"And you flew around?"“- A colleague asked me, which, like me, on March 8, was presented with a small azalea bush at work. “No, I'm growing so far, only the flowers have wilted,” I replied. But what did she do wrong? Why did she have the azalea a week after the holiday all standing almost naked, and I have everything fine with a flower? Let's try to figure out how to care for azalea at home.
I was very surprised when I learned that thisThe overseas beauty is a direct relative of our Far Eastern rhododendron, which decorates marshy valleys in the floodplains of taiga rivers with its gorgeous lilac color in spring. Well then it is clear - this plant loves wet content. It can even grow in hydroponics. In general, azalea is one of the few indoor plants that prefer acidic soil. She will use a mixture of coniferous soil with peat and sand (4: 2: 0.5). Well, if you do not have the opportunity to go to the pine forest for the soil for this capricious, then you can do with a special ground for azaleas - this is sold in stores.
Terms of care for azalea from the store
Our stores sell azaleas from Denmark andHolland. Competent advice on how to care for azalea at home, can only give people who have practical experience of keeping these plants at home. They are sold in the transporting soil, which is a mixture of high-moor peat with coconut fiber and possessing such valuable for the seller qualities as lightness and moisture-holding capacity. But for the constant growth of the plant, it is not suitable. After the purchase is necessary to transplant the azalea in the soil recommended above. Azaleas are usually sold in quantities of 4 roots in one pot. You can divide these roots and plant each in a separate pot. Remove the transport soil from them will not work - he pressed too hard and caught on the root of the plants. Therefore, they can be separated by simply cutting the contents of the pot crosswise into four parts.
Departure immediately after landing
I will try to focus your attention on the mostimportant points of how to care for azalea at home. After planting in the recommended soil, the plant needs to be treated for the prevention of insecticidal and fungicidal preparations, let it dry, and then spray with the Epin biostimulator to reduce stress. If you have a greenhouse at home with a temperature not higher than + 20ºС and humidity not less than 80%, then this is the ideal place for azaleas. If there is no such place, then after the azalea leaves dry, it is better to cover it with a plastic bag or put it in any other greenhouse. Flowers, of course, must be cut off. If there are unblown buds, and you want to preserve this plant - it is also better to cut them off. Now the main thing - to give azaleas "oklematsya" from stress and gradually accustom her to the climate of your home. How to care for azalea at home, then you gradually decide for yourself, but in the meantime, a week after planting, you can open the package for two months every day, increasing the ventilation time more and more, so that the plant, first, aerated, gradually tempered and accustomed to grow outside of greenhouse conditions.
“Why don't the azaleas cover the stores?”" - you ask. The fact is that for sale plants are prepared on farms in a special way. They are “fed” with a certain set of hormonal and mineral substances, which allow not only elegant bloom, but also to keep their appearance for several months, regardless of growing conditions.
Plant northern window
Does not like the bright sun azalea.Its delicate flowers quickly wither in the heat, and the leaves burn and crumble. This plant will feel great on the north window. With regular dressings, it will bloom and grow. Azaleas need increased humidity, and when the air is dry, leaves start to crumble away. Therefore, it is better to put a container filled with water next to the azalea, or put a pot of a plant over a tray with water. In the summer, during the heat, you can lay around the azalea with ice. It is better, of course, to keep her in the summer in an air-conditioned room. Well, overdrying is unacceptable - it should always be a little wet.
Yes, I must say bluntly - this plant is not for novice florist. To make you happy with its gorgeous flowering, you need to know the basic rules of how to care for plants of this species.
