How to grow azaleas, so you can cultivate a colorful life
How do you grow azaleas? "Idly I break off two branches and hold them in my hand; looking closely, they seem not of this world. Among flowers, this one is Xishi; hibiscus and peony are both ugly women." The poem compares the azalea to Xishi, the legendary beauty, so you can imagine just how beautiful azaleas are. If you want to see the beauty of azaleas, you must first understand how to grow them. Let's take a look below!
● How to grow azaleas
Part 1: Growth habits
Azaleas like a semi-shaded environment, and direct blazing sun is taboo; they like a cool, humid climate, and fear hot, dry weather; they like acidic soil and water, and alkaline conditions are taboo. They like loose, light loam rich in humus, and fear sticky, poorly draining soil. They like lightly fertilized water, and strong fertilized water is taboo. They have certain requirements for light, but cannot tolerate exposure to the sun. In summer and autumn, deciduous trees or a shade shed should block the blazing sun, and the ground should often be sprinkled with water. Azaleas generally send out new shoots in spring and autumn, mainly spring shoots. The most suitable growing temperature is 15-20°C; when the temperature exceeds 30°C or falls below 5°C, growth stops. At the same time, they tolerate pruning, and latent buds sprout very easily once stimulated, which can be used to control the tree shape and rejuvenate the plant. Everyone loves beauty, and azaleas can satisfy people's pursuit of beauty in their hearts, so they are worth cherishing.
Part 2: Growing methods
1. Pot and soil: For the pot, a clay pot is more suitable, and you should use one with holes in the bottom and good ventilation. Because azaleas have shallow roots and grow slowly, you can choose a smaller pot, so water will not be wasted when watering and growth will be better. For the potting soil, use acidic soil that is relatively loose and drains well; some leaf mold and sawdust can also be used. When filling the pot with soil, note that coarse soil should be used at the bottom layer and fine soil on top. As for renewing the potting soil, newly planted ones can be done once every 1 to 2 years; for those grown for more than 10 years, it can be changed once every 3 to 5 years, or not changed at all.
2. Watering: Azalea roots are very fine and have poor absorption capacity, and water must be absorbed through the roots before it can reach the flowers. Therefore, when watering azaleas, except during the winter dormant period, you should water frequently to keep them moist. Especially during the growing period after March each year, the flowering period, and the high-temperature period from July to September, you should increase the frequency of watering, preferably ensuring about two waterings a day. In autumn and winter, watering can be appropriately reduced. It should be noted that tap water used for watering flowers is best stored in a container for one to two days first before being used to water the flowers.
3. Light: During azalea cultivation, you must always ensure they get sufficient light, because only with sufficient light will they bloom well. Of course, in the hot summer they cannot be taken outside for exposure to the sun; instead, shading work should be strengthened to prevent them from being scorched. In addition, during the flowering season, appropriate protection should also be done; a shade net can be used for protection, and they cannot be exposed to the sun during the flowering period either.
4. Fertilizing: Proper fertilizing can make azaleas grow more robustly and quickly. As with most indoor flower cultivation, the fertilizing principle for azaleas is also light fertilizer applied frequently, that is, put in a little at a time and apply it several times. When old leaves turn green, during the flowering period, and after flowering, fertilize appropriately two to three times. During hot, high-temperature weather, never fertilize. For azalea cultivation and fertilizing, you can choose materials such as grass juice, fishy water, and rapeseed cake. In addition, if diseased or weak branches are found, they should be cut off promptly to prevent them from affecting the healthy growth of other branches.
5. Pest control: In the process of growing azaleas, the main pests include the azalea lace bug and aphids. When pests are found and the number is small enough to be seen with the naked eye, they can be wiped off with a wet cloth strip. If the number is large and the pest problem is serious, you should buy insecticide liquid from a local shop for effective control, and be sure to place the azalea pot in a ventilated position with good light. Placing it in a dark place is also one of the causes of pest problems.
That is all for the introduction to how to grow azaleas and related content. Azaleas symbolize the prosperity and strength of the country and the happy life of the people. The colorful azaleas awaken our longing for a beautiful life!