Azalea has faded, what to do next - caring for the plant after flowering

Azaleas, or rhododendrons, are famous for their bright and abundant flowering with large buds. The decorativeness of the bush is high, however, like other flowering plants, the time comes to complete the process of flower formation. That is why flower growers are beginning to wonder if the azalea has faded, what to do next, whether it is necessary to change the care. Indeed, the procedures are undergoing changes, so you should take a more responsible approach to the maintenance of the bush in the house during this period.

When and how long azalea blooms

The blooming period of an azalea at home depends on the characteristics of the variety. Early rhododendrons bloom as early as November and fully bloom until early January. In mid-flowering plants, the budding period occurs at the end of December, the last bud falls off with the arrival of February. The late varieties bloom in February - the first ten days of May.

The flowering of azaleas directly depends on the varietal characteristics of the plant.

On average, any type of rhododendron blooms for about 2 months. The wintering of the bush is of great importance for flowering, during which it needs special care.

Azalea pruning is done annually

How and why to prune and pinch an azalea after flowering

Caring for an azalea after flowering necessarily implies an annual pruning. This applies not only to flowers that are grown in the garden or in the country, but also to indoor flowers. Correct pruning helps not only to renew the bush, but also saves from the appearance of pests, and is also the prevention of diseases.

How to prune an azalea after flowering:

1. Take a sharp and clean pruner. Before the procedure, it is recommended to disinfect its blades in a special disinfecting solution, then wipe dry.
2. First, cut off dried, diseased and rotten branches.
3. If the bush is thickened, there are perennial thickened shoots on it, it must be thinned out. On adult shoots, 4 leaves are left, the rest are cut off.
4. Young, but too elongated shoots need to be pinched.
5. The faded inflorescences are cut off along with the pedicels.
6. Too thick old lignified shoots are cut to the very root.

Transplanting a faded azalea

Home care for the azalea after flowering also includes transplanting the bush into a new container. In the first 3-5 years, this procedure should be carried out annually. After replanting the bush, you need to every 2 years.

Step-by-step algorithm for planting rhododendrons:

1. Remove the plant from the old pot and prune the old roots if necessary.
2. The finished substrate is purchased separately. You can do it yourself. To do this, take a light slightly acidic earth, peat, humus and river sand.
3. A 4-cm layer of expanded clay crumbs is covered at the bottom of the container. Sprinkle the same layer of soil mixture on top.
4. A bush is placed on top and its roots are straightened.
5. They cover them with earth, leaving no empty spaces.
6. Watering is carried out with settled water of average temperature.

When the azalea has faded, its departure changes

Plant care after flowering

What to do with azalea after flowering, what actions to take first? When the last buds are dry, the bush needs to be slowly prepared for wintering.First of all, the conditions for keeping rhododendrons are changed.

Location

Usually, a light-loving plant for wintering is removed in a more shaded place. It is not necessary to abruptly transfer the bush to such a room. It is necessary to place the pot in the shade for several hours a day, then gradually increase the duration of this period.

Temperature regime

The plant is gradually cooked to a lower temperature. Usually the bush is kept at 18-25 ° C. However, in order to send him to rest, it is necessary to gradually reduce the temperature regime to 10-15 ° C.

Watering and fertilizing

Also, the main activities for the care of azaleas after flowering are watering and fertilization. However, they also need to be carried out less frequently than during the normal growing season.

Proper watering is the key to timely flowering and the absence of problems when growing azaleas. It is not worth pouring over the bush even during the growing season. After flowering, the frequency of watering should be reduced from 3 procedures per week to 1 in 10 days. So that the soil does not harden, but remains light and breathable, it is necessary to loosen the soil after it has completely absorbed moisture.

Azalea will decorate any room with its flowering

For irrigation, you need to use soft and clean water. It is impossible to water the plant with tap liquid, it can cause the appearance of diseases. To avoid hypothermia of the root system, the water temperature should be at room temperature. If possible, it is better to use rain, river or melt water for irrigation. Otherwise, you can put tap water to settle. To do this, pour it into a wide, shallow container and leave it for 4-5 hours. Stir the liquid periodically to allow the chlorine to evaporate quickly.

They begin to feed the plant in spring, with the onset of flowering, this process is slightly inhibited so as not to interfere with flowering. After the last buds have dried up, the bush needs high-quality feeding before wintering.

Since the plant requires a slightly acidified soil, it is better to feed it with special ready-made fertilizers that could maintain a normal pH. If the acidity level of the soil is lowered, then it is worth resorting to organic matter: humus, compost, peat, rotted manure. Fresh manure cannot be used because it can burn the root system of the plants.

Top dressing of the bush is best done in liquid form by making a solution of the drug. After the buds have faded, the bush needs to be fertilized once a month. For this, it is recommended to use preparations that contain nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Thus it is necessary to exclude fertilizers with chlorine.

Azalea has bright, large and fluffy buds, care after flowering at home for which has significant differences than during the growing season. The changes apply to almost all measures for keeping the bush in the house. However, only if you properly care for the bush during the dormant period, you can achieve further timely flowering.