How to carry out care and management after azaleas finish blooming

Pruning and shaping: after azaleas finish blooming, the spent flowers generally need to be removed by hand, then the branches should be thinned appropriately, removing overly dense branches so the plant can send out new growth.

Fertilizer and water management: in northern regions the water is on the alkaline side and fairly hard, and watering plants with it over the long term easily causes the soil to become alkaline, affecting the plant's growth. Therefore, before watering, the water should be stored in a container for more than 24 hours and used only after the chlorine has evaporated. Alternatively, water with an appropriate amount of ferrous sulfate or edible white vinegar added can be given about once every 10 days. Azaleas do not need much fertilizer, and it is generally applied along with watering; from late spring to early summer, apply soybean cake fertilizer water once every half month, applying light fertilizer frequently to encourage new buds to sprout and send out shoots. If soybean cake fertilizer is not available, you can buy some acidic flower fertilizer on the market and use it in the same way. By mid-to-late June, some quick-acting phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can be applied to promote flower bud formation. By late autumn, stop fertilizing to avoid new growth affecting flower bud differentiation.

Summer management: azaleas like a cool and humid climate environment, so in summer and autumn they should be placed in a shady, ventilated spot, and clear water should be sprayed on the branches, leaves and surrounding area. You can also put clear water in a shallow tray, place the flower pot on the tray, and let the plant slowly absorb water from the bottom of the shallow tray.

Flowering regulation: temperature has a great influence on the formation of azalea flower buds. Flower bud differentiation generally begins above 15°C, the suitable temperature is 20°C-27°C, and the nighttime temperature should be kept at around 5°C. After most flower buds have formed, they need low-temperature treatment at 4°C-7°C for about 30 days before they can bloom. In addition, shading treatment is conducive to flower bud formation and flowering.