Things to note when potting and repotting azaleas

Azaleas should be potted once the cuttings have taken root. For pots, clay pots with good permeability are best, purple sand pots come second, and glazed pots and porcelain pots are the worst. When potting, pay attention to choosing the size of the pot, and never use a large pot for a small seedling. If the pot is too large, the potting soil stays wet for a long time, aeration will be poor, and at the same time the roots can easily fail to reach the pot wall, affecting the development of the seedlings. Generally, for rooted cuttings you can choose a clay pot with a diameter of about 10 cm, and after one year repot into a flower pot of about 15 cm. When potting, pay attention to making a good drainage layer: first cover the drainage hole with a piece of tile, then add 1/3 coarse soil particles and a little fine soil. Then place the azalea seedling in, holding the seedling upright with one hand while filling soil into the pot with the other. When filling soil, note that you can only fill up to 2 cm below the pot rim, not too full, to make watering easier later; finally press the soil firmly around the pot and shake the pot so the surface is level. After planting, water thoroughly once with a watering can. Note that when watering you must water until water seeps out from the bottom of the pot. If the watering is not thorough and only wets the surface layer but not the inner layer, the potted flower will dry out and die.

There are two situations in which azaleas need repotting. First, when the seedling grows larger and the roots fill the potting soil, the range for root extension needs to be expanded. At ordinary times, check whether any roots have grown out of the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot; if so, repot immediately, moving the plant from the small pot into a large pot. Second, after the potted flower has grown for 2-3 years, the nutrients in the potting soil are almost used up; to replenish nutrients and improve the soil, the potting soil should be replaced.

Azalea repotting is generally done after the flowers fade, or before flower buds form in autumn. When repotting, remove part of the old soil, and be sure to use sharp scissors to trim away old roots. Old roots are those rootlets that grow poorly and are blackened and shriveled. But note: when repotting seedlings, the roots must not be trimmed. When repotting a plant, note that the roots should be kept with a soil ball. After potting, also note that the first watering should be thorough, and for the next several days let it stay on the dry side. If too wet, the cut ends of the roots will rot. Generally you must wait until new roots grow before watering normally. If repotting in autumn, it is best to do it in October. Although azaleas like cool conditions, after repotting you should pay attention to keeping them warm through the winter. If there is no greenhouse, you can build a small frame in a sunny, south-facing, well-ventilated spot and cover it with plastic film to get through the winter safely. For azalea repotting, generally small seedlings are repotted once a year, and large azaleas are repotted once every 2-3 years.