Can rhododendron grow at home?

Among potted plants, lovers of indoor floriculture distinguish rhododendron. It is simply impossible to resist this handsome man who pleases with the bloom of unusually diverse and graceful flowers all winter.

Among potted plants, lovers of indoor floriculture distinguish rhododendron. It is simply impossible to resist this handsome man who pleases with the bloom of unusually diverse and graceful flowers all winter.

FAMILY: Heather

APPEARANCE: Dwarf shrubs; young shoots are densely covered with appressed flat bright brown or grayish bristly hairs

LEAVES: 2-5 cm long, dull, bristly hairy

FLOWERS: Collected in 2-6; corolla from pink-red to dark red, sometimes pink or white, often with specks

The ancestor of almost all known varieties of indoor rhododendrons (they are also mistakenly called Indian azaleas) was the Sims rhododendron.

He came to us from China and Japan. These plants quickly form beautiful bushes covered with delicate bright flowers of various colors (white, pink, red, purple variegated) and shapes (double, semi-double and simple). Flowering duration is 2.5-3 months. If you correctly select varieties with early, middle and late flowering periods, provide them with full care, you can achieve continuous flowering from November to May.

See also: Rhododendron (photo) planting and care, varieties and types from A to Z

Keep the plants in a bright, cool (about + 15 degrees), well-ventilated area. No drafts!

Plant in low and wide pots (bowls), since rhododendrons have a shallow root system. It is better to use sour high-moor peat as a substrate. It can be replaced with an acidic soil mixture (pH - 4-4.5). In addition, the substrate must be lightweight, water-permeable and breathable. In stores you can find

When buying a rhododendron in a store, choose a specimen with 2 flowers and a large number of unopened buds, a special one marked "for rhododendrons" (consists of coniferous soil and high peat 2: 1).

TIP: Water indoor rhododendrons with soft (preferably rain or melt) water. To reduce the temperature, you can put snow in the pan. And watch out for the clod of earth in the pot - don't overdry!

Transfer young plants from pot to pot annually, gradually increasing the volume of the container. Repot old bushes once every 2-3 years after flowering. When re-

in the cage, do not under any circumstances deepen the root collar.

Feed your rhododendrons 2-3 times a month with acidic fertilizers. For example, a mixture of ammonium sulfate, superphosphate, potassium sulfate, and magnesium sulfate (9: 10: 4: 2) is suitable. Dissolve 15 g of this fertilizer in 10 liters of water and water the flowers with the resulting composition (up to 0.5 liters per plant).You can buy complete complex fertilizers with trace elements specifically for rhododendrons.

Indoor rhododendrons need high air and soil humidity (70-80%) for normal growth and development. On hot days, spray the bushes with water several times a day. Once a week, immerse the plants with the pot in water and keep for about an hour until the ground is completely saturated with moisture. Then let the excess liquid drain and replace the flower.

After flowering on the bushes, remove dried inflorescences, cut off weak and highly fattening shoots, leaving 4-5 leaves on them. Prune long, young shoots as well.

In summer, plants can be left indoors, or you can plant them in open ground or dig in a pot in a semi-shaded place in the garden. Protect from drafts on the balcony or veranda, shade from direct sunlight. And do not forget to spray, loosen the soil, feed.

Do not spray rhododendrons during flowering to avoid the appearance of dark spots on the flowers.

See also: Pruning rhododendrons from A to Z (photo)

Are the leaves of a rhododendron falling?

From a lack or excess of water, inappropriate soil acidity in indoor rhododendrons, leaves begin to fall off. In this case, you need to normalize the acidity and feed, as well as spray the plants with Epin (according to the instructions).

Leaves can also crumble from the disease - septoria. For treatment, spray the bushes with a solution of Bordeaux liquid every 10-12 days (10 g per 1 liter of water). Use the same composition several times during the summer for preventive treatments.

I would very much like to admire the flowers of rhododendrons on these winter days. Can they be made to bloom like other plants?

Lydia Ksenofontova

- There is no need to dig a bush in the garden and put it on forcing. Breeders have created many varieties of indoor rhododendrons. Their ancestor is R. Simsa. These evergreen or semi-evergreen highly branched shrubs bloom for 2.5-3 months. If you pick up early, middle and late varieties and follow agricultural techniques, the blooming holiday will last without interruption from November to May.

They like light, cool (about +15 degrees), well-ventilated, draft-free rooms.

Landing rules

Indoor rhododendrons are planted in low and wide pots (bowls), since they have a superficial root system. The substrate is sour high-moor peat. If necessary, it can be replaced with an acidic soil mixture (pH 4-4.5). The substrate should be lightweight, water and breathable.

It is important to consider

Young plants are transferred to a larger pot annually, gradually increasing in volume. Old bushes are transplanted once every 2-3 years after flowering. When transplanting, in no case should the root collar be buried.

From a lack or excess of water, inappropriate acidity of the substrate in indoor rhododendrons, leaves fall off. In this case, it is necessary to normalize the acidity, feed and sprinkle the plants with "Epin".

Care

Two or three times a month they are fed with acidic fertilizers. More often make a mixture of "Ammonium sulfate", "Superphosphate", "Potassium sulfate" and "Magnesium sulfate" (9: 10: 4: 2). 15 g of this mixture is dissolved in 10 l of water and watered (up to 0.5 l for one plant).

You can use complete complex fertilizers with microelements specially prepared for azaleas.

For normal growth and development, indoor rhododendrons need high humidity of the air and substrate (70-80%). On hot days, spraying with water is helpful. But not during flowering, otherwise dark spots will appear on the flowers.

Once a week, the plant, along with the pot, is dipped in a container of water and kept for an hour, until the earth is completely saturated with moisture. Then the excess is allowed to drain and put in place. Watering is best done with soft rain or melt water.

To reduce the temperature, you can put snow in the pan. It is very dangerous to dry out potted soil.

After flowering, the bushes are pruned.

For the summer, you can leave the flower indoors or plant it in open ground, even in a pot in a semi-shaded place in the garden. On the balcony or veranda, rhododendrons are protected from drafts, shaded from direct sunlight.

Diseases and pests

The most common manifestation is septoria, in which the leaves crumble.

Often this is due to a violation of agricultural technology. For protection, the bushes are sprayed with 1% Bordeaux liquid every 10-12 days.

For prevention, it is possible several times during the summer. Of the pests, the spider mite is the most dangerous. They are treated with insecticides, for example, "Agrovertin".

Tatiana KURLOVICH, Ph.D. biol. sciences.

All the evergreen rhododendrons that we planted died. bali. I want to try taming them again. Advise, what is important to pay attention to in order for everything to work out?

Vasily Dubko

- The main conditions for the successful growth of these plants are acidic soil pH 4.5-5.5 and the presence of mycorrhiza in it, so that rhododendrons assimilate the nutrients they need. Therefore, the best neighbors for them are pines, on the roots of which mycorrhiza forms. Also, for successful wintering, plants need abundant pre-winter watering.

Preferred varieties. Try planting Dahurian rhododendrons of the species or April Jam or April Rose with white double flowers, as well as April Rhine with pink ones. The varieties Azurro, Diadem, Dagmar, Hachmann's Charmant are quite resistant.

Svetlana PEREPELOVA, collector, Moscow

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Rhododendron is an interesting plant that naturally occurs in temperate climatic zones (Europe, Northern Australia, Far East, Caucasus, Eastern Siberia, Himalayas, Eastern and Southeast Asia, North America, New Guinea). From Greek "rhododendron" is translated as "rosewood". Note also that earlier, evergreen specimens of representatives of the species were called rhododendrons, and deciduous ones were azaleas.

The genus of azaleas includes tall (up to thirty meters) erect or undersized creeping, deciduous or evergreen shrubs. They are covered with oval, large, irregularly colored leaves with short petioles (ranging in color from light to dark green). Young shoots grow stiff as they grow and become dark brown in color. Rhododendron flowers are located in umbellate scutes, the color is different (there are species with white, yellow, purple, pink and red flowers). Most often, the plant blooms in spring. After flowering, the fruit appears in the form of a pod-shaped box. The seeds inside the box ripen closer to autumn.

The roots of rhododendrons do not have root hairs, they are fibrous and shallow. Nutrients and water are absorbed by the root system by the cells of the mycelium and epidermis of the simplest fungi located in the cells of the flower (mycorrhiza). Without such symbiosis, a plant cannot exist. Mycorrhiza allows seeds to germinate, ensures their growth on acidic soils.

According to their shape, rhododendrons are divided into four main types: terry (an indefinite number of petals), simple (five stamens, 5-6 petals), a flower in a flower - double (an indefinite number of petals with a calyx), a flower in a flower - simple (a calyx, from which petals appear, the maximum number of petals is 12).

Rhododendrons have become popular in indoor floriculture and horticulture due to their decorative effect. To date, many hybrids and garden forms have been bred, many of which are grown without problem at home in ordinary pots.Flowers tolerate pruning normally, which makes it possible to get a plant of the most bizarre shape (bonsai). The variety of colors and long flowering make the rhododendron very popular with many indoor plants.

However, it is not so easy to grow such a flower indoors. Few know what kind of plant it is, and how to properly care for it. The whole secret lies in fulfilling the basic requirements for bright lighting, humidity and coolness. Let's take a closer look at what the correct one should be. rhododendron care at home.

Features of rhododendron care

Light and location for rhododendron

Rhododendron loves bright, diffused light, so it is best to put a flower pot on the southeast or southwest window. It is important to avoid direct sunlight on the plant. In the summertime, it can be taken out into the shade on the balcony, this will have a positive effect on winter flowering.

Temperature range for rhododendron

The plant needs to organize the temperature at the level of 15-18 degrees Celsius. Active growth may continue at +22. In no case should you grow a flower in a stuffy room in the heat. In November, the flower buds of the plant should ripen. During this period, for two months, it needs moderate watering and a lower temperature (from +7 to +9). After that, the temperature is increased, the air humidity remains at the same level.

A room with indoor rhododendrons must be regularly ventilated (the main thing is to exclude drafts).

Watering rules for rhododendron

In the warm season, caring for a rhododendron at home means using cool, soft acidified water when watering (it should stand for at least 24 hours). Intensity - as the top layer of the earth dries up. We advise you to choose a middle ground: both drying out and waterlogging negatively affect the flower. Ideally, alternate overhead watering with pan watering.

In the second case, moisture must be absorbed from the pan for 30 minutes, then the residues must be drained. In extreme heat, watering becomes more frequent up to twice a day.

In the cold period, it is necessary to water the rhododendron into the pallet without overmoistening the earthen lump, otherwise the access of oxygen to the root system will be difficult, it will rot. For irrigation, you can use melted snow or rainwater.

Air humidity for rhododendron

This parameter is especially important for rhododendron. The flower must be sprayed with a spray bottle every day. When hot weather is established, the number of sprays should be increased to two to three times a day. For the procedure, ordinary settled water is suitable (it is not recommended to take hard water, the risk of stains on the sheets increases). A pause with spraying is done if there are flowers on the plant.

Rhododendron, as a lover of humid air, does not perceive the proximity of central heating devices, they greatly dry out the surrounding air, therefore it is better to avoid their presence.

Transplant and soil for rhododendron

It is better to transplant rhododendrons indoors after flowering. Young plants are transferred to a new pot every year, adults every two to three years. If the roots are old and overgrown, they need to be trimmed a little. The container should be shallow. After the procedure, the flower is placed in a warm, shaded place.

Rhododendron is one of the few plants that requires acidic soil. A soil mixture of coniferous soil, peat and a small amount of sand is ideal. An alternative is to use a ready-made substrate for azaleas. The flower also thrives on hydroponics.

Fertilizing rhododendron

During the growing season, indoor rhododendron is fed with a special complex fertilizer, the classic scheme is every 14 days. When the buds are laid, you can apply superphosphate several times (one and a half grams for each liter of water).When stretching and yellowing foliage, it is recommended to use iron-ammonia alum (0.5% solution).

Breeding methods for rhododendron

Rhododendron is propagated by cuttings. Pick up cuttings 7-9 centimeters long, and cut in July-August or March-April. Cut the bottom 3 leaves down to the petiole, the rest by ½. After that, you need to make an oblique lower cut and plant the cutting to a depth of two to three centimeters. After one and a half to two months at high humidity and a temperature of +25 Celsius, the cuttings should take root.

The final transplant is carried out in December. Tip: Remove the first buds, this will allow the plant to bloom at full strength later.

The plant is loved for its year-round flowering, depending on the variety, flowers appear from December to May. The duration of the process of an individual rhododendron reaches 2 months. To speed up the onset of flowering, it is recommended to leave the plant with buds in a cool place. During flowering, the flowerpot can be transferred to any point in the room, but after the flowers have fallen, it is necessary to return it to where the plant was when the buds were formed.

Young shoots are formed immediately after flowering, therefore we advise you to remove old faded branches so that they do not take away the strength of the pet. In parallel with this, pruning is carried out, creating the necessary shape. Re-pruning can be done during transplanting. In the same period, flower growers are engaged in pinching young shoots. The apical buds are pinched in mid-late summer (it all depends on the variety), the goal is a more lush flowering.

And do not forget: all parts of the indoor rhododendron contain a strong poison that affects the muscles and the central nervous system, even death is possible. Be extremely careful.

Possible problems, pests, diseases in rhododendron

With dry air, bright light, heat, flowers quickly fade, and the edges of the leaves become brown. We advise you to place such a flower away from central heating or in the shade. The browning of foliage also occurs due to insufficient watering.

The yellowing of the leaves indicates that there is lime in the water, earth or fertilizer. Try acidifying the soil for irrigation and review the labels of the fertilizers you are using.

If buds and buds fall off, this is a sign that the rhododendron is hot, move it to a cooler place.

Foliage curling occurs due to dry air and drying out of the soil. Move the flower to another location and adjust the frequency of spraying and watering.

It is necessary to fight such a pest as the azalea moth with the help of actellic or phosphatecide. Treatment with these substances is carried out twice during the growing season.

Caring for rhododendron at home not simple, the plant requires a lot of attention to itself, therefore, when buying this plant, be prepared for the fact that you will spend a certain part of your free time on its maintenance.

Rhododendron or azalea is one of the most beautiful ornamental flowering shrubs. This plant can be grown both at home and in the garden. Depending on the variety, rhododendron flowers have different shades. An important role is played by proper care and timely treatment of the plant from diseases and pests. By following the recommendations, you can grow a beautiful lush-flowering shrub.

Rhododendron or azalea is one of the most beautiful ornamental flowering shrubs. This plant can be grown both at home and in the garden. Depending on the variety, rhododendron flowers have different shades. An important role is played by proper care and timely treatment of the plant from diseases and pests. By following the recommendations, you can grow a beautiful lush-flowering shrub.

The main varieties of rhododendron

Azalea belongs to the heather family. This plant is native to China and Japan, its habitat is wet and cold forests. By crossing, many varieties of plants were obtained, the flowers of which differ in shades.Rhododendron is grown as a houseplant, but species are known that are suitable for garden conditions.

Indoor rhododendron reaches a height and width of about 45 cm. It blooms in spring with orange, pink, red or white flowers. Some varieties have multi-colored flowers. The leaves of the plant are small, oval, pale green in color and grow on lignified twigs. After the purchase, the azalea should not be immediately planted in the open ground, as it may not withstand the harsh winter. It is better to leave the plant in a pot, creating optimal conditions for it.

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The most common varieties of rhododendron include:

1. 1Large-colored azaleas. These plants shed their leaves in winter. At first, they grow as loose bushes up to 1-1.5 m in height, and then strengthen their habit. Prefer a place with sunlight or partial shade, frost-resistant.
2. 2 Japanese azaleas. Evergreens requiring sheltered, shady locations. They are compact and short, growing only up to 0.5 m in height.
3. 3 Indian azalea (Rhododendron indica) - has the shape of a bush or tree, reaching 60-100 cm in height and large flowers up to 10 cm in diameter. Flowers usually have shades of pink or red. The color of the petals is with the addition of white or completely white. The leaves of plants are preserved all year round, densely located on the branches, dark green, small.

Growing flowers

Lush growth of azalea and abundant flowering depend on the substrate in which it grows, as well as proper watering. Growing is recommended in the soil intended for rhododendrons or in the soil with peat (pH - 4.5-5.5). The place for the shrub should be lit, cool and ventilated, and the temperature should be between 15-18 ° C. In winter, it should not exceed 15 ° C.

The plant needs regular watering, preferably daily. For these purposes, rain or boiled water should be used. The soil must be constantly moist. In winter, a light moisture content of the substrate should be ensured. In the middle of spring, when the flowering period of the rhododendron is over, it is necessary to remove the flowers and cut the plant, giving it a beautiful shape.

In summer, the azalea pot can be displayed in the garden or on the balcony. This should be a partially shaded area. When the first buds appear, the rhododendron must be transferred to a room with optimal conditions - not very high temperature and moderate air humidity. Otherwise, the leaves begin to wilt, and the flowers will quickly wither and fall from the bush.

Care rules

Azalea care at home is based on proper watering. During the flowering period, it should be abundant, and the base of the plant should be constantly moist. In winter, the soil should have a little moisture.

Azalea should be fertilized during the flowering period (late April to July) every two weeks. For this, a liquid fertilizer that does not contain calcium is used. A rhododendron purchased from a flower shop should not be placed directly in a heated room. It should be kept for 2-3 days in a ventilated place with an air temperature of 10-12 ° C. Too high temperatures and lack of water cause lethargy and leaf fall.

Rhododendron requires proper pruning. In the spring, cut off dried and frozen shoots. Old bushes that have lost a lot of lower leaves and look ugly should be rejuvenated by cutting off all shoots, even the thickest ones. After pruning the branches for several weeks, many young branches grow from the dormant buds. If you are not sure that the shrub is strong enough to withstand such a radical reduction, you need to rejuvenate half of the bush in the spring, and the rest next year.

Proper care of rhododendrons after flowering is important. Dried inflorescences are removed without damaging the new buds that are forming.Due to the fact that rhododendron does not form fruits and seeds, the bush spends more energy on creating buds and leaves. After flowering, the azalea should be transplanted into a larger pot. The bottom of the container is lined with a layer of expanded clay, the required amount of acidic soil is added to the ground.

Moderation should be observed in fertilizing rhododendrons. Copious doses can adversely affect the plant. You should limit yourself to one or two dressings. The first is done at the beginning of the growing season. It aims to stimulate the flowering process. The next feeding takes place in the summer, it allows the buds to be tied correctly in the next season. If you often fertilize rhododendrons with nitrogen, the bush will be generously covered with leaves, but not bloom. Therefore, it is worth using superphosphate, rich in phosphorus, which stimulates flowering. For general feeding, it is necessary to use organic acidic fertilizers such as ammonium, potassium and magnesium sulfate. Any fertilizer specially formulated for rhododendrons and similar plants will be helpful. Alkaline minerals such as calcium nitrate should be avoided. They will lead to an increase in soil pH, which is an unfavorable factor for the growth of rhododendrons.

Azalea propagation

For propagation of rhododendron, its cuttings are used from July to October or in early spring. Young shoots are separated from the main trunk so that a piece of bark remains on them. The shoot is placed in a substrate of peat and sand (proportion 1: 3). For this process, it is best to use a specially resealable container or pot covered with a plastic bag. The seedlings require a constant temperature (10-13 ° C) and moderate humidity. Rooting occurs after 6 weeks.

Young rhododendrons are also obtained by sowing seeds in sandy peat soil. Seeds are sown at the turn of April and May. Spread them evenly in a mixture of peat or earth and sand. Prepared seeds should be kept in a room with a temperature of 15 ° C and in a bright place.

After sprouting, young plants need lighting for 14-16 hours a day. After 6 weeks, seedlings are watered with small doses of diluted fertilizer. When roots are at least 2.5 cm long, the seedlings are transferred to separate pots. Rhododendrons obtained from seeds bloom after 5 years.

Diseases and pests

Problems in growing azaleas arise from improper plant care. In such cases, the defeat of the rhododendron by various diseases and damage by pests are inevitable. All flowers, buds and leaves showing signs of damage should be removed and burned immediately.

The main diseases and pests of azaleas include:

1. 1 Chlorosis. If the leaves of the rhododendrons turn yellow, the bushes may suffer from iron deficiency. This problem occurs when growing the plant in alkaline soils. In this case, the azalea is sprayed every 10 days with magnesium sulfate and iron at a concentration of 0.1%.
2. 2 Yellowing and drying of leaves. This type of change is most often a sign of dryness. During periods of low air humidity, rhododendrons should be watered abundantly.
3. 3 Phytophthorosis. The leaves turn pale and then turn brown and dry up, curling into tubes. Brown spots can also be seen on the root collar. The disease causing fungus spreads through water and infected soil, penetrating the plant through damage to the roots and root collar. In case of infection, the air permeability of the soil should be increased and Fitoverm or Bordeaux liquid should be applied.
4. 4 Falling leaves. Potted azaleas react to drastic changes in the environment, so large fluctuations in humidity, temperature and light should be avoided.
5. 5 Septoriasis. The fungus Septoria azaleae infects moist azalea leaves. The leaf becomes covered with reddish-brown spots and falls off. The bushes do not bloom well.To protect the plant from disease, direct spraying should be avoided while watering. Fungicides are used to treat infected azaleas.
6. 6 Gray mold. This widespread disease is caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea, which grows in warm and humid conditions. Large brown spots appear on the leaves, spreading at a rapid pace. Their surface is covered with a gray bloom. Changes can also occur on the shoots of azaleas. Diseased plants are sprayed with suitable fungicides.
7. 7 Aphid. Appears on the tops of the shoots and young leaves of potted azaleas. The leaves turn yellow and become covered with a fungal bloom, the shoots stop growing, the flowers have deformed petals. Fungal plaque should be removed with a damp cloth, and the plant should be sprayed with insecticide. Rinsing the leaves with water on a regular basis is sometimes sufficient to remove aphids.
8. 8 Spider mite. Plant infestation can be easily identified by the thin web covering the underside of the leaf. Leaves, devoid of juice, acquire a brownish-gray color and fall off. The plant should be treated with Agravertine or Actellik. When the first signs of infection appear, washing with soapy water helps.

When buying a rhododendron, you should choose an adult plant with thick and lush leaves, a lot of flowers and underdeveloped buds. The lethargy of flowers and leaves indicates a disease or inappropriate conditions of detention, which will create difficulties in growing a plant at home.

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Planting rhododendron at home - a completely simple matter. It is enough to have the necessary equipment and know how to use it. In gratitude for the initial proper care, a strong bush will grow from a small shoot in a year.

…

Rhododendron - planting and care, step by step instructions

1. 1. Prepare shoots for cuttings. Their age is a maximum of 6 months, so that the trunk has time to stiffen. Trim. The length must be at least 6 centimeters.
   2. Place the lower part of the future indoor plant in the root for half an hour and add a few drops of zircon. Thanks to this procedure, the cuttings are easier to adapt and grow.

1. A drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the pot: broken brick, pieces of charcoal, shards.
2. Fill the pot with potting soil suitable for the plant.
3. An azalea stalk is lowered into the planting hole by 1, -2 centimeters and the soil is carefully tamped so that there are no air voids.
4. Sprinkle abundantly and cover with a plastic wrap or glass jar.
5. 3 times a week, the seedlings are ventilated and sprayed.

After a month and a half, the azalea bush can be planted in a permanent pot.

Azalea / Rhododendron Soil

Sour, humus-rich soil is ideal for rhododendron.

You can prepare your own potting soil at home. For this you will need:

• coniferous land;
• peat;
• sand.

The components are mixed in equal proportions.

Heather soil is also suitable for planting. The ideal option would be to buy prepared azalea soil from a flower shop. In it, the soil mixture is formulated with the addition of all the necessary substances and microelements.

To maintain the required acidity, organic acid must be added monthly to the soil.

Pot for azalea

The root system of the azalea is rather weak and undeveloped. For planting, a pot with a height of 10-15 centimeters is suitable. The diameter should be slightly larger than the crown of the rhododendron. For each subsequent transplant, the pot is taken with a larger diameter than the previous one.

The best option for planting or transplanting an azalea would be clay container, then the soil will be provided with the necessary air circulation.

How to properly transplant azalea at home?

Transplanting an adult rhododendron is practically no different from planting a cutting. The plant is transferred from one pot to another, several centimeters larger in diameter.

Before transplanting azalea it is necessary trimmed. Young shoots are pinched, and too regrown branches are cut off. A thick bush is thinned out. This procedure is required, otherwise the future flowering will be scarce, and the bush will become loose and rare.

The cut plant is removed from the pot, the root system is cleaned of an earthen coma by soaking it in boiled water. Then they are placed in the root for 30 minutes and planted in a new pot with a coniferous-peat soil mixture. It should be noted that the root collar of the azalea does not need to be buried; it should be flush with the surface of the soil.

After transplanting, the azalea is watered abundantly and left alone for a week so that the plant can adapt to new conditions.

Azalea it is strongly not recommended to replant in winter. This is detrimental to any kind of rhododendrons. It is best to change the soil and pot in mid-spring or early summer, when the plant has faded. Before that, the azalea should be dormant for about 2 months in a dark, cool place.

Up to three years, the azalea is transplanted annually, and after that, once every 2 years is enough.

Rhododendron should be planted and transplanted when new buds begin to form on it. Their development and active growth show that the plant has normally undergone the change of soil mixture and is ready for further cultivation.

How to plant an azalea?

The roots of the plant are strongly intertwined with each other, so it is extremely rare to plant an azalea. The best way to get bushes with roots is to cut off all the roots lengthwise with a sharp knife. Then the shoots are planted in the same way as cuttings, watered abundantly and often sprayed. After 2-3 weeks of proper care, new leaves will appear on the tops of the rhododendron.

Azalea / Rhododendron Care After Planting / Transplanting

The flower after transshipment or planting is weakened and needs special conditions of detention. It is placed in a warm place that is well lit, but not in direct sunlight.

Immediately after planting or transplanting, the plant is watered with a liquid in which the rhizome was previously immersed. Then you should take a break of 4-6 days and start watering with a weak solution of zircon. It is worth giving up feeding and fertilizing - they can burn the roots and the plant will die.

The crown is regularly sprayed with warm water, maintaining a humidity of 80-90%.
Azalea is a very capricious and demanding plant. All the efforts of flower growers are rewarded in full when the plant begins to bloom for a long time, and it becomes the "pearl" of the indoor garden.

Photo

More photos of room azalea, see below:

Useful video

Watch a video on how to properly transplant an azalea at home: