Find Your Azaleas are among the most popular flowering plants. Their abundant, colorful, and long lasting flowers, combined with a compact growth habit and the ability to be planted outdoors, makes them an ideal choice for gift-giving. And with the Mothers Day holiday just passed, thousands of blooming azalea plants were undoubtedly presented to appreciative Moms everywhere. So this month’s newsletter topic is especially timely.
Caring for Indoor Azaleas
Azalea plants received as gifts may be kept indoors for as long as the flowers are colorful. Place the plants in a location which receives bright but indirect sunlight. Keep the soil evenly moist at all times, but never waterlogged. Azalea plants which are grown in pots are frequently in a root-bound condition, and may need to be watered fairly often. Don’t, however, allow the plants to sit in a water-filled saucer, or the roots may be irreversibly damaged. Azaleas benefit from regular misting with water to increase the humidity around them, and to deter spider mites which can sometimes plague them if the atmosphere is too dry.
Planting Azaleas Outdoors
Once the blooms have faded, caring for azalea plants is easiest if they are planted outdoors. Choose a bright location which is out of direct sunlight. Dig a hole at least twice as wide and deep as the plant’s root ball. Add a generous amount of peat moss to the soil, which will increase the organic content and raise the acidity to a level preferred by azaleas. Refill the hole about two-thirds deep with the amended soil, slightly mounding it at the center. Remove the plant from its pot and gently loosen up the root ball, cutting through it with a knife if necessary, so as to encourage new roots to grow into the surrounding earth. Place the plant on top of the mounded soil in the hole and spread the roots around. Fill in around the plant with the remaining soil mixture, tamping it firmly without compacting it, and water generously to help settle the plant. Remember to water the azalea regularly as it becomes established.
Caring for Outdoor Azaleas
Caring for azalea plants isn’t difficult at all if a few simple cultural requirements are met. Azaleas (botanically, Rhododendron species) are members of broad family of acid-loving plants which includes heathers, laurels, and blueberries. These so-called “Ericaceous” plants (after Erica, the genus name for heather) thrive in moist, organic soils with a relatively low pH level of 4.5 to 5.5, meaning that it is fairly acidic. The azalea plants sold by florists are generally evergreen, and can be safely planted outdoors in areas where the average minimum winter temperature doesn’t fall below 0 to -10 degrees F. In colder climates (north of Zone 6), they are best grown in greenhouses.
Pruning Azaleas
Azaleas grow slowly and rarely need pruning. However, to maintain them at a certain size or to increase the density of their growth, azaleas may be pruned immediately after they’ve completed flowering, just as the new growth is being produced. These shrubs bloom each spring on the previous season’s growth, having formed buds by summer’s end, so don’t prune them after early summer lest you sacrifice next year’s flowers.
Fertilizing Azaleas
Properly caring for azalea plants includes regular feeding to promote healthy growth and copious flowers. Choose a fertilizer which has been specially formulated for acid-loving plants, such as camellias, hollies, and rhododendrons, and apply according to the manufacturer’s directions during the growing season. Azaleas can sometimes suffer from a condition known as chlorosis, a mottled yellowing of the leaves with the veins remaining green. This is caused by low acidity or a lack of iron in the soil, and may be remedied by the application of liquified iron.
With just a little tender loving care, your azalea plants will flourish for generations, rewarding you each spring with bouquets of lovely flowers to grace your landscape or garden, and reminding you always of the gifts they represent. Consult your local professional florist and brighten someone’s life with a beautiful blooming azalea.
I have received two lovely pots of Azelias. Can I feed them Mirical Grow?
First off, there is a specially designed Miracle Grow called Miracid for acid-loving plants. You should be able to find this at any garden center. This is the best type of fertilizer for your azaleas. However, it’s best not to feed them during their dormant cycle which is winter. I would suggest waiting until March or April before you give them any fertilizer. Hope this helps!
I just received an azalia for Mother’s day. And would like to find out how to care for it. I live in Montana and in the winter it gets below zero at times, can I plant this azelea out side? Please advise me, thank you. Emily Combs
Emily,
I don’t think the azalea will make it through the winter in your area. So, you will need to treat it like a houseplant. The first thing you need to do is remove the pretty decorative foil from around the pot. the foil is pretty but will not allow the plant to drain properly. Azaleas do not like their roots to sit in water. Keep the plant moist but not soggy and place in a room that gets bright light. Be careful if you place it right in front of a window since the window can intensify the heat. You may want to repot the azalea into a more attractive pot. Make sure the new pot has drain holes. You will be able to place the potted azalea outside except in the very cold part of your winter.
Be sure to fertilize the azalea once a month April through August every year. You can trim the Azalea right after it quits blooming. If you need more azalea care instruction, please don’t hesitate to ask.
I love all this information, and tried to print it out, but found the printing so small that I cannot read it, so will have to figure out some other way to make sure I do this correctly. I have received a potted azalea, have a nice small container type box outside, and will plant it out there, and see what happens. I live in Ontario, so the winters are not too severe. I will use the Miracle grow that is suggested in the comments, as I know I can purchase that. Thanks
We are glad you found this information helpful. I am sorry about the small text in the print view. I will see what I can do about that. In the meantime, you might try to copy and paste the information in a text editor like Word to print. Hope this helps. Thanks again, Joan.
Joan Little, copy and paste the text you want to save from webpages to your text editor (i.e. Windows notepad or MS Word, etc.) and you can re-size and print to your liking.
I am living in southern Ontario, last winter I’ve left my azalea plant out side. The plant seems dead to me and I was just about to throw it out. But I spotted a new growth on one of the dead branches. Can I still save the plant? Please give me some advice how to save this plant. Thank you.
Helen,
There is a possibility that the plant may make it. The first thing you need to do is check all the branches. Use your fingernail to scrap a small area on the branch. If the scrapped area is still green then the branch is still alive. If not trim the branch off until you find green wood. Once you have done this to all the branches, you will be able to tell how much of the plant is still viable.
Hi there, I recieved this beautiful plant for my birthday 2 weeks ago. I noticed the leaves were falling off a little the first week so I thought maybe it needed a little water. I left it a couple days and the leaves continued to fall off. I thought about the drainage and took the fancy foil off the pot last week. It still coninues to lose leaves and buds, it is starting to look pretty sad. Can it be saved? What can I do? Please help
Amber, removing the foil was a smart decision. Although the foil is pretty it can cause problems. If you live in zone 4 through 10 your best option is to plant the mum outside. It will dieback and go dormant after a killing frost but should come back in the spring.
If I overwatered my azalea and didn’t know about the drainage issues can I save my plant and how please. Thanks
Carrie,
Make sure any excess water can drain away from the plant and then let it dry slightly before watering.
I am having the same problem as Carrie Buker, however you didnt answer her question and mine-can it be saved? Should I prune back the dead looking branches, re-pot, fertilize? HELP! How often should I water? Trying desperately to save this thoughtful and beautiful gift.
Lannis,
It depends on how far the plant has declined. If the stems are still green when snapped, then there is a good change the plant can be saved when you correct the water issue.
How do I keep my azalea plant alive indoors? I don’t have a yard to plant it in and would like to keep it as it was a gift from someone and means a lot to me . How do a properly care for it all year round? I live in Texas so winters don’t get to rough. Thanks!
Devvon,
Keeping an azalea alive indoors can be a bit tricky since it is a shrub and not a houseplant. However, Bachman’s has a great article on How to Care for Azaleas Indoors. It should have everything you need to know to keep it alive.
Actually I want to know how I make my soil acidic using from daily used thing, actually where I live there is no availability of any kind of pine tree material so I am very much tensed for this problem, please guide me!!!!
Hello Sanjib,
What materials to use to acidify your soil will depend on the type of soil you have. If you can tell me a little about your soil type, that will help me determine what you should use to make it more acidic. Is your soil loose and well draining, or is it compacted, like clay? Just remember it is best to get your soil pH tested before adding anything to it. This way you don’t make your soil too acidic or alkaline.
We just purchased an Azalea and placed it in a pot. We also purchased something to make the soil acidic. However, since moving her to the pot all her flowers have wilted. I know they can suffer from shock. How often should we water her and is there a chance of her blooming again? We’re in Texas – thank you in advance!
Hi Crystal,
You should keep the soil moist, but not soggy. As far as blooming, it can depend on which type of Azalea you have. Some only bloom one time and then need to be pruned before July. The Encore variety will bloom again in the summer and fall. I would give her a week or two to recover from the shock and see if the flowers perk back up. Place her in an area with bright indirect light. If your home tends to stay on the dry side, mist the plant every so often, because they do like a humid environment.
Hi I have 2 pink azaleas they are small, they were green and full before winter. During the winter season the Deers eat most of it, but I see there is new leaves are coming out. Will my azaleas catch back? What can I do to get them back to being healthy?
Hi Kerry-Ann,
The best thing you can do to protect your azaleas is replant them in a container that can be brought indoors, or surround your azaleas with deer resistant plants. To get them healthy again, prune off any damaged parts (but not your new growth). Dampen the soil, then cover it with a thick layer of mulch. This will help keep the weeds away and give more nutrients to your azaleas. You should also try fertilizing them with a fertilizer designed for flowering shrubs. Your local garden center or nursery should be able to help you choose the correct fertilizer.
I have / had a beautiful topiary azalea I {lol} got it looking very sad at a local grocery store . It did fine for months and months healthy beautiful abundant blooms after I gave it food & water ….here’s the issue …
.it got sun burnt :( and now } Im afraid Ive accidently damaged it .
not all the leaves are brown but its sort of wilty looking and the poor plant is shedding leaves like its going bald . it has some (10%) new growth AND I did move it to a less direct area of light . should i send a pix ?
Any recommendations ?
Hi Lisa,
I think this blog would be helpful for you! It will help you figure out if your azalea is dead or still alive, and what to do to revive it! https://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/azalea-is-dead/
How big will a flower shop azalea get when planted outdoors? Advice on spacing?
Azalea plants come in a range of sizes and varieties. They can reach a height of 10 feet or as low as 12 inches. The size of the azalea depends on environmental factors, like sunlight, soil nutrition, and water availability. Hope this helps!