Azalea - what is this indoor flower, what does it look like

Azalea is a flower that is one of the most beautiful indoor plants. Its flowering is very lush and abundant. But most gardeners, especially inexperienced ones, are afraid to grow it, because with improper care, it dries and dies quite quickly. This is because azalea is a capricious plant that requires regular maintenance. Subject to certain rules, it will bloom with bright lush flowers and delight its owner for a long time.

Azalea - what kind of indoor flower is it, what family does it belong to?

Azalea is a flower belonging to the genus Rhododendron. Some time ago, a separate genus of azaleas was distinguished - Azalea, belonging to the Heather family. Now this genus has been disbanded, all species belonging to it have officially passed to the Rhododendrons. This transition is not accidental, since Heathers are exclusively herbaceous plants, and Azalea has a clearly defined trunk, from which many stems depart. Tree-like Rhododendrons are the best fit.

Azalea indoor

Brief description, history of origin or selection

Azalea is native to Japan, China and India, it also lives in North America and southern Europe. It is a dwarf evergreen with incredibly beautiful flowering. Rhododendron translated from Greek means "rosewood". The name Azalea is translated as "dry". This is due to its appearance - a dryish small bush. In Russia, the flower appeared only at the beginning of the twentieth century. It was originally grown in greenhouses and conservatories.

Botanical Description of Azalea:

• In nature, it grows up to 1.5 m, there are also undersized species - about 50 cm.
• Dark green leaves are glossy on top.
• The color of double or simple flowers is different - from white to deep purple.
• Abundant flowering occurs in late autumn and lasts all winter, often ending only in early April.

Azalea in nature

Varieties of indoor plants with names, what they look like

In nature, there are about 350 species of this plant, the jasmine variety is very effective. Only two are adapted to growing at home: Japanese Azalea and Indian Azalea. Breeders are working on the development of new, hybrid, varieties. The flowering of a houseplant occurs only in 3-4 years of its life, but in stores there are more mature, flowering specimens. In most cases, the color of the petals is pink, but other options can be easily found.

Japanese Azalea (Rhododendron obfusum)

The Japanese variety is grown in pots much less often than the Indian one. The leaves of this shrub are small, dark green, up to 5 cm in length. The flowers are small, funnel-shaped, and can be painted in different colors.

Japanese azalea white

Indian Azalea (Rhododendron x indicum, Azalea indica)

The variety has another name - Sims rhododendron. For home cultivation, they often prefer it. Its distinctive features:

• The height of an evergreen shrub reaches 50 cm.
• The leaves are small (up to 4 cm in length), glossy above, dark green. The lower part of a light green hue, covered with small reddish villi, the same pubescence is also present in young plant stems.
• The petiole is short.
• The flowers are double or simple. Their shape is funnel-shaped, 3-5 cm in diameter. They are collected in inflorescences and open at the same time.
• azalea flowers of different colors, from white to bright red. There are both monochrome and two-tone.

Rhododendron Sims

Growing an azalea flower at home, how to properly care

There are unpretentious indoor plants, but azalea does not belong to them - caring for it at home is quite difficult. This flower dies instantly if a number of prerequisites are not met. At best, the shrub simply refuses to bloom, namely, because of the lush bright inflorescences, this plant is acquired.

Illumination

Immediately after purchase, you must put the flower in a suitable place. It should be well lit, but at the same time protected from direct sunlight. East windows are best suited, if there are none, you can put the pot on the northwest or west windowsills.

From the middle of autumn, azaleas will need the maximum amount of light, since at this time the buds are laid and developed. It is better to use additional illumination using fluorescent lamps.

Temperature regime

When leaving with azalea, attention should be paid to the room temperature. Despite its natural origin, the plant cannot be classified as thermophilic. The optimum year-round temperature is + 15-20 ° С. It is often difficult to comply with such a regime in the summer. You can take the pot out to the balcony (but not to the south side) or maintain the temperature with an air conditioner.

Azalea buds

Watering rules and humidity

For full care of azalea, constant provision of high air humidity is required. The flower is regularly sprayed from a spray bottle with water, the temperature of which will be slightly below room temperature. When the plant blooms, spraying should be done very carefully - water should not fall on delicate flowers, which will immediately darken and fall off. It is better to put several containers filled with water next to the pot.

In summer, it is recommended to take flowerpots with azalea to a ventilated balcony, veranda or garden. We must not forget about maintaining a high level of humidity in winter, during the heating season. At this time, this factor should be given special attention.

Watering also plays a big role in keeping your room azalea at home. The following rules must be strictly adhered to:

• Watering is done regularly, but it is important to reduce the amount of liquid during the flowering period.
• Do not allow the earthen coma to dry out. If this rule is accidentally violated, the flower must be placed in a container with warm water for a couple of hours.
• The soil should always be slightly damp, but not waterlogged.
• It is necessary to monitor the presence of moisture in the pallet. It should not be there, otherwise the delicate roots of the plant will rot.
• Water for irrigation must be well settled. The flower is very sensitive to the chlorine content of the liquid.

Top dressing and soil quality

For growing azaleas at home, it is recommended to use soil with a high acidity level, but not exceeding 4.5 pH. The soil is easy to purchase in a specialized store or prepare yourself. In the second case, the earthen mixture should consist of two parts of rotted needles and one part of moss and sand.

Top dressing is carried out with mineral fertilizers. The easiest way is to use a complex blend designed specifically for these colors. In spring and summer, it is required to fertilize the plant once a week. Not less often and not more often. In winter, top dressing is sharply reduced to 1 time per month. At the beginning of the budding and flowering period, it is necessary to use formulations with a high content of potassium and phosphorus.

Flower container size

The pot for growing azaleas should not be too deep and wide. With transplants, the volume gradually increases by 5 cm each time.

Pruning

To properly care for an azalea, you need to know how to prune it properly. The correct implementation of this procedure has a positive effect on flowering. Pruning is done immediately after the azalea has faded. Most often it is spring.

First of all, dead branches are cut, which will no longer survive. Then last year's shoots are pruned, as well as fresh ones that are too elongated and interfere with the flower. Those shoots on which there is too much green mass are also thinned out. Re-pruning may be required at the end of summer. But it is necessary only if the temperature regime was observed, and the greens had time to grow.

Azalea after pruning

Transfer

Before proceeding with the transplant, you need to prepare a vessel with boiled water, disinfected sharp scissors and a knife. An earthen ball is removed from an old pot and immersed in water with an added root growth stimulant for half an hour. A 3-5 cm thick drainage layer is laid in a new flowerpot. It is sprinkled with prepared soil. Above is placed an azalea bush, from the roots of which water has previously been drained. All remaining gaps are filled with fresh soil mixture.

Transplanting an azalea into a new pot

Features of flowering plants

Azalea is a capricious flower that requires careful maintenance. Even with the purchase of a magnificently blooming, healthy flower, its further extinction is possible. You shouldn't be surprised at this, since the flower is going through a period of adaptation. When comfortable conditions are created, it will bloom again in 2-3 weeks.

A period of activity and rest

Indoor azaleas bloom in the winter months, buds are laid in mid-autumn. The duration of flowering depends on compliance with the rules of care. This period lasts from 2 weeks to 3 months.

Types and shape of flowers

Flowers are subdivided into:

• simple;
• semi-double;
• terry.

All flowers are funnel-shaped. The colors are both monochromatic and two-tone. On one windowsill, you can grow a bright, lushly blooming garden with a mix of bright and calm colors.

Azaleas of different colors on the same windowsill

Propagation of azalea stem cuttings

The easiest way to propagate azaleas is by cuttings. It is best to carry out this procedure in the summer. Semi-lignified cuttings, on which buds have appeared, are planted in prepared soil and covered with a jar or polyethylene. The cover is regularly removed to moisturize and ventilate the plant. Flower buds may appear and should be removed immediately.After about 2 months, the shoots take root. Then they move to a new location.

Growing problems, diseases and pests

With improper care of the azalea, non-observance of any conditions, the appearance of diseases and pests is inevitable. The troubles that happen to the flower, the possible causes of their appearance and the remedial measures are as follows:

• If the leaves begin to wilt, turn yellow and fall off, this is a signal that the watering regime is not being followed or the plant is receiving excess sunlight. Solving these problems will help restore the flower to its original appearance.
• When gray rot or rust appears, the damaged leaves should be trimmed and the temperature normalized.
• If the flowers start to look unpresentable, turn yellow and wither, you should pay attention to the quality of the water used for irrigation. It must be free of harmful chlorine.
• Phytophthora, resulting from waterlogging, is the most dangerous enemy of the azalea. Because of her, the flower may die.

Yellowed azalea leaves

Of the pests, spider mites, scale insects and strawberry mites attack the flower most often. If they are found, you must immediately treat the flower with insecticides.

Growing azaleas is a rather laborious process. You need to devote a lot of time to caring for a flower, so novice florists should not be involved in growing these plants. If you already have experience in breeding indoor flowers, the azalea will take its rightful place on the windowsill. The result will justify all the efforts expended. Azalea blooms are lush, bright and long lasting. If you can show it in all its glory, the impression made will be unforgettable.