Four Don'ts and Four Do's for Growing Potted Azaleas
Azalea also has a rather impressive name, Ying Shan Hong, and it is an acid-indicating plant. Because its flower colors are extremely vivid and its floral fragrance is fairly rich, it has very high ornamental value, and it is also one of the potted plants commonly grown by flower enthusiasts. But nowadays some flower enthusiasts, due to incorrect management methods, end up with azaleas that have yellow leaves, few flowers and pale colors, and in severe cases the plants even die. Therefore, growing techniques for azaleas are urgently needed. Now the editor has summarized the four do's and four don'ts for growing azaleas. Come and read on with the editor.
The Four Do's and Four Don'ts of Azalea Cultivation
1. Prefer warmth and moisture; avoid blazing sun and excess moisture
Azaleas like a warm and humid growing environment, so when growing azaleas, keep the potting soil moist, but waterlogging must not occur, because waterlogged potting soil easily causes root rot and thus death. Of course, you can also add an appropriate amount of vinegar or ferrous sulfate to tap water to make the water acidic before watering. If using wastewater from washing rice, or wastewater from washing fish or meat, wait until it has fermented and smells sour, then dilute it and water the roots. Each time you water, wait until the potting soil is dry before watering. When watering in summer, because the temperature is too high, watering under the blazing sun easily scorches young leaves; if watering the roots close to the soil surface, shade measures should be taken to prevent the leaves from turning yellow and withering from sun exposure, which would affect growth and ornamental value.
2. Prefer light fertilizer applied frequently; avoid heavy fertilizer applied generously
The roots of azalea plants are not only fine but also shallow, so when fertilizing, liquid fertilizer should be the main type. You can also dilute fermented soybean cake fertilizer, chicken manure fertilizer, etc. with water and pour it on; do this once a week. When fertilizing, the amount must not be too much, and the concentration must not be too strong, because over-fertilizing with too much or too strong fertilizer easily burns the root system, causing the azalea plant to wither and die.
3. Prefer loose soil; avoid sticky soil
Azaleas like acidic soil for planting. Never plant them in calcareous alkaline soil or in clay soil with poor drainage, because soil that is too sticky will compact and hold water, which is not good for azalea growth. It is best to choose loose, breathable humus soil for planting. In summer, frequently cover the surface of the potting soil with decomposed organic soil as a ground cover; this helps enhance water retention, prevents the potting soil from becoming too dry, and can lower soil temperature and protect the roots, promoting azalea growth.
4. Prefer acidic conditions; avoid alkaline conditions
Because azaleas are acid-indicating plants, they are relatively sensitive to the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. Therefore, whether watering, fertilizing, or changing the potting soil, acidic conditions should always be the main focus. Never water with alkaline water or apply alkaline fertilizer.
Potted Azalea Growing Methods and Precautions
Azalea, also known as Ying Shan Hong and Shan Shi Liu, is an evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub that generally blooms in spring, with abundant and gorgeous flower colors. Azaleas have always been a flower that everyone likes quite a lot, and surely many people have grown azaleas, but many people may not be very clear about azalea growing methods and precautions. Below, the editor will introduce the relevant techniques and precautions for growing azaleas to everyone.
Growing Conditions
Azaleas grow in sparse mountain shrublands or under pine forests at an altitude of 500-2500 m. They like acidic soil and grow poorly, or even do not grow at all, in calcareous soil. Therefore, soil scientists often use azaleas as an indicator crop for acidic soil.
Azaleas like cool, humid, ventilated, semi-shaded environments. They fear both intense heat and severe cold. The suitable growing temperature is 12°C to 25°C. When the summer temperature exceeds 35°C, new shoots and new leaves grow slowly, and the plant enters a semi-dormant state. In summer, sun protection and shading are needed, and in winter, attention should be paid to keeping warm and preventing cold.
Avoid blazing sun exposure; it is suitable to grow under scattered light with low light intensity. If the light is too strong, young leaves are easily scorched, and the edges of new and old leaves burn, and in severe cases the plant may die. In winter, azaleas grown in the open ground need measures to prevent cold so they can overwinter safely. Among ornamental azaleas, Western azaleas have the weakest cold resistance, and when the temperature drops below 0°C, frost damage easily occurs.
Potting Soil Requirements
Azaleas like loose, highly permeable, well-drained acidic soil rich in humus, with a pH value of 5.0—6.0. If clay or alkaline soil is used, hardly one in a hundred will survive. Especially for summer azaleas and foreign azaleas, mountain soil is indispensable. Mountain soil also needs to be improved. At present, three commonly used mixed growing soils are:
1. Mix 7 parts mountain soil, 1 part dried moss debris, 2 parts dry leaf mold, and 1 part dry fertilizer.
2. Layer and compost 3 parts mountain surface soil (topsoil), 3 parts horse manure, 3 parts fallen leaves and weeds, and 1 part human feces and urine. After 1—2 years, sieve and set aside for use.
3. Mix 3 parts mountain soil, 3 parts leaf mold, 4 parts garden soil, and 2 parts sandy soil, and add 50 grams of sesame paste residue and bone meal per pot.
Flower Pot Selection
For pots used to grow azaleas, depending on the purpose, generally two kinds are chosen: clay pots and purple clay pots. Clay pots have good ventilation and water permeability, which benefits root growth, and production units all use this kind of pot for cultivation. Finished azaleas, especially those already shaped, are generally planted in beautiful, elegant purple clay pots for indoor and outdoor display. Purple clay pots have a fine texture, rich colors, and beautiful shapes, which can double their ornamental value. Purple clay pots are less permeable than clay pots, so when planting, broken tile pieces (old tile pieces) should be placed around the inner walls of the pot to help drainage.
The size of the selected pot depends on the age of the plant. Generally, 4—6-year-old plants use 5-inch pots, 7—10-year-old plants use 6-inch pots, 11—15-year-old plants use 8-inch pots, and so on.
Fertilizer and Water Management
For watering azaleas, rainwater is best, followed by river water and pond water. If tap water is used, it is best to store the water for 1—2 days to let the chlorine volatilize before use. Remember to add 0.2% ferrous sulfate when using it. During the growing season, water once every 7—10 days. Using it regularly ensures the soil remains acidic. Azaleas like shade and moisture and should not be too dry. During the blooming period, they especially need more water.
① In winter, azaleas have entered the dormant period and do not need much water. Generally, water once every 4—5 days, preferably around noon on a clear, warm day. The specific amount can be adjusted according to how dry the potting soil is.
② In March, azaleas root and sprout, and water demand increases accordingly. Summer azaleas grow and develop slightly later, so the amount of watering should be less than for spring azaleas. Generally, water an appropriate amount once every 2 days in the morning.
③ From April to June, azaleas bloom one after another, and branches and leaves also begin to sprout, so water demand is relatively large. Generally, water once each morning or evening.
④ In the hot, dry season from July to early September, water once in the morning and once in the evening. The amount should not be too much, and at noon spray water on the leaf surfaces and ground to maintain a humid environment.
⑤ From mid-September to November, the weather gradually turns cooler, which is an adaptation period for azalea growth. To prevent the growth of autumn shoots and enhance cold resistance for overwintering, the amount of watering should be reduced appropriately. Generally, water once every other morning, just keeping it moist. Azaleas relatively like fertilizer. Generally, decomposed cake fertilizer, fish meal, broad bean, or Chinese milk vetch, etc., are used after rotting and mixed with water for irrigation. Human feces and urine should not be used. After being moved out and before the flower buds open, apply light fertilizer once every 10 days at a concentration of 15%, for a total of 2—3 times, to encourage old leaves to turn green and new roots to sprout. After the flowers fade, in order to promote branch and leaf growth, fertilize 5—6 times from mid-May to early July. If it rains continuously, dry fertilizer can be applied. Before moving indoors, just before azalea growth is about to stop, fertilize 1—2 times.
Outdoor Shading
1. Before being moved out and before blooming, it is suitable to receive more sunlight.
2. During the blooming period, shade briefly at noon, with a light transmittance of 60%.
3. During the plum rain period from June to early July, which is exactly the period when azaleas sprout leaves and branches, they should receive as much sunlight as possible. But in strong sunlight, shade should still be provided from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to prevent scorching new leaves.
4. From mid-July to early September, shade from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day to prevent blazing sun exposure.
5. In the autumn growing period after September, the shading time can be shortened, generally shading from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
6. After October, it is suitable to receive more sunlight.
Shaping and Pruning
Azaleas grow relatively slowly. Generally, let them grow naturally, and only shape them after flowering by cutting off leggy branches, diseased and weak branches, deformed branches, and damaged branches.
The azalea growing methods have basically all been introduced for everyone. Next, let's continue to look at the pest and disease control methods and precautions during azalea growing.
Azalea Growing Methods: How Should Household Potted Azaleas Be Grown?
Azalea is one of China's top ten famous flowers. Among all ornamental flowering trees and shrubs, the one that can be called beautiful in both flowers and leaves, suitable for both ground planting and pot planting, and with the widest uses, must be the azalea.
Azaleas have always been a flower that everyone likes quite a lot, and surely many people have grown azaleas, but many people may not be very clear about azalea growing methods. Today I will introduce the relevant techniques and methods for growing azaleas, hoping to help everyone when growing azaleas.
Below is an introduction to how to grow azaleas well.
How can azaleas be grown well? First, you need to understand the conditions required for their growth and development. Azaleas have the "six likes" and the "six don'ts."
① Like coolness; avoid intense summer heat
② Like semi-shade; avoid blazing sun
③ Like moisture; avoid dryness
④ Like acidic soil; avoid alkaline soil
⑤ Like light soil; avoid heavy clay soil
⑥ Like good drainage; avoid waterlogging.
After being moved outdoors in spring, the sunlight is relatively soft, and azaleas should be appropriately shaded around noon.
After summer begins, place azaleas in a ventilated, cool place. In the hot summer, shade them with reed curtains, bamboo curtains, or shade nets, and open the curtains before 8 a.m. and after 5-6 p.m. Because azaleas are semi-shade-loving flowering shrubs, young leaves are easily scorched under blazing sun exposure. If they are in direct strong light for a long time in summer, branches and leaves will turn yellow and wither, growth will stagnate, and in severe cases the whole plant will die.
In autumn, sunlight intensity gradually softens. Before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m., azaleas can receive more sunlight. At the end of autumn, place them in a sunny spot to promote flower bud differentiation. Azaleas are not cold-resistant, and between Cold Dew and Frost's Descent they should be moved indoors and placed in a sunny spot. In the early period after being moved indoors, attention should be paid to opening windows and doors for ventilation. If they are kept in a shaded place for a long time, buds easily drop.
In winter, the indoor temperature should preferably be around 10°C. For most varieties, the indoor temperature should not be lower than 5°C, but Western azaleas are afraid of cold, and the overwintering indoor temperature must not be lower than 8°C. If the winter indoor temperature is too high, metabolism increases, nutrients are consumed, and this is not good for growth and development the following year.
Acidic soil can be used for maintaining azaleas. Because azaleas like acidic soil, a pH of 4.5-6.5 is suitable. The potting soil is required to be loose, well-drained, and rich in humus. Commonly, 6 parts leaf mold, 2 parts peat soil, and 2 parts river sand are mixed evenly, or pine needle soil is used. At the same time, to improve water quality, the water used for watering flowers is best water that does not contain minerals, such as rainwater or snow water. In addition to storing rainwater and snow water, acidified water can also be used, that is, 100 jin of water plus 0.1% ferrous sulfate for year-round watering. If the acidity is insufficient, add a few drops of vinegar to supplement it. How to water:
(1) Use "aged water," that is, let the water sit and be exposed at the same temperature as the azalea. Water from a fish tank, rainwater, or river water can also be used.
(2) Do not water if the soil is not dry, and do not let it become too dry either; if too dry, the leaves will wilt.
(3) When watering, water thoroughly.
(4) Winter and summer are different. Leaves are fine in winter, and being a bit wet in summer is harmless. During the blooming period, do not water too much; too much easily causes bud drop and early fading. In spring and autumn, when it is windy and the air is dry, sufficient water must be ensured. Pay attention to spraying the leaf surfaces and ground to maintain a certain humidity. During the azalea growing period, generally apply ferrous sulfate fertilizer water once every 10-15 days, and also use 0.1%-0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution alternately for foliar spraying.
Precautions:
1. Azalea roots are as fine as hair strands, with very few thick main roots. They fear both dryness and wetness, and especially fear heavy fertilizer. If watered too much, the roots soak in water; if too dry, branches and leaves shrink and leaf blades fall off, posing a great threat to the plant. As for applying heavy fertilizer, it can endanger life.
2. After the flowers fade, the remaining flowers must be cut off to avoid seed formation consuming nutrients. After new branches sprout, thin the branches appropriately, deciding what to keep or remove according to the plant's growth vigor.
3. Azaleas are best planted in clay pots, because clay pots absorb water and breathe, which benefits root growth and development and makes branches and leaves luxuriant.
4. The placement location of potted azaleas is particular. Generally, they should be placed on a southeast-facing balcony, and it should be ventilated. Move them as little as possible. Without ventilation, they are prone to black spot disease and heavy leaf drop.
5. Azaleas also have moderate light requirements, and direct light should be avoided in summer.
6. Thin buds and leaves in time. Remove part of the flower buds and leaves that have grown too many and too densely, so that air can circulate and nutrients are concentrated in the flower buds. After the flower buds form, increase nutrition and apply an appropriate amount of additional phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, otherwise the flower buds will turn into leaf buds.
7. The main reasons for azalea leaf drop and failure to bloom are: direct light too strong in summer, frost damage from severe cold, too much watering, fertilizer too strong, being kept indoors for too long, being placed in a place with no air circulation or in a dark, damp place, exposure to acid rain, etc. Therefore, these situations should be avoided during maintenance.
8. Repotting and changing soil do not need to be done every year, generally once every 2 to 3 years, and the roots should be damaged as little as possible. The time should be after the flowers fade or in autumn, and at the same time spray thiophanate to prevent disease.
9. The main insect pests of azaleas are the lace bug, the terminal bud leaf roller, red spider mites, aphids, etc. They can be sprayed and killed with fenvalerate, etc., with good results. If they are not dead after three days, spray once more. For the lace bug (also known as the azalea lace bug), during the damage period spray 40% dimethoate 1500-fold solution once every 7 days, for 3 consecutive times. The control method for the terminal bud leaf roller mainly relies on manual capture and killing. Larvae or pupae can also be sprayed and killed with 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate 2000-fold solution or dichlorvos 1500-fold solution.
10. The main propagation method for azaleas is cuttings. Around Grain in Ear, choose new branches 5 cm to 10 cm long, cut them off at the branching point, strip off the lower leaves, keep 3 to 4 top leaves, insert 1/3 of the branch into the soil, spray enough water, and cover with plastic film. Strengthen management at ordinary times, and transplant after one year.