Azalea: care, moods, flowering conditions

Azalea is not just a beautiful plant. She has a special energy - strong, magnetic. In Japan, the "rosewood" is called the "flower of passion." It is believed that azalea is able to return a pair of lost severity of feelings. The Japanese also believe that understanding and harmony will reign in the house where rhododendron grows. Azaleas attribute the ability to rid a person of fatigue. According to the legend, you need to sit near the flower for 15 minutes, admiring its beauty - and stress will be relieved.

There are many signs associated with the flower. If the azalea blooms luxuriantly, then the owners of the home will have prosperity, success in work matters. The plant fades - to trouble and disease. Do not rush to believe and wait for problems if the bush on the windowsill begins to dry: it is really difficult to grow rhododendron. The task is not always possible even for experienced gardeners, not to mention beginners.

Kinds

The "rosewood" has two homelands - Japan and China. Under natural conditions, the plant can be seen in India, Southern Europe, North America. There are many varieties in nature. And in flower shops from a variety of varieties ripples in the eyes. However, all varieties of azaleas that are designed for window sills have evolved from two species.

1. Indian. From this variety originates the story of indoor rhododendron. In nature, grows in conditions of coolness, likes humidity. Indoor hybrids attract with large flowers.
2. Japanese Under natural conditions, grows where the climate is mild, humid. As indoor culture is less common than the Indian "relative". The main difference is the size of the flowers: in Japanese rhododendron they are smaller.

Pink, white, purple, red, yellow, cream, two-tone, with a white border, with a raspberry center, corrugated, terry - it's all about the flowers of the "rosewood". Azalea blooms once a year, but for a long time. When to wait for the appearance of flowers? It all depends on the variety, but usually the plant blooms in winter, less often in spring:

• early grades - in the beginning of December;
• mid-late - from January to March;
• late - from late February to April.

Azalea does not bloom if she does not like something. Therefore, remember the rule: if you want to see flowers on the bush and achieve long-term flowering, care must be proper. This is not a flower that you can forget to water and everything will get away with it.

5 Care Tips

Azalea is not just a capricious houseplant, but very capricious. In some, it begins to dry immediately after flowering, in others it discards leaves, others complain of slow growth and lack of flowers. In fact, creating the right conditions for the “rosewood” is not as difficult as it seems. You just need to know the five nuances of care.

1. Shine. The plant loves bright lighting, but can not stand the direct rays of the sun. Rays can burn leaves: their tips will become dry. Windows facing east, north, west, will become a comfortable "home" for the flower.But the southern windowsills are completely unsuitable. But what if all the windows "look" to the south? Create diffused light with matte plastic. In the autumn-winter period, the plant may not have enough light. You can solve the problem with the help of fluorescent lamps.
2. Temperature. The plant prefers cool rooms. Ideal temperature for azaleas +10 - + 15 ° C. If the temperature exceeds + 16 ° C, the indoor rhododendron will not bloom. It is difficult to achieve a suitable temperature, but gardeners have their own tricks: using cool water for irrigation, ice cubes around the perimeter of the pot. Azaleas are especially hard in the summer. If the apartment has air conditioning, try to maintain the mode no higher than + 20 ° C.
3. Humidity. Rhododendrons are moisture-loving plants. In the homeland of azaleas, the climate is humid, so make sure that the earthen lump does not dry out. The flower must be sprayed daily. Especially if the house has a high temperature. When spraying a flowering plant, make sure that the drops do not fall on the buds: this may turn the flowers brown. Take the advice of experienced gardeners: place water cups around the bush - the azalea will “take” as much moisture as it needs. If the house has an air humidifier, it will be easier to create “heavenly” conditions.
4. Watering. The plant requires frequent watering, however, it is important not to overdo it: the roots can rot. Focus on the temperature in the room. Higher temperatures - more often watering, and vice versa. In the hot season, azalea can “request” watering every other day, in cool weather - twice a week. Orient yourself like this: lower your finger one phalanx into the substrate, if it is dry - it's time to water. Water - melt or distilled. If only tap water is at hand - be sure to boil.
5. Top dressing. Flower shops sell specialized fertilizers for rhododendrons. Didn't find a bag marked “Azalea”? Choose those that do not contain chlorine, otherwise you can destroy the plant. Azaleas at rest need nitrogen, blooming - phosphorus, potassium. Feed home flowers according to the instructions: a large amount of minerals can also harm.

Transfer

Usually, azalea appears in a flowering house or with buds that are about to bloom. In order for the plant to please you for a long time, you need to transplant indoor azalea as soon as it fades. If the rhododendron appeared non-blooming in the house, give it time to adapt (about a month or two), only then transplant. An improper transplant can kill the plant, so follow the instructions.

• Buy special soil at the store. The plant needs a slightly acidic soil. It’s difficult to do it yourself. If you are a grower with experience, you can try making a peat-coniferous mixture and add a little river sand. But it’s better not to risk it.
• Prepare a bowl. It should be shallow: so the root system will be closer to the surface, which will prevent decay. At the bottom - necessarily drainage.
• Trim the flower. Remove dried inflorescences, shoots.
• Transplant by transshipment method. It is better not to free the roots from the coma of the earth to the end, so as not to damage.
• Take care. Care is no different than usual. But immediately after transshipment, you need to give the plant a rest. Moisten the soil with water with the addition of Kornevin (growth biostimulator). Do not water the plant for four days, after resume watering, feed the flower. You need to feed with weak solutions, otherwise you can "burn" immature roots.

Breeding

Usually flower growers choose the method of propagation by stem cuttings - cuttings. The optimal time is from the beginning of spring to August. Cut off the shoots after flowering. Follow the instructions in five steps.

1. Prepare the cuttings. Choose young but semi-lignified branches. Using an oblique incision, separate the stalk from the plant.
2. Plant in acidic soil to a depth of 2 cm. You can pre-dip in a growth stimulator for six hours. Such solutions are sold in flower departments.
3. Cover with foil. If you are trying to root one branch, you can cover it with a jar.
4. Do not forget to water. If flower buds appear, remove: the sprout is still too weak to bloom.
5. Transplant. If the cuttings have enough light, moisture and the temperature of the “greenhouse” suits them, then the formation of the root system will take about two months. After you can transplant.

Disease and treatment

Azalea suddenly began to lose leaves or buds, to languish before her eyes ... She needs urgent treatment. But in order to understand which one, you need to know the reason for the deterioration of appearance. All diseases are caused by improper care. Even pests on the indoor flower appear due to the fact that the irrigation rules were not followed, the soil mixture was incorrectly selected, the plant received less minerals or sunlight. There are four common problems with growing azaleas.

The leaves are dry

• Signs The leaves dry and fall, the shoots and buds turn yellow.
• The reasons. Insufficient watering or the sun's rays fall on the plant.
• How to fix. Adjust the watering, moisten the air more often, put a cup of water next to the flower. Remove the plant away from the sun or create protection from the rays.

Flowers turn yellow and fall

• Signs Only when opened, the flower quickly becomes lethargic, yellowing, falling off.
• The reasons. The plant does not like the quality of the water.
• How to fix. Use distilled or melt water if you have watered a tap flower before. To help the plant recover, feed it.

Spider mite

• Signs A cobweb is visible on the stems, flowers and leaves turn yellow, fall off.
• The reasons. Favorable conditions for flower parasites are inadequate watering and warm, dry air.
• How to fix. Sprinkle the leaves of an indoor flower with a mild soapy solution. After such a manipulation, arrange the azaleas for a warm shower. But be careful. Adjust watering and humidity.

Strawberry mite

• Signs Flower growth slows down, leaves curl into a boat, buds cease to open.
• The reasons. The appearance of the tick contributes to hot dry air.
• How to fix. It is extremely difficult to deal with the problem. Use specialized anti-tick drugs. Processing requires not only the plant, but also the vessel in which it grows. To avoid infection, you need to periodically rinse the azalea in the shower, increase air humidity.

A flower can get into a house already sick: tick infection can occur in a greenhouse where azalea grew before it “migrated” to a flower shop. To exclude this possibility, choose the right plant: the presence of dry leaves indicates poor care, lack of minerals, and parasite colonies. Experienced flower growers recommend buying a plant with a large number of unblown buds: adaptation to new conditions will be faster.