Cultivation Management Methods and Care Key Points for Potted Azaleas
Azaleas are very beautiful, and everyone is willing to grow them, but how can they be grown well? There are many finer points here: Azaleas prefer slightly acidic soil and water, and are afraid of alkaline soil and water, and afraid of waterlogging; they like warmth and coolness, and are afraid of dry heat; they like moist environments, and are afraid of dry air; they like partial shade, and are afraid of blazing sun; they like light fertilizer, and are afraid of concentrated fertilizer. What soil to use? Larch humus soil has suitable acidity, is loose in texture, fertile, and has good water permeability, making it suitable for azalea growth.
What water to use for azaleas? Water with a pH value below 7 is suitable. In areas where the water quality tends to be alkaline, in addition to storing rainwater and snow water, acidified water can be used, that is, add 0.1% ferrous sulfate to 100 jin of water and use it for watering year-round. If the acidity is insufficient, a few drops of vinegar can be added as a supplement. How to water
(1) Use aged water, that is, let the water stand and be exposed to the sun in the same temperature place as the azalea. Water from fish tanks, rainwater, and river water can also be used. (2) Do not water if the soil is not dry, and do not let it become too dry; if too dry, the leaves will wilt.
(3) When watering, water thoroughly.
(4) Winter and summer are different. In winter, the leaves are good; in summer, being a bit wet does no harm. During the flowering period, it should not be watered too much; too much can easily cause bud drop and early withering. In spring and autumn, when the wind is strong and the air is dry, sufficient water must be ensured. Pay attention to spraying the leaf surface and the ground to maintain a certain humidity. Fertilizing azaleas requires less fertilizer than other flowers. The general rule is: fertilize during the growing period, do not fertilize during the dormant period; fertilize when vigorous, do not fertilize diseased plants; fertilize when leaf buds are active, and do not fertilize when they are inactive.
For the cultivation of Belgian four-season azaleas, acidic soil should be chosen. Garden soil and leaf mold can be mixed with pond mud or bran cake, piled and composted before use. If mountain soil rich in humus can be collected from forest mountain gullies, that is even better. The planting time is best in winter and spring. Seedlings bought from the market or by mail order can be directly potted in early spring. When potting, first place tiles (plastic mesh is also acceptable) at the bottom of the pot, then add potting soil and plant the seedling. When planting, it should not be planted too deep; covering 1 cm-2 cm of soil above the roots is enough. After planting, water thoroughly immediately, then place it in a shaded place for care. Because Belgian four-season azaleas are not very tolerant of fertilizer, during the growing season it is enough to water once or twice a month with extremely dilute bean dregs water or bran cake water. It is best to use less chemical fertilizer to avoid damaging the roots and affecting growth. If the leaves are not sufficiently dark green, water once or twice with 0.1% concentration ferrous sulfate solution, and the leaves will turn green. For potted seedlings, water only after the potting soil is dry, and when watering, it must be thorough. The best time to water is in the evening, followed by the morning. The water temperature for watering flowers must be close to the air temperature, and the temperature difference must not exceed 5°C, so as to benefit the plant's growth. For watering flowers, river water and rainwater are best. If tap water is used, it should be left standing in a vat for 24 hours, and used after the chlorine in the water has evaporated.
What fertilizer is good? Acidic and slightly alkaline fertilizers are best. They are required to have mild fertility and long-lasting fertilizer effect, and also to have relatively high contents of the three elements nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. For example, bean cake, soybean, sesame paste residue, rice washing water, horse hoof slices, meat-washing water, egg products, milk water, and sheep manure all contain various components of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.