Caring for an azalea: here’s how

Caring for an azalea: here’s how

Caring for azaleas is a breeze. The indoor azalea is an undemanding houseplant that requires little maintenance and flowers for a very long period. Outdoor azaleas too require minimal care.

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Caring for indoor azaleas

Keep your indoor azalea in top condition with these tips:

Light: Position your indoor azalea in a bright spot, but avoid direct sunlight. Once your plant has finished flowering, move it to a shady spot.

Temperature: The cooler it is, the longer your azalea will grow. So choose a position at room temperature, ideally between 15 and 22°C. A few warmer days now and then won’t hurt, but give the plant some extra water in that case. Do avoid permanently placing your azalea near a radiator, though.

Watering: Water your azalea up to twice a week. It likes to drink, but if the soil gets too waterlogged – even for just an hour and a half – your azalea’s roots will die. Also, never water azaleas from above.

Shade: Azaleas dislike direct sunlight as it makes them dry out, especially in their seed pot or during the first few months after transplantation. What they like best of all is a few rays of morning sun, followed by shade after midday.

Soil: Avoid sandy soil and opt for a moisture-retaining, humus-rich acidic soil.  Planning to transplant your azalea? Be sure to add plenty of peat or ericaceous compost to your pot.

What to look out for when purchasing an azalea

First and foremost, keep an eye out for blue pots. These pots are Hortinno’s quality label and therefore your guarantee of a plant with an extra-long flowering time.

In general? Choose an azalea with evenly-distributed buds. These buds, which offer just a hint of the future flowers’ colour, should still be closed. The leaves of an azalea should be at a more or less horizontal angle. Avoid curled leaves as these are a sign of trouble. You can find Hortinno indoor azaleas in shops from November to May.

How often do you water an azalea and how much water should you give?

Give an azalea exactly the right amount of water: not too much, not too little. Up to twice a week is ideal. Indeed, Hortinno lab tests have shown that an indoor azalea evaporates between 35cl and 50cl of water per week. This is a positive thing for your home’s humidity but also means that you need to water your azalea regularly. The general rule is to keep the soil in the pot moist. But don’t overdo it! Don’t put your azalea in a saucer full of water. If the soil feels dry to the touch, it’s time to give your azalea a revitalising bath. Place it in a bucket of water for 15 minutes and it will be good to go again.

If you’re using a waterwick watering system and a cover pot with a water reservoir, it’s best to check every four or five days whether the water needs topping up. Do this at least once a week in any case.

Should you fertilise your azalea?

There’s no real need to fertilise your indoor azalea, as it will have already taken up sufficient fertilizer during its growth phase. Yet another reason why azaleas are so easy to care for.

If you do decide to give your plant some additional fertilizer, choose one with a low N-P-K ratio: 3-2-1 and avoid too much salt in the soil as azaleas are sensitive to this.

Taking cuttings from your azalea

Taking cuttings from an azalea yourself is not that simple. Light, temperature and nutrients all need to be in perfect balance, so you practically need to be an expert to create the ideal ‘breeding ground’. Fancy giving it a try anyway? Here, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to taking cuttings.

When and how do you remove dead flowers?

Once your azalea’s flowers have withered, it’s best to remove them as quickly as possible. You can do so by hand: pick the dead flowers off by carefully turning them. Afterwards, place the plant in a cool, light-filled room. Continue to water it regularly, even after flowering.

If the pot has become too small, it’s best to repot your azalea into a larger pot, supplementing the soil with peat or ericaceous compost. Once its buds are sufficiently swollen, return your azalea to the living room.

What to do if an azalea has dried out

Does the soil feel too dry? Immediately give your azalea a curative bath. Simply place it in a bucket of water for 15 minutes to allow the roots to take up plenty of moisture. Afterwards, allow the soil to drain well and put your plant back in its usual spot. No harm done.

 

Caring for outdoor azaleas

Keep your garden azalea in top condition with these tips:

Position: A garden azalea or azalea japonica is a hardy plant that prefers a semi-shady location in the garden: a cooler spot where the soil is a little moister. Be sure to avoid the full midday sun. Do not plant more than one garden azalea per m².

Light: Garden azaleas dislike direct sunlight because it makes them dry out, especially during those important first few months after transplantation.

Temperature: Seek out the coolest spot in your garden; that’s where your azalea will flower the longest.

Watering: A garden azalea mainly needs to be watered after it has been transplanted into the garden. After that, it will manage fine on its own. If there’s a long dry spell, it’s best to water the plant in the morning or evening to ensure the root ball remains moist. Never water from above.

Soil: Avoid sandy soil and opt for moisture-retaining, humus-rich acidic soil. If you want to transplant your garden azalea, add sufficient peat or ericaceous compost to the planting hole.

What to look out for when purchasing an azalea

A blue pot is a marker of quality, because it means you’ve found a Hortinno japonica. By definition, these plants have already gone through a stringent process of quality control.

In general? Choose an azalea with evenly-distributed buds. These buds, which offer just a hint of the future flowers’ colour, should still be closed. The leaves of an azalea should be at a more or less horizontal angle. Avoid curled leaves as these are a sign of trouble. The Hortinno garden azalea flowers from April/May onwards.

How often do you water an azalea and how much water should you give?

A garden azalea mainly needs to be watered after it has been transplanted into the garden. After that, it will manage fine on its own, especially with regular rain. If there is a long dry spell, it’s best to water the plant in the morning or evening to ensure its root ball remains moist. Do this by using a watering can to water directly onto the soil – never on top of the plant, and definitely not on its flowers. There is a high risk of over-wetting flowers that are in full bloom, which can cause them to go brown.

Should you fertilise your garden azalea?

April to October is the ideal period to fertilise a garden azalea. You have a choice between composite N-P-K fertilisers formulated for acid-loving plants, chemical fertiliser, cow manure pellets, or farmyard manure.

Taking cuttings from your garden azalea

Taking cuttings from an azalea yourself is not that simple. Light, temperature and nutrients all need to be in perfect balance, so you practically need to be an expert to create the ideal ‘breeding ground’. Fancy giving it a try anyway? Here, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to taking cuttings.

Pruning your garden azalea

Pruning is not really necessary. If you would like to prune your garden azalea anyway, prune it shortly after it has flowered, i.e. in May or June. Carefully cut off the dead flowers and make sure not to damage the new buds. Giving your azalea a good trim won’t harm it and will keep it in top condition. But equally, an azalea will manage fine without pruning.

What to do if your azalea has dried out

During a prolonged dry spell, it’s best to water your azalea on a daily basis. Make sure the soil always feels moist to the touch.