2. Advice from V.S. Ivanova from Tyumen.

Adult azaleas falling into city ​​apartment with central heating, they do not tolerate new conditions well and do not always get used to a new place of residence, so it is better to grow an azalea yourself. I remove the cuttings from the plant purchased in the spring (March-April) - then they root better. The substrate can be two-layer (lower - horse manure, upper - sand); I usually use peat: I take poorly decomposed peat with plant residues, I fill a pot with a diameter of 12-15 cm with it and moisten. I cut off 4 cuttings 5-6 cm long from the azalea and plant them at an equal distance from each other, deepening by 2-2.5 cm. Cover the pot with a plastic bag from above and fix the bag around the pot with an elastic band. I remove the package only when the substrate for irrigation dries up (after about 2 weeks). If the cuttings are taken from a healthy azalea, then they all take root.

After about 2 months, during which the cuttings are rooting, new leaves appear. I begin to gradually accustom the plants to the dry air of the room, opening them for 2-3 hours a day. After a week, I take off the package completely and feed the young azaleas. In September-October, when the cuttings are well rooted and grow up, I carefully plant the azaleas in separate pots and again cover them with plastic bags for 1-2 weeks, since the roots may be damaged during transplantation. Azaleas obtained from cuttings develop well and subsequently bloom annually.

Lucy shares her experience:

I bought a small azalea bush in the store, or rather they gave it to me (so as not to throw it away), since it was very weak and sick. This, as far as I understood, happened only because of a simple tap water that the store used for watering. I would like to advise all lovers of azaleas to buy a boric acid solution at the pharmacy and use it in a ratio of 10 drops per liter of settled water for watering flowers. You will be pleasantly surprised by the result, my azalea, for example, appreciated this "drink" !!!

Lyudmila tells:

Azalea is a capricious flower, as it requires humidity and ventilation of the room, as well as a low air temperature, lighting for 12 hours, and does not tolerate transplants, moreover, it must be humid upper layer soil. For more than 2 years, the bush does not live in a dry and warm room.
When growing azaleas, the acidity of the substrate is very important, as well as moisture and air permeability. Air permeability is also very important for azaleas. She responds well to drip irrigation covering the soil with ice. The substrate should include peat, spruce soil, which cannot be turned into compressed loam.

In order to keep the azalea longer in room conditions, you need to keep it close at the slightly open window, separate it from the dry air of the battery, if there is no air humidifier - for example, with a film in which the bouquets are wrapped, and never remove it (at least to admire the flower).

When the summer heat is outside, I put the azaleas in the refrigerator until the heat subsides, and take care of the azaleas, as before: you can also illuminate there with a Chinese flashlight (on batteries). Therefore, I specifically buy small and low bushes of azaleas (I keep the flower pot in cellophane) and certainly root the stalk, observing the above listed conditions of its habitat.

Flowers in the house: lush azalea.

Azalea, or rhododendron, from the Heather family is rightfully considered one of the most ornamental shrubs that adorn the house. bright bloom in the darkest time of the year and amazing abundance of flowers, behind which leaves are sometimes not visible. Beautifully flowering species and varieties are native to China, Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe and North America... Funnel-shaped flowers - white, pink, crimson, bright red - monochromatic or bicolor - collected in brushes or corymbose. The most valuable are the varieties originating from the species of Indian rhododendron and Sims rhododendron, blooming with large flowers in winter until spring. Azalea japanese flowers small, it blooms in April, sometimes at Christmas. V eastern countries Azaleas have been cultivated as the most beloved flowering plants since ancient times, their flowers are a symbol of joy, peace and freedom.

With careful care, azaleas become more and more beautiful every year. After flowering, you need to cut off all faded flowers and thickened shoots (be careful: rhododendrons may contain toxic substances!). Pruning shoots is necessary several times in early summer to form a lush bush. Also, young shoots that form immediately before, or during flowering, are pinched.

Azaleas love light to partial shade, but cannot stand the sun. Provide it with coolness (in autumn and winter 5-10 degrees for the buds to ripen, when the buds swell 18 degrees) and a lot of fresh air, from the beginning of May you can keep it outdoors in partial shade. Watering with soft water, avoiding waterlogging or overdrying of the earth. In summer, watering is plentiful, in autumn, reduce watering to form buds. Spray in spring and summer. In the summer, once a month, put the pot on a short time into a bucket of water, wait for the excess water to drain and put it back in the same place as it was on the window (mark the pot with electrical tape), otherwise a change in position in relation to the light may cause leaves to fall off.

Young plants are transplanted annually, old ones every 2-3 years in rhododendron soil (or prepare a mixture of peat, turf soil and sand in a ratio of 5: 1: 1), the plants do not tolerate lime. When transplanting azaleas, it is undesirable to disturb the root ball (since there are useful soil fungi on the roots), instead of transplanting, transshipment with the addition of fresh substrate is recommended. From late February to August, 2 times a month, feed with flower fertilizer without lime, or add low concentration rhododendron fertilizer to the water for irrigation.

If the temperature is too high and the air is dry, the azalea is attacked by a spider mite, which can lead to yellowing and leaf fall. A spider mite or red spider is a very small sucking pest that forms an interlacing of thin white threads on the underside of the leaves. Rinse the leaves of the plant with a stream of water from the shower, covering the ground with cellophane, and treat the leaves with the preparation until the pests disappear. Treatment chemicals due to their toxicity, it is undesirable in a living room, so prepare and use preparations from plants: decoctions and infusions of tobacco, onions, garlic, pepper, yarrow, calendula, etc. Increase the frequency of spraying not only the plant itself, but also the space around it. The humidity can be increased by using an electric humidifier or by placing a wide flat pan of water next to the plant.

Azaleas are good for making bonsai, but keep in mind that the trunk is a little brittle and should be supported with your hands when gently bent. In autumn, well-groomed azaleas are given the desired shape (semi-cascading or panicle) and transplanted into bonsai dishes.

Tell us how to properly care for an azalea. The leaves dry at the end, loses the color of the leaves, buds have accumulated, and do not bloom.

Azaleas are difficult to provide optimal care at home.
For the development of azalea flower buds, a temperature of 18 degrees is required (therefore profuse flowering the azalea passes in winter when fresh air in the cool); a lot of light, but not in the sun; high air humidity and moderate watering with soft water (the earthen lump should not dry out); fertilization 2 times a month in spring and summer. Azalea does not like sudden changes in conditions of detention (large changes in temperature and humidity, drafts, drying out of the earthy coma, turning the pot on the window). For supporting high humidity air pot with azalea is placed on a stand (so that water does not get into the drainage hole) in a pan with water. Until the buds are colored, the azalea is sprayed with water 2-3 times a day, after staining the buds, the air around the azalea is often sprayed. Young shoots growing next to the buds are plucked out.

Azalea leaves can dry at the end from excessive soil moisture and its insufficient acidity: the leaves can also lose color when using hard water for irrigation, with an excess of calcium. Water the azalea as needed, without stagnation of moisture - use water infused with peat (preferably rainwater or taken from a natural reservoir, and if tap water, then filtered). Loosen the soil surface regularly.

Ziborova E.Yu.

Azalea. Care and cultivation of azaleas (indoor flowers)

Azalea is an evergreen flowering and very beautiful shrub 40-50 cm high. Azalea has small leathery, dark green leaves. Azalea blooms with beautiful flowers with simple or double corrugated petals different colors... There are azaleas with white, pink, bright red, purple flowers... Different varieties of azaleas bloom from November to June for 40-60 days.

For decorativeness, gardeners love azalea, and it is a frequent guest in home greenhouses. Azalea is often used for decoration. New Year's table... But at home, azalea can be grown only by following the rules of care.

If you decide to breed an azalea at home, then take care to find a suitable place for it. Azaleas require a cool, bright room in winter, and open air in summer. From sun rays shading is necessary. Azaleas do not tolerate heat and dry air.

Azalea is moisture-loving, so it needs to be watered and sprayed regularly in the morning, especially when the heating is turned on in the apartments and the air becomes dry. Azalea is sprayed with cool water both during growth and during flowering. It is recommended to place the pot of azalea in a gravel pan filled with water. In October, watering is slightly reduced, and the plant is placed in a cool place (15-16 ° C).

It is better to buy young azalea plants in spring, put on the lightest and coldest windowsill, where the temperature is 8-12 ° C. Within a month, the azalea must be formed, for which the tops of the young shoots are pinched, creating a crown in the form of a round ball. Azalea blooms almost end in June. Therefore, in summer period they especially strictly monitor watering and feed them 3-4 times with fertilizers that contribute to flowering. Such dressings are carried out from June to September.

With this care, your azalea will bloom from the beginning of December and will delight you until March - April. At the end of flowering, you need to transplant the azalea into the ready-made soil for the azalea and heather. You can cook it yourself potting soil: you need 1 part of coniferous land, 2 parts of high peat and some coarse river sand.

It is difficult to propagate an azalea. In March - July, cuttings 5-6 cm long are cut from shoots that have been growing for 5-6 months, that is, they have not yet had time to woody, and they are rooted in moist nutrient soil especially for azaleas, deepening by 3 cm. At a temperature of 28-30 "With high humidity, rooting lasts up to 1.5 months.

For grafting, take semi-lignified shoots, cut them into cuttings 5-8 cm long, lower leaves remove, 2-3 upper ones are left completely. Rhododendrons take root rather hard, so it is better to hold the cuttings in a solution of growth stimulants for 12-16 hours: heteroauxin, indoleacetic (IAA), indole-butyric (IMA) or succinic acids at a concentration of 0.02%, and for difficult-to-root varieties - 2-4% ... Further rooting technique is the same as in other cultures.

Helpful hints:

During flowering, snow can be added to the soil on top of the pot of azalea instead of watering.

In May, the branches growing inside the room are cut off, leaving only those that contribute to the one-sided development of the crown, and the young shoots are pinched.

The more young branches, the thicker the crown is, but to the detriment of flowering.

The blooming azalea can be rearranged to other places, but after flowering, the plant is placed in the same position in which it grew and formed before flowering.

Reproduction of indoor azaleas. Master Class

Maya Alexandrova

Azaleas are cut in June. Semi-lignified 4-6-month-old shoots are cut on cuttings.

Drainage is laid out on the bottom of the pot (broken pottery shards and river sand) with a layer of 3-5 cm, and on top - coniferous soil with a layer of 5-7 cm.

Rooted cuttings are planted in coniferous soil and grown without pots for two to three years - this will make them stronger and more resilient. Three-year-old plants are ready to be transplanted into pots.

by the way

Endotrophic mycorrhiza develops on the roots of heather plants, including azaleas. (Endotrophic mycorrhiza is the joint mutually beneficial existence of higher plants and fungi, in which the cells of the fungal mycelium are inside the plant.) Therefore, the best substrate for propagation is coniferous land, rich useful mushrooms and having the most suitable structure for azaleas. You can root cuttings of azaleas in sand or peat. But in this case root system cuttings develop poorly and after planting they take root worse.

Growing problems

Shriveled leaves: Most probable cause wrinkling and falling of leaves- insufficient watering... You can immerse the pot in a container of water several times a week until it is completely saturated. Others possible reasons there may be low air humidity (place the pot in wet peat), too high a temperature or too bright sun.

Short flowering period: Warm dry air is usually the culprit. Place the pot as far away from the batteries as possible central heating, and spray the leaves daily. The reason for the premature end of flowering can also be too bright. sunlight and insufficient watering.

Yellowing of leaves:- Excessive dampness or hard water.

Poor growth, leaf browning, poor budding or no flowering may be associated with planting azaleas in inappropriate soil.

Seeing a pot of blooming azaleas in the store, some people find it difficult to resist and not buy it. But many do not know that azaleas will not be able to grow and bloom in normal indoor conditions. They will need to provide a cool and humid atmosphere.

You can place pots of azaleas between window frames, it is much cooler there, but you will have to regularly monitor the thermometer so that it does not fall below 8 ° C at the time of budding, and during flowering it was about 13 ° C.

According to the statistics of some flower shops, the "survival rate" of azaleas after purchase is about 45-50%, ie. almost only every second plant will take root and bloom.

Therefore, in order for this plant to bloom and delight you, try to provide it with decent living conditions.

Shields and false shields: brown plaques on the surface of leaves and stems, sucking out cell sap. Leaves lose color, dry out and fall off.
Control measures. For mechanical cleaning pests, the leaves are wiped with a soapy sponge. Then spray the plant with 0.15% actellik solution (1-2 ml per liter of water). Good results are obtained by treatment with actara and karbofos.

Spider mite: appears when the air is too dry - a cobweb appears in the internodes on the stems, the leaves become lethargic and fall off, the buds dry.
Control measures. Wipe the plant with a soapy sponge and wash it under a warm shower. Sprayed regularly. Often, these procedures alone are enough to make the pests disappear. If the azaleas are very strongly affected by the mite and regular moistening does not help, spray with 0.15% actellic solution (1-2 ml per liter of water).

Mealybugs: Leaves, shoots and flowers are affected. The leaves bend, dry and fall off, the plant dies.
Control measures. Wipe the plant with a soapy sponge and wash it under a warm shower. Sprayed regularly. In case of very severe damage, the plant can be sprayed with 0.15% actellic solution (1-2 ml per liter of water).

Heather family. Well-known flowering shrubs in the form of low-stemmed crown plants. More than 350 species are known. It grows in India and China, in the mountainous regions of the Caucasus and Siberia. Garden forms Rhododendron Sims Rododendron simsii- Indian azaleas (or simply azaleas) are extremely diverse. The flowers are usually pink, but there are also white, yellow, red, cream, as well as decorative bi-colored, for example, pink with a white border around the edge of the petals (Inga variety) and white with a pink center (Osta variety). Flowers can be double, non-double and with corrugated petals. Ampelous and pyramidal forms have recently appeared. The Japanese azalea has smaller flowers, but it has the advantage over the Indian that it can continue to grow as ornamental shrub, if after the end of flowering it is planted in open ground. "Adventglokhen" with bell-shaped flowers, non-double or slightly double at the edge, crimson-red, 6 cm in diameter. "Doberlug"- with double, dark pink flowers with a white border, irregular in shape, 7.5 cm in diameter. Dresden 1936- with shiny flowers of medium doubleness, salmon pink color, 6.5 cm in diameter. "Orange Bowen"- with semi-double crimson-red flowers, 5-6.5 cm in diameter. "Ensett Dagmar"- with shiny bright pink double flowers 7 cm in diameter. "Eri"- with semi-double flowers, carmine pink with an irregular white border, 7 cm in diameter. "Helmut Vogel"- very early variety- with double red-purple flowers, 6 cm in diameter. "Weisse Sheme"- with double flowers, broadly funnel-shaped, white with a pinkish (cream) shade, 6 cm in diameter.

Mid late azaleas- bloom in January-March - "Albert-Elizabeth"- with double flowers of white or pale pink with a bright red border along the edge of the petals, 8.5 cm in diameter. Apollo- with non-double or slightly double flowers, brick-red, slightly wavy at the edge, 7 cm in diameter. "Abner"- with semi-double flowers of bright salmon-carmine color, 6.5 cm in diameter. "Knut Erwen"- with double intense red flowers, 6.5 cm in diameter. "Leopold Astrid"- with double flowers, slightly corrugated along the edge, gently color pink with a bright red border, 7 cm in diameter. "Max Sheme"- with double flowers, the petals are strongly corrugated along the edge, bright salmon color with a white border, 6.5 cm in diameter. "Florida"- with non-double, intense red flowers, 5-6 cm in diameter.

Late varieties of azaleas- bloom in February - April - "Celestinum"- with non-double flowers bright carmine color, 6 cm in diameter. "Kontsinna"- with non-double flowers, broadly funnel-shaped, light lilac in color with bright crimson-lilac specks, 7 cm in diameter. "Hexe"- with bright double flowers of wine-red color, 5.5 cm in diameter. "Niobe"- with double white flowers with red dots on the petals, 7.5 cm in diameter. "Professor Walters"- with non-double, funnel-shaped flowers, bright light salmon color, with an almost white edge and red dots on the top three petals, 7.5 cm in diameter. "Shakuntala"- with double white flowers, with green specks in the throat, 7.5 cm in diameter. Ernst Thiers- with semi-double crimson-pink flowers, 8 cm in diameter.

CARE TIPS

Temperature: They are kept in cool conditions (the optimum temperature is 10-15 ° C). It is advisable in the fall - during the period of flower buds laying - to maintain the temperature at about 6-8 ° С, and then, after two months, by the time of flowering, increase to 12-15 ° С.

Lighting: Bright light, but not direct sunlight.

Watering: The soil should be moist all the time; only soft water is used for irrigation. From overdrying, azaleas lose not only flowers, but also leaves.

Air humidity: Requires very high humidity. Spray only with soft, settled water. It is helpful to frequently shower the plant with cool water. During flowering, they are sprayed with a very fine spray bottle, because drops may cause stains on the leaves. You can also place your azalea pots on a tray of wet pebbles or moss.

Transfer: The best soil for azaleas is coniferous soil, which is used without special preparation. Such soil is well ventilated and does not retain excess moisture. Azaleas have a shallow root system, so the pots for them should not be too deep, but rather wide. It would be nice to plant the azalea in a clay pot, which you place in a planter. And fill the space between the walls of the pot and the pots with damp moss. During growth, especially during the formation of the kidneys, it is useful to give liquid organic fertilizers, alternating them with mineral ones. Plants are fed no more than two decades later.

Cut off adult blooming azaleas every spring. After flowering, all the shoots of the last year are shortened and the overgrowing ones that move forward, thin out the densely growing shoots, and remove the branches with weak growth. Old specimens are rejuvenated by short pruning and then planting them in the ground for the summer. Azaleas with falling leaves during the dormant period are kept in a cool and dark basement.

Reproduction: After flowering with azaleas, you can take cuttings - young shoots that come out from under the flower. The cuttings are planted in the ground (the azalea does not tolerate the soil taken from under the oak) and covered with glass and a black rag. They are kept at a temperature of 18-20 ° C in absolute darkness. Before planting in the ground, the stalk is dipped into a heteroauxin solution (a tablet per 1 liter of water) and pre-moistened in a slightly pink potassium permanganate solution. Watering is moderate. The water temperature for irrigation is slightly above room temperature. Rooting of the cuttings takes place within two or more months. When the stalk grows, you should open the glass for one hour during the day (preferably in the afternoon), protecting it from the sun's rays.

How to care for an azalea

Azalea is difficult to tame or adapt to room conditions... This flower grows in the wild in the mountains of Asia, so it loves coolness. To some extent, breeders have succeeded in instilling tolerance in azaleas to moderate temperatures during the warm season, but in winter the azalea should be kept in a bright room with an air temperature of no higher than 13 ºC.

Do not water the rhododendron too often, try to comply water balance: the soil in the pot should not be allowed to dry out, but at the same time, the water should not stagnate in the roots of the azalea. This can be achieved by placing the plant pot on a pallet of wet pebbles so that the roots do not touch the water. In this case, the air around the plant will be quite humid.

In no case, do not rearrange the azalea in warmth, trying to speed up the onset of flowering - this is a common and, alas, fatal mistake of many florists.

As soon as the flowers have blossomed, the plant needs to be provided with additional support in the form of wooden slingshots. Withered buds must be carefully cut off - this measure will prolong the flowering of the azalea.

After the end of the flowering period, the rhododendron does not look very attractive, since all the forces of the plant have been invested in this process. To breathe life into the plant, the azalea must be transplanted. Rhododendrons love heather and deciduous soils, and clayey soils are contraindicated for them. The optimum pH of the soil for azaleas is pH 4.0-5.5.

Summer Azalea Care

At the end of May, when there is no longer frost at night, you can transfer the azaleas to the balcony. In summer, it is better to keep the rhododendron on a windowsill or in the fresh air, having organized it to be protected from drafts. If the summer is too hot and dry, it is advisable to wrap the flowerpot with damp moss, the humidity of which is maintained by spraying. If at home, despite all your efforts to get cool, it is too stuffy, transplant the azalea outdoors, directly into the ground.

We buy azalea - how to choose

When choosing an azalea in a store, you need to pay attention to the condition of the soil in the flowerpot - it should be moderately moist. Do not buy azalea if the soil in the pot is dry - after a while, already at home, it may develop some kind of disease. Choose an azalea in a pot that is at least half the width of the flower's crown. If there are flowers on the azaleas, then check that they are developed, not wilted, and have an even color. The leaves must be clean.

• You cannot twirl the pot of azalea often - it is very sensitive to changes in lighting.
• Some florists advise sprinkling the azalea with water and wine vinegar. At least sometimes.
• In summer, it is better to shade the window, near which the azalea stands, with plain white paper.
• Azaleas are very hard going through the change of scenery and, getting into unusual conditions, they start to get sick and often die. Therefore, if you definitely want to have this flower in your house, try to grow it yourself. Buy an azalea in March or April, cut a stalk from it and root it in the peat using a transparent plastic bag over the pot with the stalk. In this case, even if the adult azalea dies, you will grow a young plant for which the conditions of your apartment will be familiar.
• Recipe for watering azaleas: dissolve 10 drops of boric acid purchased from a pharmacy in a liter of water. Some gardeners in hot weather, instead of watering, recommend putting ice cubes from the refrigerator on the azalea soil: they slowly melt and soak the soil with cool water.

Resuscitation is the revival of any room or garden plant... This is a set of measures (transplanting, pruning, feeding, watering, and others), which are aimed at restoring the vitality of the flower.

A synonym for the word "resuscitation" is salvation. Correctly carried out resuscitation allows you to bring back to life a plant that is dying, that is, with a minimal root system or even without it, with an affected stem, with yellowed leaves.

Salvation is required only in situations where the plant has not yet completely died, since otherwise all activities will be useless.

The flower grower must carefully examine the azalea: the presence of living buds, sprouts is the basis for the earliest possible resuscitation. Rescue will also be successful if the stem of the plant remains green. If the stem is damaged, it remains possible for the flower to revive from the rhizome.

Such a procedure is needed if, wilted or. First aid is required with an unhealthy form of a plant, with mechanical damage parts of it. Also, resuscitation is needed if signs of decay are clearly visible.

Medicinal actions should also be provided in case of severe pest infestation. The need for resuscitation is determined by appearance and severity dangerous symptoms on the flower.

Read about why the leaves of azaleas change color and shape, and what can be done about it, and from you you will learn about the causes of blackening of the foliage and the solution to this problem.

When is it useless to do something?

If the stem and root have a soft, porous, mushy structure, then the plant has died, it will not be possible to save it. Also, resuscitation is useless when all parts of the azalea wither and dry completely.

If the stem and leaves are damaged, you need to carefully examine the root. If it is flexible and resilient, the plant can be saved. If the root has died, but the stem is preserved, you can try to trace the living trunk and root it.

How to reanimate at home - step by step instructions

To save the azalea from anyone negative factor preliminary preparation is required.

During the resuscitation process, you may need a new calcined soil, a new pot, ash or sand, chemicals and biologicals.

Symptoms of the condition are sluggish and dull leaves, the appearance of yellow spots on them. No water seeps into the earthen ball.

When flooding at the bottom of the pot, the soil begins to sour, rot develops. Sap flow stops inside the plant. With regular overflows, the azalea will completely die in 3-4 months.

How do I fix the problem? Rescue measure - transshipment of azaleas. It includes the following actions:

Rescue measures

How to revive if the plant is frozen?

1. The flower pot must be removed to a warm place. Then you need to carefully monitor the temperature regime, the drops should not be more than 5 degrees.
2. Immediately after placing it in a warm place, the pot should be lowered into a basin of warm water.

   From above, the plant should be covered with a film - to create the effect of a greenhouse.

   For the best effect, spraying with Epna solution is shown (the dosage should be chosen depending on the state of the flower).

3. You can also treat the azalea with Kornevin (1 g per 1 liter of water). Water with Kornevin for 5-7 days.

The main components of prevention correct watering, moderate feeding, adherence to the temperature and light regime.

1. For watering, take water at room temperature, do not flood the plant.
2. Once a month, water the azalea with water with the addition of boric acid (1-2 drops per 1 liter).
3. Remove excess stems and fallen parts in a timely manner.
4. Feed during any period except winter.
5. Change the pot and soil as you grow.

Further care

The main components of proper care:

• diffused light;
• abundant infrequent watering;
• loosening the soil;
• compliance with the level of acidity of the soil;
• low air temperature in a room with an azalea.

Sufficient air humidity for this plant is 80%.

It is better to apply complex fertilizing in the spring. For these purposes, special fertilizers are suitable:

1. to stimulate the formation of inflorescences, formulations with phosphorus and potassium are introduced;
2. for the growth of shoots - nitrogen compounds.

It is better to cut the bushes in May.... Old or strongly elongated shoots are subject to pruning. 14-20 days after pruning, the bush is covered with new leaves.

Watching a video about proper care for the azalea.

So, azalea is a whimsical and capricious flower. Violation of care leads to the appearance of dangerous symptoms and conditions. It is necessary to revive or save the plant in case of mass, wilting, dying off of leaves and other organs. The measures and methods of revitalization depend on the exact cause of the phenomenon.

Azalea is an evergreen plant that can rightfully be called the most striking decoration of a home flower garden. This plant was brought to the continent from England in the 19th century, but it was far from immediately possible to take root in the new conditions. Only thanks to many years of painstaking work of breeders did we get the opportunity to grow this capricious, but very beautiful flower in their homes. Caring for an azalea in winter is difficult, but the result will be great flowering when other indoor plants require complete rest.

Azalea is a plant included in the genus Rhododendron, it is a direct relative of the heather shrub. Outwardly it is?

• Small bush with big amount lateral branches and small leaves, flowers can be simple and double.
• The color of the buds can be very diverse: these are all shades of pink, azalea can also bloom with white, purple or red buds, and there are both early and late flowering varieties.

Azalea remains a favorite plant in many countries. In the east, a bonsai is often formed from such a shrub, which becomes a symbol of prosperity, covered with bright and very beautiful petals.

Azalea is often presented as a gift to lovers. indoor flowers during flowering, and after a few days it completely dries up and dies. This is due to the fact that the conditions of an ordinary city apartment are completely unsuitable for such a flower, and the azalea quickly dies on the windowsill.

In order for this beautiful flower to decorate your home, it will have to create special conditions.

Azalea needs constant care, so the flower will have to devote enough time. If you do not have the opportunity to seriously engage in floriculture, it is better to choose less whimsical plants for decorating your home.

Optimal conditions for keeping azaleas in winter

Gorgeous delicate azalea requires a special temperature regime. In our apartments it is usually too hot for her, the optimum temperature is + 10-15 degrees. Maximum temperature- +18, if it is warmer, the plant will quickly begin to dry out.

To make the azalea feel comfortable in the room, you can use a few simple tricks:

1. The pot in the room can be overlaid with ice cubes. This is the easiest way to lower the temperature for the plant, and it will feel much better. It is important not to overdo it, so as not to damage the roots with cold.
2. The plant needs to be watered frequently and regularly sprayed with cool water. It can be just at room temperature, it is advisable to use distilled water. Maintaining the desired humidity regime will prevent the leaves from drying out.
3. Azalea will feel good on a loggia and even on an open balcony, if the temperature does not drop below +5 degrees. Flowers will form from October until the very beginning of winter, and it is at this time that the plant needs cool weather and wet air. Optimum temperature during this period - + 16-17 degrees.
4. It is best to place the plant on the north or east side of the house. It cannot stand direct sunlight, therefore the best option placement will become a penumbra and a shaded area.
5. It is important to maintain a constant watering regime: the soil should be moist at all times, but not too wet. If, for some reason, the earthen lump is completely dry, the pot must be placed in a container of water for several hours, and after three days it will be possible to return to the usual watering regime.

The plant is watered at least 2 times a day, and the higher the temperature in the room, the more abundant the watering should be. In addition, you will have to regularly spray the azalea with water at room temperature. It is undesirable to use tap water: at least you need to let it settle, which will take at least a day.

One of mandatory conditions beautiful long flowering - correct feeding in accordance with the regime:

• Mineral fertilizer "Superphosphate" can be used once every two weeks: the dosage is about 15 grams per 15 liters of liquid.
• V flower shop you can buy complex fertilizer "Azalea": this is a ready-made kit containing a complete set nutrients and special microelements.
• When the buds begin to form, you can speed up the flowering process and make it more lush: for this you need to purchase a complex fertilizer "Uniflor-Bud". It contains potassium and phosphorus, which azaleas need during the flowering period.
• When the azalea has faded and the growing season begins, the azaleas will need a large number of nitrogen to build up green mass. During this period, you can use the special fertilizer "Uniflor-micro". It is necessary to read the instructions and strictly dose the drug: an overdose will not only not give a positive result, but can also cause serious harm to the root system.
• There is one more important top dressing - "Iron chelate" (another name - "ferovit"). It allows you to provide the leaves with a sufficient amount of iron if the plant begins to turn yellow. It is also important to strictly follow the instructions to prevent excess amounts of trace elements from entering the soil.

When purchasing an azalea, you should opt for a plant with a large number of buds, which will have only a few blossoming flowers. It is such a shrub that will delight you with flowering for a long time, and the petals when creating correct conditions will not begin to crumble.

An important rule of thumb: the warmer the room, the shorter the flowering period will be.

So if the greenhouse room is only 12 degrees, each azalea bush will be able to delight you with flowers for several months, and if the temperature is higher, then this period will be reduced to two to three weeks.

There are several secrets of flower growers that allow you to get abundant and long-lasting flowering:

• Correctly selected soil composition. This is peat, heather and coniferous soil, the substrate should be as light and permeable as possible. Such a soil mixture dries out very quickly, so it will need to be constantly monitored.
• Azalea prefers slightly acidified soils. To have a lot of flowers, it is enough to add just a drop of citric acid to the water for irrigation once a month. This will maintain an optimal balance in the ground.
• It is advisable to transplant the flower as rarely as possible. Each transplant is a very serious stress for the plant, therefore young azaleas (up to 3 years old) are transplanted no more than once a year, and older ones - only once every two years. Indications for transplanting may be an overgrown root system or decaying roots. Even after the purchase, you need to keep the plant in the same soil as long as possible, and for transplanting you need to pick up a special soil designed specifically for rhododendrons.
• You cannot loosen the soil. Azalea has very thin delicate roots that are quickly damaged when mixing the soil. Specially selected light soils provide a sufficient flow of oxygen to the roots, so additional loosening can be dispensed with.

In order for the bush to bloom longer, the faded buds must be removed immediately, in addition, it is necessary to remove seed pods... This will allow the plant to retain energy for new flowers.

The flowering period will also help prolong the timely pruning of the plant and pinching of the shoots. The more lush the bush, the worse it will bloom, so it is important to pay attention correct formation crowns. Shoot pruning is carried out starting in May. Buds are formed at the tops of the shoots, so you need to make sure that there are as many of these tops as possible.

Azalea can be made small beautiful tree, like a Japanese bonsai or in a small shrub with many lateral shoots.

To form a crown-tree, the largest branch is selected, other shoots are removed. When the branch reaches the right size, the tip is pinched, and the lateral processes will begin to grow. In this case, the plant must be turned so that the crown forms evenly, and pinch the tops of the overgrown branches. To form a crown-bush, you need to pinch the branches at a distance of 12 cm from the root, and when lateral processes appear, turn the plant regularly. Then the shoots will stretch evenly, and the bush will look beautiful. With each pruning, all diseased and damaged shoots are removed.

Azalea will appreciate your concern: if you control the growth and formation of new shoots, as well as ensure compliance with the temperature regime, the plant will become a real decoration of the flower garden. From the side flowering bush completely covered with buds, and you can't even see the leaves on it, which looks just great.

Although azalea is a whimsical flower, it is quite possible to create acceptable conditions for it that will ensure constant magnificent flowering. It can be made a real decoration of a balcony or a greenhouse; it looks great in a home summer garden.

Azalea easily tolerates the coolness of the street, so the pots can be placed on open terraces in late summer and early autumn.

The main condition for fast growth and excellent flowering is the attention and care of the owner. This plant is sensitive to the attitude of the owner, and with proper care, it will constantly delight you with bright buds. The fragile northern beauty can become a permanent inhabitant of your garden, and you can experiment by growing plants with in different colors petals.

More information about azalea care can be found in the video.

The question "How to revive an azalea?" most often occur in people who are unprepared for the appearance of this flower in the house - it is usually given as a gift, trying to please the hostess. Everyone admires at first flowering plant, and later the excitement begins due to yellowing, blackening or drying of the leaves, as well as the falling of flowers. In such cases, an urgent need to decide how to save the dying azalea.

It is advisable to know at least something about rhododendrons before settling them at home. Azalea, due to the complexity of care, is called a capricious beauty. But if she settles in comfortable conditions, it will delight the owners with a healthy look and lush bloom... You just need to build up behind it so that everything is balanced.

Azalea feels great when the air temperature does not exceed +22 ° C in summer and +15 ° C in winter. In this case, it should be sufficiently light, but without direct sunlight. It should be humid in the pot and in the air (80%), but should not be sprayed during flowering. The soil needs acidic. Trouble begins when these conditions are violated.

If the leaves begin to dry out, change color, become covered with spots, you need to find out why this is happening and eliminate the cause. Leaves can fall off very quickly. They turn yellow as a result of an attack of pests - then you need to quickly take action. And if a lot of calcium has accumulated in the soil, then adding a little citric acid to the water will help.

The main reason for leaf fall is excessive dryness and high air temperature. As soon as the greens begin to dry, you need to lower the air temperature (this way the plant will recover more easily), water with settled acidified water, spray the flower.

If the azalea dries up, give it a cool shower. Most likely, tap water contains a lot of salts and unnecessary impurities (which is why it is defended), so you will have to use a watering can with a fine sieve to bathe it with clean, settled water with the addition of citric acid. You can immerse the pot in a bowl so that the water is 2 cm above the edge, leave it for 20-30 minutes, then let the excess water drain off. Just fill the flower with acidified water!

If the azalea is withered

What to do in the event that the azalea has dried up, completely losing its leaves? Do not rush to throw it away, even if it is dry. If the roots are still alive, that is, they are not dry, then the plant can be reanimated with water, cooling and boric acid. You just need to be patient.

First you need to get rid of the old soil. To do this, the plant is removed from the pot, the roots and a clod of earth are poured with clean water. As the soil becomes soaked, slowly and carefully remove (wash) it with your hands, you can substitute the soaked roots under a stream of water and rinse. Then the plant can be planted in new soil purchased specifically for azaleas and laid on a quality drainage layer in a new pot. It is advisable to add wood ash or activated carbon to the soil, put a layer of pine needles on top. The transplanted flower should be placed in a softly lit place with an air temperature of no higher than +20 ° C and left until morning.

The next day, the plant must be watered with water that has been settled for at least two days, adding a few drops of boric acid and "Zircon" to it. When all the soil has flowed well with water, the excess must be poured out of the pan.

The roots will absorb nutrients better at a lower temperature, so the pot can be covered with ice. Some gardeners argue that in the summer for a day, the pot of azalea should be put in the refrigerator. Such procedures - watering with boric acid and "Zircon", cooling - should be repeated daily until new leaves start to grow. Then you can water every other day, sometimes replacing boric acid lemon, and replace the refrigerator with sprays.

How to reanimate after pests

Having got rid of the reason why the azalea damaged by pests has dried up, you can start restoring the plant.

Affected leaves need to be removed (if they have not fallen off themselves), bare branches should not be cut off. In order for the azalea to revive its branches, it must be in comfortable conditions, but it is advisable to increase the air humidity even further by covering the plant with a transparent lid (bag, jar). To enhance immunity, it is sprayed with a solution prepared from the drug "Elina". Watered often (daily or every other day) with acidified settled water.

How to reanimate after illness

Azalea diseases are the result of mistakes. They can be caused by changes in air temperature and humidity levels. If azalea leaves turn black, then the cause may be the Black Triassic or infection with fungal diseases. Septoria (red-yellow spots with black dots), cercosporiasis (brown spots with red edges on the lower side of the leaf), phyllostictosis (brown or gray spots) are characterized by the presence of spots that appear and grow on the leaves and stems of the plant. Late blight affects the roots, and it indicates the twisting and drying of the leaves, which first darken, starting from the very tips, change color, and then curl and.

Special drugs that need to be used as early as possible will not allow these diseases to progress: Bordeaux liquid, "Fundazol", "Ditan", "Topsin-M" or other fungicides. With verticillosis, the base of the stem darkens, and not the leaf, this can rather lead to death. Timely treatment with copper sulfate or fungicides will save you. The sooner the disease is established, the sooner the treatment will begin, which means there will be more hope for the complete recovery of the plant.

After application special preparations you need to destroy all affected parts of the plant so as not to give the disease a chance to return. An azalea that has undergone illness needs recovery procedures no less than after an invasion of pests or drying out due to poor care. The main goals are the same: restore immunity, improve conditions, and help absorb nutrients.

Azalea is certainly transplanted into new soil, be sure to check the condition of the roots. Then apply frequent watering and spraying with water with boron and citric acid alternately, sometimes using Elina solution to enhance immunity.

It is important that at this time the air temperature does not rise above + 20-22 degrees, and the lighting is soft without direct sunlight.

Video "Why Azalea Withers"

In this video, you will learn how to cure an azalea that has begun to fade.