Azalea flower how to care. Homeland and distinctive characteristics of indoor azalea

Azalea - whimsical lush flowering plant. It is a kind of rhododendron - an evergreen shrub. The name of the plant is translated from Greek as "dry". Azalea decorates gardens and parks, summer cottages, certain types indoor azaleas feel good in winter gardens and window sills of apartments. Caring for an azalea is not an easy task, but it blooms unusually luxuriantly, terry and corrugated flowers are all shades of red and purple flowers. Azalea becomes the decoration and pride of any grower.

The birthplace of the flower is the slopes of the Carpathians and the Caucasus. Rhododendrons, her relatives, breed well in Altai. Loose soils, cool moist air contribute to good growth this plant. Until the moment of flowering, the azalea is a dry bush with hard leaves.

Azalea care at home

At home, they usually grow Indian and Japanese azalea. Japanese flowers are smaller, but after flowering, the bush itself can be used as ornamental plant. It will not spoil the interior with dry branches like an Indian azalea.

Azalea blooms in winter, its roots are thin and tender, so it is necessary to water with caution and only with soft melt water. If the water for irrigation is very cold, the roots will rot. The soil should be constantly moist, but not flooded.

It is important to observe the correct temperature regime. During the swelling of the buds, the air should not heat up above 5-7C, and during flowering - 18C. Generally, optimum temperature air for the plant - 10-12C. For living quarters, this temperature is unacceptable, but the flower can be "deceived": the pot is lowered into cold water or cover with ice, more often sprinkle leaves and flowers with water from the refrigerator. The flower is photophilous, but it must be protected from the hot rays of the sun. It is better to find a place with diffused light.

Humidity can be maintained by moistening the sand or moss in the pan containing the azalea pot. Especially in summer, it is necessary to constantly spray the plant. cold water from a spray bottle.

Top dressing for this "capricious" is not easy to choose. Therefore, it is better to use a special one that is sold in the store. In June, the azalea is fertilized with nitrogen supplements, and in autumn and winter - fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus. You can slightly acidify the soil by adding a few crystals to the water 2-3 times a month. citric acid. Withering flowers must be removed.

Azalea transplant

After flowering, the plant is transplanted into another pot. Young bushes are transplanted annually, and adult plants - once every three years. The roots are located on the surface, so the pot for transplanting azalea should be taken flat and wide. At this time, it is necessary to remove dry and weak shoots, too overgrown should be cut off. If this is not done, flowering will be poor, there will be few flowers. It is necessary to form a compact bush.

Azalea is propagated by cuttings. They are grown in special conditions. They give roots 60 days after planting them in the soil.

Azalea care in the garden

When planting and caring for an azalea in the garden for the first time, you need to observe some of the subtleties that are characteristic of this type of plant, in which case you will be able to avoid trouble when further care and exploitation of the plant.

Seedlings are usually purchased in the spring. Pay attention to their condition, they should be strong and resilient. There should be a lot of earth in the container, since the roots of the azalea are thin and are located on the surface of the soil. The bush should firmly "hold on" to the soil.

When choosing a place to plant, remember that the azalea is a delicate plant, does not like drafts, hot rays of the sun. She needs slightly acidic loose soil. The hole for the bush must be carefully prepared. It will turn out to be approximately 50 * 70 cm in depth and width. At the bottom, it is necessary to pour drainage from gravel and sand 20-30 cm thick, sprinkle it with soil. We prepare the substrate from a mixture of leafy soil, black peat, needles and sand. We place the seedling on the bottom and fall asleep with the prepared mixture, slightly compact. Plentifully water the soil and mulch with moss or pieces of bark.

The first watering after planting is three weeks later. Next, we monitor the soil moisture, the shading of the bush and protect it from pests!

Diversity

Over the centuries-old history of growing azalea, many of its varieties have been bred, which differ in the variety of colors and shapes of flowers, flowering time, shape and size of the bush.

Azalea Early Varieties:

• "Adventglokchen"
• "Doberlug"
• "Enzette Dagmar"
• "Wise Sheme"
• "Orange Bowen"

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Late azalea varieties:

• "Celestinum"
• "Concinna"
• "Hexe"
• "Sakuntala"
• "Professor Walters"

Azalea diseases

Azalea requires painstaking care and attention. Here are the most common azalea diseases and their solutions:

• Azalea can hit spider mite, which cobwebs leaves and flowers. In this case, the affected leaves must be treated soapy water with the addition of tobacco, after 2 hours, wash everything off. Repeat the procedure 3-5 times.
• Scale insects suck out cell sap, while the leaves dry and fall off. To combat this, it is necessary to wipe the leaves with a soapy sponge, then spray them with actara or karbofos.
• Mealybugs infect the entire plant at once. It may die. To prevent such a disaster, treat the plant with a soapy solution, then spray it with a 15% actellik composition.

If the conditions of the plant are violated, the flower may get sick. If the leaves and flowers wither, most likely they are dry and hot. Take appropriate action immediately.

Azalea home care video

Azalea is a decorative indoor flower, which is distinguished by its charming, very delicate flowers. It attracts the attention of many flower growers not only because of its beauty. The flowering time is winter time years when most indoor plants do not bloom. Its homeland is the territories of India and China. In its natural environment, it grows in the mountain forests of the northern hemisphere. In Japan, the flower is popular in bonsai culture. Keeping it in the apartment is a real joy. But, he definitely needs care and proper care. Only in this case it is possible to achieve abundant, long flowering.

Azalea flower types at home

Conventionally, scientists subdivide these beautiful plants into several main types. The most popular and frequently encountered of them are:

• Japanese azalea - grown as a garden plant;
• Indian - used for indoor breeding;
• North American is a deciduous shrub, grown in open ground, in mild climatic conditions.

Indian azalea flower - small evergreen shrub reaching 50 cm in height. Dark green leaves are small, up to 3.5 cm long, usually covered with reddish hairs. Flowers reach 5 cm in diameter. They gather in inflorescences, can be both double and non-double, have a variety of colors - from white to rich orange, lilac and dark purple. Often the petals are two-tone - white with a pink or red border. Budding room azalea more often in winter.

Azalea lighting at home

Lighting. Azaleas - light-loving plants, but they are contraindicated in direct sunlight. It is better to grow a flower on windows facing east. The azalea feels good on the west side, in extreme cases, it is placed on a window facing north. If the flower is located on the southern windows, then you need to cover it from direct sunlight.

Azalea flower buds and buds are formed in autumn, so in this phase they need additional lighting. Illumination is arranged with the help of lamps daylight. They are placed at a safe distance from the plant.

Watering azaleas at home

After you have purchased an azalea and it is in a pot, it is recommended that you immediately inspect it for a bay. To do this, pull the plant out of the transport tank and inspect the earthen clod. The ground should be slightly damp. See that water does not ooze from the soil, and there is no unpleasant specific smell. However, if this is observed, then this indicates the bay of the plant.

If the lump is too dry, in this case it is necessary to install it in a container and put it in a container with boiled water. The pot with the plant should stand in the water for about 30 minutes, until the earth ball is completely saturated with moisture. After the tank is taken out and placed on a pallet.

The last watering method is performed periodically. After that, watering the azalea should not be frequent, once a week will be enough. This can be explained by the fact that the earthen ball of the purchased azalea dries out extremely quickly, its soil is very moisture-intensive.

There is a proven way to determine the next watering for an azalea. To do this, you need to take the pot in your hands, and navigate, if the tank is light, then the plant must be watered, if it is heavy, you do not need to moisten the soil.

The optimal temperature for azalea at home

Azalea, in view of its northern origin, is very capricious plant. It is not surprising that after buying an azalea from a flower shop, you will bring it home, and after a few weeks of flowering, the shrub will shed its leaves and begin to dry. Therefore, it is important to immediately create for azalea favorable conditions growth, and a lot important role temperature plays into this. Azalea care will not take you much time if you know some of its features. Azalea prefers to grow in cool rooms with an air temperature of +10 to +15 degrees. Maximum allowable temperature+18 degrees is considered.

Air humidity for azalea at home

Home azalea needs high humidity air. Heating appliances – main enemy for azalea, since they not only increase the temperature of the air, but also dry it out, while the azalea flowers quickly fade after opening, the leaves curl and dry. To increase the humidity in the room, hang a wet cloth on hot radiators. Next to the flower, you can put a tray with wet moss or a bowl of snow, it will not only humidify the air, but also lower the temperature next to the flower.

The long-term flowering of azalea is largely dependent on maintenance. high humidity air and soil. Watering and spraying the flower should be done regularly. Spray only azalea leaves, water droplets can ruin beautiful flowers.

Azalea soil at home

Azaleas require acidic soil. It grows best in heather soil - it is very light, loose and quite nutritious. Harvest it in dense thickets of heather. But you can replace it with a mixture of peat and coniferous land (2: 1). Coniferous land is humus from fallen needles of pine, spruce, larch, fir. It is light and acidic, but contains few nutrients.

If you decide to buy a ready-made mixture in a store, pay attention to the composition and date of packaging. This is an important factor for the further growth of your flower. The soil must be fresh good supplements, and not expired and lost all its properties, which will harm the plant, not benefit. However, be careful, even the necessary soil is varied, there is one that is intended for transplanting, and one that is best used for propagating or sowing seeds. Can be used as a feed pine bark, which will oxidize the earth, and moss-sphagnum or charcoal for soil disinfection. Do not forget about drainage (about 3 cm of expanded clay), excess moisture will be removed from the ground through it.

Fertilizing azalea at home

Azaleas are fed in spring and summer, once a week. Use superphosphate, ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfite, ammonium nitrate. During the budding period of the plant, it is recommended to add superphosphate at the rate of 15 g per 10 liters of water.

Trimming indoor azalea at home

Why do pruning you will understand immediately after flowering. Overgrown and stretched young shoots make the crown sloppy. Moreover, if you leave everything unchanged, there will be less and less buds with each flowering, because the flower will give all its strength to the green mass.

Usually flowering with good home care the azalea lasts two to two and a half months, then we arm ourselves with a pruner and carefully cut out all the broken or too long shoots, remove the weak ones or those that interfere with everyone else. Cut off those shoots that appear near the kidneys.

Azalea transplant at home

Blooming azalea categorically cannot be transplanted, but there are exceptions here. If the purchased flower is literally flooded with water or is in a cramped pot, it will have to be transplanted. It is undesirable to transplant or transfer the plant in winter - it is better to postpone the process for the period of growth of new shoots.

Transplantation is performed in extreme cases and no more than 1 time per year if the azalea is under 3 years old. If the flower is older, transplantation is allowed twice a year. weighty reason for transplantation is increased in size root system, which does not have enough space in the pot and does not have enough substrate. You should also move the azalea to a new place of residence when the substrate rots and new formations on the soil surface. Only specialized soil for rhododendrons is used.

Reproduction of room azalea at home

Most often, reproduction is carried out using cuttings. The process is painstaking and time-consuming, but the most common among all methods. Harvest cuttings only from healthy, adult plants. This can be done no more than once a year and only in the spring. Remember that young cuttings wither quickly, and old ones take too long to take root.

Sometimes propagated by grafting. This method is more often used in greenhouses where indoor flowers are bred. You need to have professional skills and abilities in order to properly vaccinate.

It is extremely rare to resort to growing azaleas from seeds. The process is too laborious and heavy. It is chosen by professionals in order to develop new varieties.

Diseases and pests of indoor azalea

A home azalea flower, like many other indoor plants, can get sick or pests appear on them.

By the symptoms, you can find out the type of disease and solve this problem as soon as possible:

• fall off the flower yellow leaves. This indicates insufficient moisture or excessive lighting. In this case, it is enough to create a small shadow (if the lighting is excessive) and water it if necessary;
• during the flowering period, the azalea abruptly begins to drop flowers - it is necessary to improve the quality of the water, as well as use mineral supplements;
• buds begin to fall, and cobwebs also appear. The culprit is the tick. It can appear in rooms where the climate is dry and warm. It is enough to moisten the crown using the “spraying” method, and then rinse the plant under a thin stream of water;
• young leaves begin to curl up into a tube, blooming flowers are slightly deformed or fall off immediately, the plant stops growing. In this case, the azalea was attacked by the most dangerous pest"strawberry mite". It is in his power to damage shoots, leaves, and even buds. To eradicate it, you must urgently contact a specialized flower shop and purchase a special solution. Otherwise, the plant will not live long.

They grow in mountain forests in cool conditions. Among them, there are both deciduous and evergreen shrubs or low trees. For growing in room conditions Japanese azalea and Indian azalea are best suited, moreover, the latter is more preferred.

Indian azalea or Sims' rhododendron is an evergreen shrub reaching a height of 50 cm. Young shoots usually have flat bristly hairs of bright red or chestnut-brown color. On short-petiolate small leaves, reddish hairs are also visible on the lower light green side, the upper leathery surface is painted in a dark green tone. When flowering comes, all buds open at the same time. Inflorescences of double or non-double flowers, funnel-shaped in shape, wide, reaching a diameter of 3 to 5 centimeters, have a variety of colors ranging from white to purple-red. Quite often there are azaleas with two-color flowers.

Distinctive features Azalea japonica, which is not so popular in indoor floriculture, are more small flowers(up to 3 cm) and the fact that after flowering this shrub can be planted in the front garden. It successfully tolerates frosts up to 20 degrees. Otherwise, the Japanese azalea has the same structure and color of flowers and leaves as the Indian.

caring for them

It should be noted right away that azaleas are rather capricious plants and require certain conditions for successful cultivation. Otherwise, a delightful flower bought or donated runs the risk of ending up in the bin, since very often, when acceptable conditions are not created, immediately after the end of flowering, it loses leaves and dies. Therefore, it is necessary to create suitable conditions so that azalea flowers will please the eye for many years. Plant care is, first of all, in observing the optimal temperature regime.

Azalea does not tolerate heat well, the most comfortable temperature for a plant is considered to be a temperature not exceeding 18ºС, even better - from 10 to 15 degrees. Most the best place for an azalea - a warmed loggia. As long as there is a positive temperature of up to 5 degrees, the plant can be safely kept in such conditions. Just at this time, flower buds are laid, approximately from October to December. Azalea flowers, which require moving the plant into a room and placing it in a window facing north or west after a hard frost, do not tolerate hot, dry air in the room. The temperature should not exceed 13-16ºС, which stimulates further abundant flowering. In the case when the azalea blooms, and it is possible to lower the temperature a little, the flowering will be long. Experienced flower growers they resort to various tricks: they spray with cold water, organize watering with cold melt water, even put ice on the edges of the pot. If, during flowering, the air in the room is hot and dry - the flowering is either very short, or it may not come at all - the buds simply fall off.

Azalea flowers, care, which includes the choice of suitable place, which will provide enough bright lighting, do not like direct sunlight.

When watering, use distilled, thawed or rain water, in extreme cases, settled tap or boiled. To maintain the necessary, it is recommended, approximately twice a month, to water the azaleas with acidified water (1 teaspoon of citric acid dissolved in two liters of water).

How is Azalea propagated?

Most acceptable way for giving more or less positive results (which, however, have to wait a long time) - the use of semi-woody cuttings for rooting. In addition to this method, professional flower growers propagate azaleas with seeds, but this is a very complicated and rather laborious process. They also divide the bush and use the grafting method. Consider the most common method of reproduction - cuttings.

• In the period from May to August, cuttings that are not completely woody, but not quite green, are cut from 5 to 8 cm long;
• Prepare the substrate for rooting. Perfect fit sphagnum moss or coniferous earth, which have an acid reaction;
• The cuttings are not deeply buried in the ground (by 2-5 cm) and covered from above plastic wrap or glass, while do not forget to regularly water and spray;
• At a temperature within 25ºС, the cuttings take root in 3-5 weeks. However, there are times when the roots have to wait about six months.

To achieve the best effect, so that the azalea blooms magnificently - pruning and pinching are the most effective ways, thanks to which it is tied a large number of flower buds, and the plant begins to vigorously bush. Perform such procedures as soon as the azalea finishes blooming. All single flowers are harvested and, from May to mid-summer, young shoots are regularly pinched and cut. Since the buds form at the tips of young shoots, the more they form, the more abundant the flowering will be. And the more beautiful your beautiful azalea will be - the flower of female happiness.

In nature, the azalea is a low-growing evergreen shrub that blooms from late autumn to spring. Currently, there are more than 300 species of this plant. It owes its origin to India and China. Several centuries the best gardeners Europe tried to grow this flower outside of its natural habitat. And only in early XIX century in London UK gardeners in artificial conditions were able to provide the plant with proper care.

Two centuries later, the situation has not changed much - like any beauty, the azalea is very capricious and whimsical. However, caring for this flower is worth the effort - the azalea and its double petals of pink, cream, red flowers, corrugated along the edges, are difficult to compare with something. The one who takes the liberty to buy these indoor flowers and provide proper care and favorable conditions, the azalea will thank with generous flowering.

AT vivo shrub is undergrowth for tall trees in the shady and humid forests of Japan, India, the mountainous regions of China, the Caucasus and Siberia. Therefore, at home it is necessary to create a cool, but not cold, atmosphere with a high degree of moisture. This flower feels great in rooms with diffused sunlight and air temperature not higher than 18 ° C. In the office, on the loggia, in the greenhouse, the azalea will feel great. When buying, you should pay attention to flowers with a few open and most still closed buds, which are at various stages of development.

For a home azalea, a window facing east is a good location. At the very least, go to the west. It should be protected from direct exposure to sunlight, but she also does not like dusk. The best option air humidification will be a fine mist of water. The plant does not tolerate a dry microclimate, so it must be sprayed at least twice a day in hot weather.

When flowering, this should be done in such a way that drops of water do not fall on the buds and flowers that have already blossomed.

A very important aspect is the competent watering of the flower. Since its root system is located on the surface and does not tolerate either excess or lack of moisture, once a week the pot with the plant should be immersed for an hour or two in a container of water. Then it is better to drain excess water from the pan. It is necessary to water only with soft water, preferably melt or rain in the morning. In the hot season, it will be great if you put ice cubes under the leaves on the ground.

The next most important factor is right choice soil. In stores, plants are often sold in plastic pots, which is convenient for their transportation, but not suitable for the normal development of the plant. The best option will be ceramic or peat flower pot with good drainage. The soil can be made independently by mixing in the following ratios 2 parts of earth with rotted needles, 1 part of moss and 1 part of sand. This will create the acidic environment needed for the azalea to grow and bloom. One option would be to purchase ready mix soil for azaleas.

After the first flowering, the flower is preferably with a new soil and make sure normal condition root system. Give the transplanted plant a little more sunlight. Don't forget weekly feeding. It is better to use mineral potash fertilizers, occasionally alternating them with organic ones.

In the warm season, flower pots must be removed in a semi-shaded cool room or planted in open ground. Insofar as home flower azalea loves acidic soil, care should be accompanied by regular watering with acidified water, which is made thanks to lemon juice (2-3 tablespoons lemon juice per liter of water).

With the onset of the first frost, the flower must be brought into the room. Temperature care should be between 10°C and 12°C. Give your plant enough water, but don't overdo it. All nutrients it has accumulated in the leaves, and between October and December you will see lush growth without flowers. With the onset of winter, bring the azalea pot into a warmer room (t about 18 ° C), and in a few weeks the beauty will delight you with its flowering again.

Azalea for its lush flowering is one of the most beautiful indoor plants. But, unfortunately, it often happens that some time after the acquisition, the plant begins to die, because the indoor azalea is a rather capricious flower. Need to create for her Better conditions so that the plant does not begin to dry and shed its leaves. And then Azalea will certainly thank you for your efforts with amazing lush flowers.

From the history of the plant

This indoor flower is evergreen, branched flowering dwarf plant. Its homeland is Japan and China, but it can also be found in southern Europe and North America. Azalea room belongs to the genus of rhododendrons. Rhododendron from the Greek "rhodon" means a rose, and "dendron" means a tree. Otherwise, rosewood. "Azalea" is translated from the ancient Greek language - dry. It is named so because of its appearance, as a rule, it is a dry small shrub. In Russia, they appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, initially they were only in botanical gardens and greenhouses.

AT wild nature there are about 350 representatives of azalea, but there are only two types of room:

Indoor azalea blooms quite abundantly aged 3 to 4 years. She often has bright pink flowers, but often snow-white, rich red, purple, lilac, there are even two-tone ones. Petals of indoor azalea flowers can be terry, slightly terry, just even. Azalea leaves are quite small and dark green in color.

When purchasing an intensively blooming indoor azalea, it is better to choose one where there is a significant number of unblown buds, such a plant will quickly adapt to other conditions and will delight with its fabulously beautiful flowers for a long time.

You should also carefully examine the plant for the presence of pests and diseases. By slightly tilting the plant, you can verify the presence of dry leaves, which indicates improper care, illness.

Azalea: how to care at home

To beautiful blooming azalea pleased for a long time, it is necessary provide proper care at home for this indoor flower.

Lighting

First of all, after the purchase indoor flower need to find right place for her. Considering that she is photophilous, but the bright rays of the sun destroy her, the ideal place for her would be on the windowsill on the east side, as an option on the north and west sides. The main thing to remember when leaving is that the light should be diffused, partial shade is also suitable.

During the formation of buds (October - November), care must be taken to ensure that there is sufficient lighting, for example, highlighting a houseplant with fluorescent lamps.

Temperature

When caring for an azalea, you need to know that it plays a significant role maintaining the desired temperature. This indoor plant does not belong to the heat-loving ones, 15-18 0С is the required temperature for it, and when budding it is even lower - from 10 to 12 0С. Thanks to such conditions of detention, flowering can be ensured, and it will be quite long and plentiful.

In summer, the azalea is quite difficult to save from the heat, and, if possible, it is necessary to place it on the balcony (only if it is not on the south side) or if available home air conditioner try to maintain the temperature, not exceeding 20 0С.

Humidity

It needs sufficient moisture, for this the plant is required quite often. spray with slightly cool water from a spray bottle. When the azalea blooms, you need to spray carefully, as from water delicate flowers may darken. Water containers placed around the plant will help to get out of the situation.

In summer, she will feel great in an open space, for example, in a garden. Humidity must be given Special attention and during the heating season.

Watering

It plays an important role in the care of any plant, affects the growth and vegetation of the plant. Azalea is especially capricious, therefore, in order not to destroy her, it is necessary follow following rules glaze:

soil for azalea

This houseplant needed acidic soil ph 4 to 4.5. Ready land mixture easily purchased in specialized stores. But the soil is also prepared at home on their own from rotted needles, moss and sand (2: 1: 1).

Azalea pruning and pinching

So that it bushes better, and a bush forms, as well as for more lush flowering it is necessary to take care of it correctly, timely pinching the overgrown stems and cutting them off. After flowering, all single flowers must be removed. Starting in May, it is necessary to constantly cut off fresh shoots and pinch them carefully. The main goal of such care is for buds to appear on the tips of the shoots.

Pruning must be done with a special secateurs. It is not necessary to cut all the branches, only those that are stretched out. As a rule, young leaves will begin to appear a couple of weeks after pruning.

Top dressing for azalea and its growth stimulants

It is necessary to carry out top dressing of this plant mineral fertilizers , while making sure that it does not contain chlorine, otherwise it will destroy it. It is better to purchase Azalea top dressing in specialized stores. In spring and summer, it is necessary to feed once (no more) a week, and in winter, in general, only 1 time in 30 days. When buds begin to form and during the flowering period of home azalea, you need to purchase fertilizers that contain enough potassium and phosphorus, for example, Uniflor - Bud, Kemira - Lux.

Transfer

Immediately after the first flowering, it is better to transplant given plant. This must be done carefully, by way of transshipment, keeping a lump of earth, it has very thin roots and is very easy to damage. The pot for transplanting room azalea should be chosen shallow, so the roots can be closer to the surface of the soil.

As a rule, young plants are transplanted once a year, and adults - only once in three years. When transplanting, it is necessary to cut off dried shoots, flowers, branches.

Azalea breeding

indoor flower breeds stem cuttings . It is advisable to do this in the summer. To do this, semi-lignified cuttings with existing buds are planted in the ground, it is advisable to cover glass jar, plastic bag. Watering and spraying - plentiful and regular. If flower buds appear, they are immediately removed.

After a couple of months, when the rooting of the cuttings occurs, it is necessary to plant them in a pot. Elongated shoots are pinched on rooted cuttings to form a crown.

Diseases appear due to improper care: insufficient watering of the plant, exposure to the sun, an increase in the temperature of the room where this flower is located, lack of light, improper soil. Diseases of culture:

Spider mites, scale insects, strawberry mites- pests that can ruin indoor azalea. To fight, you need to process a home flower by special means. First you need to treat the foliage with soapy water, then rinse warm water and then you need to spray it with the purchased product (for example, Actellik solution).