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

Discovered culture in con. XVIII–beginning 19th century England. Then the Dutch botanist Jacob Brainius 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 azalea, but failed. In the beginning. XIX century, Captain Welbank brought a flower from India, and he took root. With the help of breeders today, many varieties and species of plants that amaze with their beauty have been collected on the flower industry market.

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

Azalea adaptation period after the store

In order for the plant to grow well, it needs to get used to the new conditions. To do this, the gardener inspects the soil for the presence of mold. If there is a disease, the flower is treated with drugs against the fungus. Next, 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 is 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 repot Azalea?

A change of soil and a flowerpot for a flower is needed if necessary. A three-year-old 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 growth of roots or decay of the soil. Immediately after the purchase, it is better not to disturb the flower for as long as possible. First, there must be an adaptation period.

When to transplant an azalea

Usually the flower is transplanted in the spring. Pre-cleaning the 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 about the material of pots, clay and plastic containers are suitable for azaleas.

Care for room azalea after purchase

Growing a plant at home requires certain skills. It is not always possible to "win" a flower. The culture is capricious and fastidious. Quite often, after the acquisition, the plant sheds flowers. To achieve repeated flowering, the gardener needs to try.

Temperature, humidity and lighting

Comfortable temperature for azalea is 10-15C. In other words, chill. AT winter period on which the plant blooms right conditions easy to provide. An excellent choice would be a window sill isolated from batteries.

For 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 the required temperature, azalea sometimes manage to be put even 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.

How much of indoor plants Rhododendron loves rich, diffused light.

Next an important factor for a flower is high humidity. At home, this rule is difficult to follow, so the plant is constantly sprayed with a spray bottle. Do not allow large drops of water to fall on the flower. Otherwise, it will get stained.

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 potting soil should always be moist. It is unacceptable to overdry the earth, otherwise the flower will throw off leaves and flowers.

Watering the culture, use soft water. You can take snow or rain. Azalea responds well to water mixed with lemon or apple cider vinegar(It is enough to add a few drops to the water).

Top dressing and fertilizer

If you want to fertilize the 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 famous drugs are: Epin, Zircon, Ecogel-antistress, Ferovit, HB-101, Fitosporin-M.

Rules for caring for azalea after flowering

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

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

Formation "Bonsai" from azalea

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

To get a bonsai from a rhododendron, you need to form a crown from the first year of a flower's life. The plant must be young. This will take more than one year. The number of cuts will require at least five.

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

How to propagate azalea at home

Having learned all the rules and nuances for 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 commonly used by professional gardeners to propagate new varieties. All other methods are available for inexperienced flower growers.

The most common method of propagating azalea indoors is cuttings. In the spring, a stalk of 5-8 cm is cut from the flower. The cut is treated with a drug that stimulates root growth. For rooting use a peat mixture, a coniferous substrate. 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.

Grafting a flower is done by choosing a side shoot with a bud and a pair of leaves on it. An incision is made under the kidney. The layer is pressed down to the ground and fastened with a bracket. Soil is poured on top. After the shoot takes root, it is carefully separated from the bush and transplanted.

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

The Difficulties of Growing Azaleas

As with many other indoor plants, flower breeding can be accompanied by a number of difficulties. All of them appear due to insufficient lighting, incorrect temperature and watering, improperly selected substrate or top dressing. The main diseases of azalea are monitored by the following signs:

1. Flowers turn yellow, become lethargic, fall off. This indicates improper watering. To solve the problem, you need to try watering the flower with boiled water mixed with fertilizers.
2. The leaves turn yellow, wither, fall off along with the inflorescences. Such problems indicate poor watering, an excess of the sun's rays. You can fix the issue 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 the spider mite. It appears with 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 a soapy solution and washing the flower under warm shower.

Azalea care at home requires special skills and abilities. In order for the flower to grow well after purchase, you need to have complete information on growing a crop. This will require constant attention and observation of the flower grower.

A flower from the genus Rhododendron is one of the most beautiful indoor flowers. The desire to prolong the pleasure of admiring the summer colors of various plants in winter is characteristic of every flower lover. Azalea is considered a symbol of peace, happiness, joy in China, North America, South-East Asia, Japan, southern Europe, where numerous plant species live in nature. A low perennial bush, decorated with a bright hat of beautiful flowers of any shade, pleases the eye against the backdrop of the winter landscape outside the window. Often an elegant pot is chosen for a gift. At this time, many problems arise: how to keep this beauty longer, prolong the growth of azalea for years, not throw it away after flowering? The information is interesting for choosing a variety, proper care at home.

Two are most often grown: Indian or Azalea Sims and Japanese azalea. They look like small bushes up to 50 cm high, characterized by different timing of the appearance of flowers. In the role of pot culture, a few varieties of 600 wild-growing species of azaleas are grown. Now there are numerous hybrids bred by breeders based on crossing wild plants.

Indica (Azalea indica)

The branching indica bush is covered with small leaves, bristly hairs of a red hue. The leaves are dark green, glossy, oval. Flowers collected in fluffy inflorescences have different shades white, red. Inflorescences are two-color, in small spots, stripes.

There are modern varieties with terry, corrugated, funnel-shaped flowers.

Popular are the Snezhinka variety with lilac flowers located on a sprawling bush. Albert-Elizabeth variety, snow-white with a raspberry edge of large flowers, Prof. Walfbers, crimson azalea Celestma, others.

White (Rhododendron simsii)

A bush up to 60 cm high looks like a jasmine. Terry, simple flowers are snow-white or tinged color pink. This type of azalea should not be kept next to other varieties.

She is quickly changes the shade of its colors. The variety of white azalea Kermesina Alba looks spectacular. A huge number of small fragrant flowers bloom on the branches, resembling a snowdrift, if you take care of it properly.

indica mix

The plant has an erect stem, reaching a height of about 50 cm. It has small lanceolate leaves of a dark, green color. Downy brown hairs are visible on young stems.

In the leaf axils two to six colors are formed. They are simple, terry, monophonic, two-color, in small dots, stripes. The range of their shades can be any: pink, white, red, yellow.

Standard

Based on the varieties of Indian and Japanese azaleas, flower growers form a bole bonsai trees using the methods of ancient Japanese technology. Often used evergreen white or mixed plant varieties. Gradually, a small lignified stem is formed, resembling a miniature tree.

Plant it in small pots, fulfilling the care requirements in accordance with the variety you like. In the greenhouses, a real park of standard azaleas is created. Belgian breeders have obtained varieties Princess Mathilde, Albert Elizabeth, which have a pyramidal shape.

Pink

At home, numerous varieties of Indian, Japanese rosalia are grown, which have pink flowers. Works of breeders different countries made it possible to see blooming pink azaleas in different months of the year.

They can be a gift for the spring Easter holidays, such as Lorna-Carter, Inga, Erie, Doberlug, Dresden 1936, Enzett Dagmar. Open your tender buds before Christmas, like Madame Petryk.

Varieties of pink azalea Kyiv waltz are in demand. Scarlet flower, Impromptu, Suzirya, bred by breeder S.N. Prikhodko.

Basics of home care

One of the beautiful indoor plants is considered not easy to care for. Soil composition, temperature, lighting, humidity matter, not allowed to be ignored at least one factor.

The reaction of the plant is manifested in the wrinkling of the leaves, the fall of unopened buds, the appearance of pests, and the rapid death of the flower.

Watering, moisture, top dressing

In nature, azalea grows in moist forests. These same needs of the flower must be fully provided in the available housing. For creating high humidity it is necessary to constantly spray with settled water, use a modern air humidifier.

next to a plant have additional water containers increasing the evaporation area. In the summer, with dry air in the apartment, it is recommended to carry out careful spraying.

It is forbidden to get drops formed during spraying on delicate flowers. They quickly darken, fall off.

Azaleas should be watered regularly, observing the soil in the pot. The earth ball must be moist. When it dries, it is necessary to lower the pot into a container of water for three hours.

water before watering it is recommended to stand for several days. It can be cool, which contributes to lush flowering. Especially if you add a couple of drops once every 10 days lemon juice. Sometimes pieces of ice are placed to cool it. At the same time, you need to know that cold water is not absorbed by the roots of the plant, provoking stress, leading to leaf drop.

Use tap water not possible due to the presence of chlorine, a destructive element for individual indoor plants. When watering into the pan, you should not allow stagnation of water, general waterlogging of the plant. This is bad for root development.

Falling leaves are a sign of lack of water. I need to increase watering.

Temperature, lighting

The flower feels comfortable only in the rays of diffused light. Harmful to the flower, direct sunlight should be excluded.

East window sill is considered the best place for a flower. For education flower buds that give birth to a winter flower, additional irradiation of the plant with luminescent emitters in the autumn is necessary.

A dangerous signal indicating increased dryness, high temperature is a reduction in the duration of flowering, the development of a spider mite. It is necessary to immediately wash the leaves of the plant, treat with the appropriate insecticide.

Creating the optimal temperature is important for the development of the plant, lush flowering, considering main problem Azalea care.

A cool, frost-free balcony is not always available. In a residential area, it is necessary to provide a temperature of 5 to 10 degrees during the formation of flower buds from October to December. During flowering, it should be 14-18 degrees.

soil, fertilizer

Experts offer a proven composition of the soil for the effective cultivation of a flower, taking into account its biological features. Among the numerous proposals, a fresh composition is chosen for carrying out specific actions: planting a plant in the main place, sowing seeds for seedlings. They differ in the content of mineral elements. With long-term storage of the soil, the chemical composition changes.

If the soil for azaleas is prepared independently, then it must be borne in mind that an acidic environment is necessary for the life of the fungus on the roots of the plant involved in the supply of nutrients during the growth of the azalea.

An alkaline environment leads to their death, and then to the destruction of the entire plant. The acidity of the soil for azaleas has a pH value of 3.5 to 5.5 units. The following composition is considered optimal, including six soil options: two parts of leafy, coniferous land, one part of lowland, high peat, heather, sand.

For feeding azaleas, it is recommended to use well-known complex fertilizers of balanced composition for a specific type of plant, for example, Uniflor-Buton, Kemira-Lux. The presence of the optimal amount of iron and magnesium chelates helps in preventing the appearance of leaf chlorosis.

It is convenient to combine top dressing with watering plants once every ten days at the rate of 20 g per 10 liters of water. It is recommended to do this during the period of bud formation, opening of flowers in the form of root, foliar dressings. The first time fertilizer is applied no earlier than three weeks after planting.

Make sure the fertilizer expiration date is valid. Expired bags will bring irreparable harm azaleas.

Now available ready-made forms liquid fertilizer, created from natural humic compounds with the addition of micro, macro elements. They help the formation of a powerful root system, improve the decorative qualities of the flowering crown.

As organic fertilizers, a solution of high-moor peat, a small amount of rotted manure, preferably in the form of a diluted slurry, is often used.

Regular feeding is beneficial when sowing seeds, growing seedlings, during the growth of plants in a permanent place.

Pot selection

Special ceramic pots for azaleas has a wide base. It is filled with expanded clay, moss, has the ability to contain a small amount of water. The edges of the pots are low, which provides convenient air access to the roots of the plant.

Features of winter care

The optimal winter temperature for azaleas are the values about 15 degrees reminiscent of the foggy warm season of early autumn. Dry air coming from working heating devices in apartments leads to the destruction of the azalea.

The flower transfers the summer heat more easily to closed balcony, loggias with west side Houses. At the time of flowering, the azalea is allowed to turn, move to another place. The buds will not fall off like some houseplants.

In winter, during the flowering period, the requirements for the amount of light increase. Additional lighting created by artificial lamps different type, timely compensate for the lack of daylight.

The advice for using cold ice cubes to lower the temperature from a working home heating system should be used with caution. Its rapid fall will lead to the dropping of buds and flowers.

reproduction

By saving the first flower that appeared in the house, you can test your experience in beautiful plant. This is done with the following options:

1. seeds. The method is used by professional flower growers.
2. . In doing so, perform the following actions:
   1. cut after flowering semi-lignified cuttings. At the same time, it is taken into account that the green stalk quickly withers, does not give roots. A cutting taken from an old branch takes root for a long time. best time for cutting 10 cm cuttings, summer is considered.
   2. Perform treatment with a growth stimulator.
   3. For planting use acidic, coniferous soil, sphagnum peat.
   4. The planted stalk is covered with plastic, glass jar, creating humid, greenhouse conditions. The root system is formed heavily, after two months. After that, they are seated in separate containers.

• . An adult four-year-old bush is carefully divided into several parts. Planted in separate pots.
• layering. For this, last year's shoot is pre-fixed in the soil. copper wire, hairpin. Throughout the summer season, this place is watered with a solution of heteroauxin, which accelerates the number of roots to multiply. After a year, the layers are separated. Young bushes bloom in the current season.

Transfer

The question of transplantation arises immediately after the first flowering of the acquired azalea. This should be done in the spring as follows:

1. Necessarily determine the state of the root system during thorough washing.
2. Transplantation should be carried out using the transshipment method, keeping the earthen ball on the roots. They cannot be damaged.
3. Choose a flat, wide pot.
4. Cut off all dry flowers, shoots, branches before planting.
5. Find acidic soil. It is better to buy a ready-made Azalea mixture.
6. in a pot provide good drainage.
7. Do not cover the root neck of the plant.

Young seedlings are transferred to a different pot every year. Mature plants are transplanted once every five years.

At proper care azaleas bloom luxuriantly all the time, which is why flower growers respect them.

Diseases, pests

A beautiful flower is attacked by numerous pests. Among them is gray rot, fusarium, rust, azalea moth, mite, whitefly. It is necessary to fight them with the help of chemicals, without postponing the process for a long time.

The result of improper care are rapidly progressing diseases, for example, yellowing of the leaves, drying of flowers, death of the plant.

The process is accelerating great content clay in the soil, high temperature during flowering, use cold water, insufficient watering. Most often, ferovit, preparations from Micro-Fe, Agricola are used to combat specific diseases.

When it blooms

Flowers on the bushes appear in winter, which enhances the attractiveness, the desire to see a blooming garden on your window.

Many flowers rest in winter. This is possible only with strict observance temperature regime, other home care requirements.

If the plant is waiting to be transferred to the house on the balcony, plot, then this should be done gradually before the start of the heating season.

A temperature drop, a change in the humidity regime leads to the fall of foliage, emerging buds.

Why are there no flowers

The plant must go through all stages of growth under the correct conditions of existence determined by nature. Flowers do not appear in case of violation of lighting conditions, humidity, watering, improperly composed soil, drafts.

Careful monitoring of leaf quality will tell you the reason for the reluctance to form buds, flowers.

How to make it bloom

Important for a plant strict change of life cycles under optimal temperature conditions.

In summer, indoor types of azaleas are at rest. This is the easiest period of plant care. In the cool autumn, buds of future flowers are laid. In winter, it's time for flowers. To make it lush, beautiful against the background of the implementation of the main rules of care, the plant is pruned.

On young shoots leave up to five leaves. If shoots have formed near the flower buds, then they are plucked out. To increase the duration of flowering, all faded buds are regularly removed.

Flower buds are laid on the tops of young shoots in early autumn. To create a lush bush, there must be a lot of these buds. Therefore, it is impossible to tighten with pruning.

A useful action in creating a lush bouquet is drop in temperature by a few degrees at the time of the formation of the first flowers, this will make the plant bloom in the future.

Having mastered everything agrotechnical measures growing azalea at home, you can learn how to create beautiful compositions in the style of bonsai, using a small azalea tree grown by yourself.

How to care for an azalea

Azaleas are difficult to tame or adapt to room conditions. This flower grows in the wild in the mountains of Asia, so it loves coolness. To some extent, breeders have succeeded in instilling a tolerance for moderate temperatures in the warm season, but in winter the azalea must be kept in bright room with air temperature not higher than 13 ºC.

Do not water the rhododendron too often, try to keep the 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 tray 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 heat, trying to speed up the onset of flowering - this is a frequent 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 should 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 were invested in this process. To breathe life into the plant, the azalea needs to be transplanted. Rhododendrons love heather and deciduous soils, and clay soils are contraindicated for them. The optimal soil pH for azaleas is pH 4.0-5.5.

Azalea care in summer

At the end of May, when there are no more frosts at night, azaleas can be moved to the balcony. In summer, rhododendron is best kept on a windowsill or on fresh air, organizing him protection from drafts. If the summer is too hot and dry, it is advisable to wrap the flowerpot with damp moss, the moisture of which is maintained by spraying. If at home, despite all your attempts to achieve coolness, it is too stuffy, transplant the azalea outdoors, directly 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 an azalea if the soil in the pot is dry - after a while, already at home, some kind of disease may appear in it. Choose an azalea in a pot that is at least half the width of the flower crown. If there are flowers on the azalea, then check that they are developed, not wilted, and have an even color. Leaves must be clean.

• You can not often turn the pot with an azalea - it is very sensitive to changes in lighting.
• Some florists advise watering the azalea with water from 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 a change of scenery and, getting into unusual conditions, they begin to get sick and often die. Therefore, if you want to definitely have this flower in your house, try growing it yourself. Buy an azalea in March or April, cut off a cutting from it and root it in peat, putting a transparent plastic bag on the pot with a cutting. In this case, even if the 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 in a liter of water boric acid bought in a pharmacy. Some flower growers in hot weather recommend putting ice cubes from the refrigerator on the azalea soil instead of watering: they slowly melt and saturate the soil with cool water.

2. Tips from V.S. Ivanova from Tyumen.

Adult azaleas, falling into city ​​apartment with central heating, 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 take cuttings from a plant acquired in the spring (March-April) - then they take root better. The substrate can be two-layer (lower - horse manure, upper - sand); I usually use peat: I take slightly decomposed with plant residues, fill a pot with a diameter of 12-15 cm with it and moisten it. From the azalea I cut 4 cuttings 5-6 cm long and plant them at an equal distance from each other, deepening by 2-2.5 cm. I cover the pot with a plastic bag on top and fasten the bag around the pot with an elastic band. I remove the bag 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 rooting of the cuttings occurs, 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 remove the package completely and feed the young azaleas. In September-October, when the cuttings take root and grow well, I carefully plant the azaleas in separate pots and again cover them with plastic bags for 1-2 weeks, since damage to the roots is possible during transplantation. Azaleas obtained from cuttings develop well and continue to 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 far as I understand, happened only because of a simple tap water, which was used for watering in the store. I want to advise all lovers of azaleas to purchase a solution of boric acid in a pharmacy 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 says:

Azalea is a capricious flower, as it requires humidity and ventilation of the room, as well as low air temperature, lighting for all 12 hours, and does not tolerate transplantation, besides, it must be humid upper layer soil. More than 2 years 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 breathability. Breathability is also very important for azalea. She responds well to drip irrigation, covering the soil with ice. The substrate should include peat, spruce soil, which must not be turned into compressed loam.

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

When it's hot in the summer, I put the azaleas in the refrigerator until the heat subsides, and I take care of the azaleas, as before: you can highlight there too Chinese lantern(on batteries). Therefore, I specifically buy small and low azalea bushes (I keep the flower pot in cellophane) and certainly root the cutting, observing the above conditions for its habitat.

Flowers in the house: lush azalea.

Azalea, or rhododendron, from the Heather family is rightfully considered one of the most ornamental shrubs decorating the house. bright bloom in the darkest time of the year and surprising with an abundance of flowers, behind which leaves are sometimes not visible. Beautiful flowering species and varieties native to China, Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe and North America. Funnel-shaped flowers - white, pink, raspberry, bright red - monochromatic or bicolor - collected in racemes or corymbose. The most valuable varieties are those originating from the species of Indian rhododendron and Sims rhododendron, blooming with 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 (carefully: rhododendrons can contain toxic substances!). Pruning of shoots is necessary several times in early summer to form a lush bush. Young shoots that form immediately before or during flowering are also pinched.

Azaleas love light to partial shade, but cannot stand the sun. Provide her with coolness (in autumn and winter 5-10 degrees for ripening buds, with swelling of buds 18 degrees) and a lot of fresh air, from the beginning of May you can keep it outside 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 for a short time in a bucket of water, wait for the excess water to drain and put it back in the same place as it was on the window (mark the pot with tape), otherwise a change in position in relation to the light may cause the leaves to fall.

Young plants are transplanted annually, old ones every 2-3 years in rhododendron soil (or prepare a mixture of peat, soddy soil and sand yourself 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 beneficial soil fungi on the roots), instead of transplanting, transshipment with the addition of a fresh substrate is recommended. From the end of February to August, 2 times a month, feed with a flower fertilizer without lime, or add a low concentration of rhododendron fertilizer to the water for irrigation.

At too high a temperature and dry air, the azalea is affected by spider mites, which can lead to yellowing and leaf fall. spider mite or red spider - a very small sucking pest, on the underside of the leaves forms an interlacing of thin white threads. 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. Treatment chemicals due to their toxicity, it is undesirable in a residential area, so prepare and use preparations from plants: decoctions and infusions of tobacco, onion, garlic, pepper, yarrow, calendula, etc. Increase the frequency of spraying not only the plant itself, but also the space around it. Humidity can be raised by using an electric humidifier, as well as by placing a wide, flat tray of water next to the plant.

Azaleas are suitable for making bonsai, but keep in mind that the trunk is a little brittle and needs to be supported with hands when carefully bent. In autumn, a well-groomed azalea is given the desired shape (semi-cascade or panicle) and transplanted into bonsai dishes.

Tell me how to properly care for an azalea. The leaves dry at the end, lose the color of the leaves, buds have accumulated, but 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 necessary (therefore, abundant flowering in azalea takes place in winter with fresh air in coolness); a lot of light, but not in the sun; high air humidity and moderate watering with soft water (the earth lump should not dry out); fertilizer 2 times a month in spring and summer. Azalea does not like sudden changes in conditions of detention (large changes in temperature and humidity, drafts, drying out of an earthen coma, turning the pot on the window). To maintain high humidity, the azalea pot is placed on a stand (so that water does not get into the drainage hole) in a water pan. 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.

Azalea leaves can dry at the end from excessive soil moisture and insufficient acidity: 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 rain or taken from a natural reservoir, and if tap water, then passed through a filter). Loosen the soil surface regularly.

Ziborova E.Yu.

Azalea. Care and cultivation of azalea (potted flowers)

Azalea is an evergreen flowering and very beautiful shrub 40-50 cm high. The leaves of the azalea are small, leathery, dark green in color. Azalea blooms with beautiful flowers with simple or double corrugated petals of various colors. There are azaleas with white, pink, bright red, purple flowers. Different varieties azaleas bloom from November to June for 40-60 days.

Gardeners love the azalea for its decorative effect, and it is a frequent visitor to home greenhouses. Azaleas are 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 pick up her appropriate place. Azaleas require a cool, bright room in winter, and in summer - open air. Shading is required from the sun. Azaleas do not tolerate high temperatures 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. Azaleas are sprayed with cool water both during growth and during flowering. It is recommended to place the azalea pot in a gravel tray filled with water. In October, watering is slightly reduced, and the plant is placed in a cool place (15-16 ° C).

Young azalea plants are best purchased in the spring, put on the lightest and coldest window sill, 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 round ball. Azalea blooms almost end in June. Therefore, in the summer period, watering is especially strictly monitored and fed 3-4 times with fertilizers that promote flowering. Such top dressing 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 yourself soil mixture: You will need 1 part of coniferous soil, 2 parts of riding peat and some coarse river sand.

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

For cuttings, semi-lignified shoots are taken, cut into cuttings 5-8 cm long, the lower leaves are removed, the top 2-3 are left completely. Rhododendrons take root quite hard, so it is better to keep the cuttings for 12-16 hours in a solution of growth stimulants: heteroauxin, indoleacetic (IAA), indo-lylbutyric (IMA) or succinic acid at a concentration of 0.02%, and for hard-to-root varieties - 2-4%. Further rooting technique is the same as for other cultures.

Helpful Hints:

During flowering, snow can be added to the soil of the azalea pot from above 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, but at the expense of flowering.

A 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 indoor azaleas. Master Class

Maya Alexandrova

Azalea cuttings are carried out in June. Semi-woody 4-6-month-old shoots are cut into cuttings.

Drainage (broken pot shards and river sand) is laid out at the bottom of the pot 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

On the roots of heathers, including azaleas, the endotrophic mycorrhiza they need develops. (Endotrophic mycorrhiza is the joint mutually beneficial existence of higher plants and fungi, in which cells mushroom mycelium are inside the plant.) Therefore, the best substrate for cuttings is coniferous land, rich in useful mushrooms and having the most suitable structure for azaleas. Azalea cuttings can be rooted in sand or peat. But in this case root system cuttings develop poorly and after planting they take root worse.

Growing problems

wrinkled leaves: Most probable cause wrinkling and falling leaves - insufficient watering. You can immerse the pot several times a week in a container of water until completely saturated. Others possible reasons there may be low humidity (place the pot in moist peat), too high a temperature or too bright sun.

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

Leaf yellowing:- 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 flowering azaleas in the store, some people find it hard to resist and not buy it. But many do not know that azaleas will not be able to grow and bloom in normal room conditions. They will need to provide a cool and humid environment.

You can place pots with 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 some statistics 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 please you, try to provide it with decent conditions.

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

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

Mealybugs: Leaves, shoots and flowers are affected. The leaves are twisted, dry and fall off, the plant dies.
Control measures. Wipe the plant with a soapy sponge and wash under a warm shower. Spray regularly. With a very strong lesion, the plant can be sprayed with a 0.15% Actellik solution (1-2 ml per liter of water).

Heather family. well-known flowering shrubs in the form of low-stemmed crowned 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 Rhododendron simsii- Indian azalea (or simply azaleas) are extremely diverse. The flowers are usually pink, but there are also white, yellow, red, cream, and decorative two-tone ones, for example, pink with a white border around the edge of the petals (Inga variety) and white with a pink center (Osta variety). Flowers can be double, non-double and with corrugated petals. Recently, ampelous and pyramidal forms have 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. "Adventglokchen" with bell-shaped flowers, non-double or slightly double along the edge, crimson red, 6 cm in diameter. "Doberlug"- with terry dark pink flowers with a white border, irregular shape, 7.5 cm in diameter. "Dresden 1936"- with shiny flowers, medium double, salmon pink, 6.5 cm in diameter. "Orange Bowen"- with semi-double crimson-red flowers, 5-6.5 cm in diameter. "Enzett Dagmar"- with shiny hot pink double flowers 7 cm in diameter. "Erie"- with semi-double flowers, carmine-pink color with an irregular white border, 7 cm in diameter. "Helmut Vogel"- very early variety- with double red-purple flowers, 6 cm in diameter. "Wise Sheme"- with double flowers, wide-funnel shape, white color with a pinkish (cream) tint, 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 around the edge of the petals, 8.5 cm in diameter. "Apollo"- with non-double or slightly double flowers, brick red, slightly wavy along the edge, 7 cm in diameter. "Avenir"- 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, pale pink 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. "Concinna"- with non-double flowers, wide funnel-shaped, light lilac in color with bright crimson-purple speckles, 7 cm in diameter. "Hexe"- with bright double flowers of wine-red color, 5.5 cm in diameter. "Niobe"- with white double 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 speckles on the top three petals, 7.5 cm in diameter. "Sakuntala"- with double white flowers, with green dots in the throat, 7.5 cm in diameter. "Ernst Tiers"- with semi-double crimson-pink flowers, 8 cm in diameter.

CARE TIPS

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

Lighting: Bright light, but not direct sunlight.

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

Air humidity: Needs very high humidity. Spray only with soft settled water. It is useful to wash the plant often with cool water in the shower. During flowering, they are sprayed from a very small spray bottle, because. drops may cause spots on the leaves. You can also place potted azaleas 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 dampness. Azaleas have a shallow root system, so the pots for them should not be too deep, but rather wide. It would be nice to plant an azalea in clay pot which to place in a cache-pot. And fill the space between the walls of the pot and the cache-pot with damp moss. During growth, especially during the formation of kidneys, it is useful to give liquid organic fertilizers, alternating them with mineral. Plants are fed no more than two decades later.

pruned adult azaleas bloom every spring. After flowering, all shoots of the previous year and excessively growing shoots that move forward are shortened, densely growing shoots are thinned out, and branches with weak growth are removed. Old specimens are rejuvenated by short pruning and their subsequent planting 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, you can take cuttings from azaleas - young shoots that come out from under the flower. The cuttings are planted in the ground (azalea does not tolerate soil taken from under the oak) and covered with glass and a black rag. Contain at a temperature of 18-20 ° C in absolute darkness. Before planting in the ground, the cutting is dipped into a solution of heteroauxin (tablet per 1 liter of water) and pre-moistened in a slightly pink potassium permanganate solution. Watering is moderate. The temperature of the water for watering is slightly higher than room temperature. Rooting of the cutting occurs within two or more months. When the stalk grows, then during the day (preferably in the afternoon) open the glass for one hour, protecting it from sunlight.