How to Grow and Care for Azalea

Azalea plants are annual flowering shrubs known for their joyfully vibrant blooms in a rainbow assortment of red, pink, purple, white or other hues. There are thousands of varieties to choose from, with flower colors ranging from pinks or purples to reds, oranges and yellows. It grows best in a semi-shaded bed or woodland border in your garden, but they also do well in pots.

Some of the azaleas are suitable for bringing into the house from a cool, protected environment as house plants, although they will suffer if it kept in warm, dry conditions for too long. From this article, we will be able to know about the growing process of azalea.

How to Grow Azalea

For the evergreen azaleas which are likely hybrids, growing from seed will produce offspring that will not have the same desired characteristics, such as the same flower color. Most varieties will be at their best in a semi-shaded or woodland border or in the pots of ericaceous compost in partial shade. Collect seed pods in the fall before they open and store in a cool and dry place. There is no need for light until the germination but make sure that the room is warm, 70°F to 75°F.

Insert drainage holes in clean, plastic container like a food storage box or shoe box. Fill seed in the container starting mix and moisten. Sprinkle seeds on the top. Do not cover with the potting mix but mist with water. Cover with a plastic lid. After the germination in two to eight weeks, provide the light in the form of fluorescent tubes. Keep the plants growing indoors, under lights, until large enough to move outside.

Care

Mulch outdoor azaleas with an acidic mix of leaf mould or conifer bark chippings. For pot-grown or indoor azaleas, replace the top layer of compost, or repot completely in the early spring and feed every couple of weeks with an ericaceous fertilizer. In the late autumn, move your azalea to a colder room (6-10ºC), returning it to a cool, bright room (16-18ºC) in spring.

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