With the arrival of colder days, we must take care of our potted azaleas. Right now you need to perform a certain action that will significantly affect the subsequent development and flowering of the specimen. Just a few simple steps are enough to enjoy beautiful azaleas. We tell you what to remember in autumn.
Potted azaleas do not feel well in high temperatures and dry air. Therefore, keeping them indoors in winter may be problematic because heating dries the air and makes the room much warmer. Then, instead of resting, the plant weakens and loses its leaves. To prevent this, azaleas should be winterized.
It is best to do this after flowering, i.e. from the end of September, October until spring. Then the plant must go into a rest period. During this time, it should be stored in a bright and cool room where the temperature stays between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius.. It can be, for example, a bright garage, basement or staircase. If we don’t have this option, we can place the azaleas near the window, away from the radiator and regularly check the air humidity around the specimen by sprinkling it or placing it on a stand with water and pebbles.
When wintering the plant, we must remember that even though it is resting, we cannot allow it to dry out. You should make sure that the root ball is constantly slightly moist, because the roots of the specimen are quite sensitive. Watering should be done with soft water, as too hard water will lead to yellowing of the leaves. Remember not to fertilize azaleas during the winter.
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We wake up the azalea only when the days start to get longer and the outside temperature rises. Then in spring we gradually move the plant to a new position. It is worth doing this in stages so that the plant gets used to the changing conditions.
Additionally in March or April we can increase plants. This is also a good time to start fertilizing your azaleas. Let’s use preparations for acid-loving plants that support the development of buds.
In spring, we can also transplant the plant to a new, acidic substrate. However, be careful not to damage the delicate roots of the specimen. After After transplanting, it is worth pruning the plant slightly to stimulate it to branch out and strengthen the growth of young shoots. Proper care after winter will make the azalea regain its strength and delight with its abundant and colorful flowering again.
