Azaleas are known as the "Nobility of the Garden", and one really needs to wonder why? These plants produce buds that inspire poets to compose and painters to cry for joy. From bright, cheery pink, to luscious peach, to velvety lavender, these plants produce flowers that take your breath away to look at. Scroll on to read the first step and learn how to introduce nobility to your garden.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Plant the Azaleas
Step 1. Find out if azaleas will do well in your climate
Azaleas are generally found in the growing areas of Zone 6. This means they need a warmer climate, where temperatures do not drop below -17.8 or -23.3ºC. If you live in a colder climate, you should think about growing another type of plant. However, there are some types of azaleas that remain solid in colder temperatures:
Deciduous varieties of azalea, such as azalea roseshell (Rhododendron prinophyllum) can survive in Zone 4. This means that they can survive in climates where the temperature drops to -34.4ºC
Step 2. Plant your azaleas in late spring or early fall
These are the best times to plant azaleas, as most azaleas will bloom the following spring. However, there are some varieties, such as 'Weston's Lemon Drop' and 'Flame Creeper' that bloom in June or July.
'Sweet September', which is a pink bud, is very late flowering and bursts into color in September, as the name suggests
Step 3. Plant your shrub in the right soil
Azaleas grow well in well-drained, acidic and organically enriched soils. Your soil should have a pH of 5.5 or up to 6.0. It is important that the soil is well drained as plants do not do well in soggy soils. You should also avoid heavy clays when planting azaleas, as the clay will choke the roots.
If you live in a place with no acidic soil, such as a basic soil area like Texas, you can build flower beds that are made from a mixture of sphagnum and finely ground bark
Step 4. Choose a place that is semi-shaded
In general, azaleas do well when grown in a spot that is partially covered by a subtle shadow that lets in filtered light. Look for a spot under tall trees. However, some azalea species bloom better in brighter light. When buying your azaleas, ask about your particular species or do an internet search when you get home.
The north and east-facing sides of a house are the best places for azaleas because they receive less direct light
Step 5. Leave the root bulb slightly exposed when you plant it
Make a small dig in the ground and then place the plant inside. Cover the root bulb with soil so the top is still visible. Water the azaleas immediately after planting them.
Step 6. Mulch the soil around your azaleas
Azaleas have relatively shallow roots, so they have a tendency to dry out if they don't have mulch on top. To keep the soil moist and acidic, add a mulch of pine needles, oak leaf moss, or aged spruce, oak, or pine sawdust. This mulch will give the plant the nutrients it needs so you don't have to add a lot of fertilizer if you really do add some.
Keep a mulch about an inch deep around the azalea. If you've planted more than one azalea, the mulch should be two to three inches deep between the plants
Part 2 of 3: Treating the Azaleas
Step 1. Water the azaleas regularly until they are settled
This type of plant absorbs water through the leaves, so it is important to wet the leaves, as well as the area around the roots. However, it is good to water them in the morning because it gives the leaves all day to absorb the water and dry - if they stay wet at night, the risk of mold grows there.
Step 2. Water your azaleas in the dry season
Once your azaleas have set, they can roughly manage themselves. however, in the dry season, watering your azaleas will be important. Azaleas will wilt when they dry out a bit, so keep an eye on your plant - it'll tell you when it's thirsty.
Using sprinklers to water plants from above is a great way to water these plants - just remember to set up your sprinkler system to water them in the morning
Step 3. Provide mulch and fertilizer after the buds fade
In late spring when the plant buds are wilting, you should give your plant a nutritional boost. Apply new mulch to the area. Use an acidifying, controlled-release fertilizer (which can be sprinkled with a cannula sprayer) to give your azalea the boost and help it get through the summer. Good fertilizers include commercial azalea or cottonseed food.
Remember not to fertilize your plant before it blooms - fertilizer encourages the growth of leaves rather than flowers
Step 4. Prune your plant
If you have a deciduous azalea, you should prune the plant, you should prune your plant when it has no leaves and is hibernating. Evergreen azaleas tend to grow in duller forms, so cutting a crooked branch will give your plant more symmetry. Never prune after July 1st, as this will greatly reduce the following spring's buds.
Part 3 of 3: Treating an Azalea indoors
Step 1. Use the right soil for a potted azalea
As with outdoor azaleas, indoor azaleas love acidic, well-drained soils. The best type of soil to use when planting a potted azalea is a peat-based potting mix that does not contain lime.
Step 2. Feed your plant every two weeks during the growing season
You should give your plant a potassium-rich fertilizer made specifically for acid-loving plants. If possible, get a fertilizer that contains iron.
You will be able to tell if your plant is short of nutrients by looking at the leaves. If they are yellow with green veins, your plant needs to be fed more
Step 3. Keep your plant's soil moist but not soggy
It means planting your flowers in a pot with a drainage hole. Azaleas don't do well when they have 'wet feet' - a result of over-watering - but they still need their soil to be moist. If possible, use distilled or rain water to water your plant - hard water such as tap water contains chlorine and chloramines that the plant does not react well to.
Step 4. Give your azalea the right amount of light
Like outdoor azaleas, potted azaleas should not be placed in direct sunlight, as too much sunlight can cause the buds and leaves to turn brown and die. Instead, keep your azalea in a very bright room where it is never in direct sunlight.
Double-check that your azalea variety doesn't need direct light. Some varieties of this plant actually do well in direct light
Step 5. Keep your azalea at the right temperature
These plants do best in cool to normal temperatures. Keep the temperature at 16-21 ° C for a healthy plant. If possible, get a humidifier for the room you plan to keep the plants in, as these plants thrive in moderate to high humidity.
If you can't find a humidifier, you can place your potted plant on a tray of damp stones. This will give the plant the moisture it needs
Step 6. Help your plant re-bloom
Indoor azaleas have a hard time re-blossoming because the plant needs a couple of months at a low temperature (their personal winter) to be able to produce sprouts. During the fall and winter, help your plant by placing it in a place where the temperature ranges between 4 and 13 ° C. This will allow the plant to hibernate, as it would outdoors, and produce buds for the spring.
Step 7. Prune your indoor azalea
In order to get the most buds out of your specimen (so to speak) you will need to prune your plant annually. Prune your plant after it has finished blooming. Cut the stems about 1/4 inch above the area to which a leaf or branch is attached to the stem (this is called the leaf knot). Using very sharp pruning shears (to avoid tearing the branches) cut the stem at a 45 degree angle. This will help your plant produce lots of flowers next time it blooms.
