stands, with plain white paper.
• Azaleas are very hard going through the change of scenery and, getting into unusual conditions, they start to get sick and often die. Therefore, if you definitely want to have this flower in your house, try to grow it yourself. Buy an azalea in March or April, cut a stalk from it and root it in the peat using a transparent plastic bag over the pot with the stalk. In this case, even if an adult azalea dies, you will grow young plant, for which the conditions of your apartment will be familiar.
• Recipe for watering azaleas: dissolve 10 drops of boric acid purchased from a pharmacy in a liter of water. Some growers in hot weather instead of watering, it is recommended to put ice cubes from the refrigerator on the azalea soil: they slowly melt and soak the soil with cool water.

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