In which pot is it better to transplant the azalea. Is an azalea transplant necessary after purchase: step-by-step instructions and care recommendations

First and foremost!

Never replant or handle an azalea in winter! It is better to do this when new shoots begin to grow in her.

Also, avoid replanting the azalea on unfavorable days. Check the lunar calendar. However, this applies to any plants.

After the azalea has faded, it must be transplanted or reloaded. Pay attention to the photo: this is what the azalea looks like when we take it out of the pot. A lump is one roots: there is no way to shake off the earth or clean the roots. It's some kind of sponge. What to do?

First, let's prepare this:

A basin of boiled or filtered water
A pot (it can be either clay or plastic, 1 size larger than the previous one. You often read on sites that the pot should be wide and flat, since the azalea has a superficial root system. But if you pour drainage 5 cm, then you and the pot will be taller, and, accordingly, wider by the same 5 cm)
Knife and scissors rubbed with alcohol
Kornevin, zircon, trichodermin
Pine bark (pre-chopped and steamed in the oven)
Sphagnum moss (pre-washed, dried and crushed into dust)
Vermiculite or perlite
River sand
Land for azaleas (only special, by no means universal soil, since there is high acidity in the land for azaleas)
Charcoal (can also be crushed)

Vermiculite - baking powder

Coal for soil disinfection and fight against rot

Special soil for azaleas

Expanded clay - drainage, which is placed on the bottom of the pot

Pre-grind the pine bark and steam in the oven. Used as an additive to the substrate

Kornevin is used as a stimulant for root growth.

Sand is also used as a baking powder

You can simply load the azalea, especially if it is with flowers (an emergency transshipment was required), you can transplant. I suggest several ways below, ranging from less extreme to the most extreme. I want to say that I tried all these methods and did not find the most optimal one.

Method one

We dilute the root in a basin according to the instructions, add a few drops of zircon and soak the azalea taken out of the pot in this water for 20-30 minutes. At this time, we are preparing the substrate:

We mix the earth for azaleas with vermiculite (it is needed to make the earth more air and moisture permeable)
Then we chop sphagnum there (both vermiculite and sphagnum should be visible in the ground) Sphagnum disinfects the soil well.
Then add a little river sand
Mix all this well

Now we put drainage on the bottom of the pot (small expanded clay or shards of an old pot); the height of the drainage is about 3 cm. Then we put pine bark. It increases the acidity of the soil, so necessary for azaleas. In general, the best land for azaleas is pine litter. Then sprinkle it with earth a little. We pour trichodermin - it is from various fungi and rot. In general, with any transplant, it is important to add it.

So count how much higher the pot will be, in contrast to the previous one. Centimeters by 5! Well and wider, respectively.

Now we take out the lump with azalea from the solution, squeeze it out a little, let the excess water drain and put it in the center of the pot. And now carefully sprinkle the lump on all sides with the substrate, turning the pot around its axis. In no case should you sprinkle the earth on top, otherwise you will fill up the root collar.

Second way

Ve is the same as described above, but there are small nuances. Before soaking, the lump is cut from the bottom by 1 cm with scissors or a very sharp knife. The top is also slightly trimmed around the circumference. On the coma, longitudinal cuts are made from top to bottom along the entire circumference of the coma 0.5 cm deep with a very sharp knife. All this is done to make it easier for the roots to master the new soil.

The third way

Even more drastic circumcision of the coma. The lump is trimmed around by one third and it looks like an egg.

Trimming the coma with scissors. Gutting lump

That's how much peat I cleaned out of the coma

After transplanting or transshipment, the azalea is watered with the same solution in which it was soaked, but only slightly, since the lump is already soaked in liquid. They put the azalea in a bright, warm place, but not in direct sunlight, do not water it for 3-4 days, then carefully begin to water it with water with the addition of zircon. It helps to grow roots and helps to adapt. An overloaded or transplanted azalea is not fertilized for 1-2 months, since the root can be burned.

The most cardinal way

Here is a half-dead azalea

Variety Ostalett

We cut a lump like a cake with a sharp knife rubbed with alcohol

Now "gut the segment with scissors, as if cleaning the peat. You grab the transport soil with scissors and pluck it out. It seems to you that there are solid roots, but this is not so. It's some kind of sponge. That's what is left."

Soak for a short while in the root (solution), let the moisture drain, plant in the mixture for azaleas + vermiculite.

FAQ

Is it possible to transship a blooming azalea?

Flowering plants are not recommended to be transplanted and transplanted at all. But there are exceptions. For azaleas - if you brought it from the store, and it is flooded , if the pot is clearly too small for her, and other force majeure circumstances.

If you have one azalea, then just pass it over. Other methods are very radical and can be used if you are an expert in floriculture and your hand is light.

Dear site visitors!

Only if you indicate the address, they will be able to help you and send you an answer.

I received a message from this page, but I cannot send an answer to it, since the person entered his address incorrectly. I answer here, I hope my friend will read it.

Message: I bought an azalea at the bazaar, but it was rolled in plastic bags, I want to transplant how I do I don’t know, please tell me in advance, thanks.

Answer: No need to replant in autumn. Now it needs to be adapted: sprayed with zircon (or watered) or other anti-stress agents. Water only when the pot becomes light, boiled water at room temperature. Put on the east or north window. Desirable temperature +20 +22. It is necessary to transplant in the spring, when it starts to grow.

Natalya, my message was not delivered to you, because you indicated your address incorrectly. I answer here.

Message: Good afternoon! My azalea has just begun to bloom (only 3 buds have blossomed), but the leaves have begun to dry, I water fertilizers for blooming azaleas

Answer: Natalya, how often do you water it? It could be from the bay. And there is no need to overfeed. Better pour stimulants: zircon, HB-101, eco-gel-antistress ...

Gulnara, unfortunately, you entered your address incorrectly. I answer you here.

Yes, you have to get your hand on the azaleas. They are generally moody. In general, success depends on the condition of the plant and its genetics. It is necessary to carefully choose azaleas in the store, and even better to buy ours in greenhouses.
On the page "Where to start" everything is written in detail.
I choose those that have just been brought to the store. To do this, I often go there and track the delivery.
I buy medium-sized specimens with half-open buds, slightly thick and green leaves, without fallen leaves, with new green shoots at the flowers.
I shake them there imperceptibly. If the foliage is falling, then I don't buy it.
I bring it, put it on a light cool windowsill (east or north window), temperature + 20-22, window for micro-ventilation. I pour it with zircon solution (1-2 drops per 2 liters of water). I do not touch, I water, when the pot becomes light, then from above, then into the pallet.
In two or three weeks it will be clear whether the azalea has taken root.
It's stressful for her when the heating starts. Here again you need to use zircon or HB-101, increase the humidity by placing the azalea on a pallet with wet expanded clay. Move as close to the glass as possible. It is advisable that there is no battery under the windowsill. I rarely fertilize when I remember. In winter, it is also good to supplement them with fluorescent lamps, but I do not. But they bloom rarely (1-2 times a year)
In general, I would refuse to buy azaleas. The flowers, of course, are beautiful, but they are too capricious.

Azalea is a very special flower for home gardening. Ever since you chose it in a flower shop, it will strongly demand close and almost constant attention to itself, as well as especially careful care.

But there is no reason to worry. Thoughtful home care for azalea will prevent this beautiful plant from dying. On the contrary, it will actively grow and delight its owner with a beautiful and lush flowering. The main thing is to know what to do and not to make fatal mistakes.

One of the features of the azalea is the rather unusual microflora around the roots. If its integrity is violated, the flower may die. We can say that the delicate root system is the weak point of the azalea. Therefore, in this regard, you should be very careful with the plant. Especially when moving from one pot to another.

But there is no doubt that this article will describe in detail how to take care of azalea at home after purchase.

How azalea is kept in stores

In large and small shops that sell flowers, any plants are always brought from the so-called nurseries. Most of the flower growers - both amateurs and professionals - know that this flower itself is quite capricious in terms of care. Manufacturers artificially prepare azaleas for flowering and subsequent sale.

In these nurseries, flowers are treated with special synthetic agents that put the plant into a kind of sleep. The flower looks quite presentable for sale, and can bloom for several months, thanks to the fact that it received special fertilizers in the nursery. Often the soil is even overfed with them.

However, the azalea root system, which we have already mentioned, does not develop in any way, because, in fact, it is asleep. Therefore, the plant, in the end, often gets sick - the roots of the flower die from the fungus. This is considered one of the main reasons why new owners do not even have time to really start caring for the azalea at home after purchase.

The most popular variety for indoor floriculture is considered to be the evergreen Indian azalea. The buds boast a variety of shapes and colors.

There are some details that can affect the cost of a flower:

Its variety is a garden or indoor azalea;
The size of the plant itself and the roots - accordingly, the larger, the more expensive;
How many buds a flower has.

In most of the stores on the Internet there are consultants who will not only help you choose the right flower or decide on a variety, but will also be able to tell you everything that interests you about caring for an azalea at home.

How to keep a flower from dying

When you've made the long-awaited purchase and brought the azalea to her new home, don't rush to get it out of the store's packaging. It is better to leave the plant alone for about half an hour so that the flower gets used to the microclimate of the apartment.

It is important to determine the permanent location of the plant. Here are some guidelines:

A space with good illumination, but without direct sunlight;
Coolness - approximately + 16-18;
Humidified air.

It is very important to examine the soil of the azalea - to do this, you need to pull it out of the flowerpot. In stores, it is not uncommon to fill the flower with water to make it look fresher.

What to do if the soil is too wet:

Remove the flower from its pot and wrap the roots with earth with paper that absorbs moisture well;
Repeat this action until the earth is sufficiently dry, but this must be done extremely carefully due to the fragility of the roots.

If the plant is dry:

It needs to be put in a container of water right in the pot, for about sixty minutes. The water should reach the edges of the pot;
Then you need to take out the flower and let the excess moisture go away - for this, the pot must be placed in a saucer or a special pallet lined with expanded clay so that the soil and liquid no longer combine;
Do not repot the flower right away, especially if the flowering period has begun.

Adapting to the new room

You can be sure that the azalea has fully adapted only when, after moving from the flower shop to the home windowsill, the plant will bloom and sprout further. In such a rather exciting period, you should take care of the flower with the utmost care. And carefully observe how he behaves.

Azalea does not like heat very much, therefore it is better to remove the pot away from heating systems. In addition, they are very badly affected by low humidity levels. The more coolness he gets during habituation, the more chances that the flower will remain alive.

You shouldn't rush with fertilizers either. During their stay in the nursery, the azalea is arranged in already overfed soil, so that the flower can live peacefully until it hits the store counter.

If you follow all these rules, you just have to wait.

A special spraying called "Epin" is capable of helping to get used to it. This substance is a special biostimulant for indoor plants.

Its action helps the plant to reveal its own protective functions, raises the level of immunity and resistance to stress. The instructions for use can be read on the packaging, and spray about once every ten days.

What kind of care to provide for the purchased plant

First of all, azaleas need to get used to the new environment where they found themselves after the store. Taking care of your azalea at home after purchase is actually quite troublesome. Due to its very capricious nature, even yesterday a flowering and fragrant plant may lose buds and leaves in two or three days.

If the leaves began to fall off and the plant is rapidly losing its luxurious appearance, this can be called a messenger of the death of a flower. That is why, before buying an azalea, you need to be ready for something like this and remember exactly how to act in such a case.

In order for the newly acquired azalea to delight your eyes for a long time with its beauty and lush flowering, it is extremely important to strictly follow the basic rules for care.

Please note that it is advised to reload the azalea after purchase. But it is not worth replanting immediately.

The transfer is not difficult at all:

You need to carefully remove the plant from the store pot along with a lump of earth;
Move it along with the soil to a new spacious flowerpot;
Close the empty space with a special mixture;
Try not to overmoisten the soil.

How to preserve a newly acquired flower? In what conditions will the azalea be able to more easily adapt to the new environment?

Behind the roots, a special inspection is also needed. On its roots, symbiont mushrooms live, which provide the azalea with food. In soil with a high alkali index, these symbionts die. And, as you can easily understand, the plant too. That is why it is forbidden to rinse the flower roots.

The substrate mixture must be acidic, let in water and air. It is better to buy the soil already prepared for this flower. And it is advised to replant young flowers every year. And when the plant has matured, then every two or three years. The top layers of the soil are replaced, taking care not to touch the fragile roots.

Temperature regime

The most favorable temperature for the growth and development of azalea flowers will be from +10 to +15. It's okay if the temperature is slightly higher. The main thing is that it does not exceed the +20 mark. But during the summer heat it is rather difficult to provide the plant with such a regime. At the same time, during the summer season, azaleas hibernate.

To maintain the plant's vitality, outdoor shade is also perfect. If possible, a great solution would be to bury the flower in the ground right along with the pot. But first, it will be useful to pull a nylon pantyhose or stocking over the pot. This is necessary so that pests do not attack the plant. Experienced growers say that pests really like the earthen mixture for this color.

As the autumn season approaches, buds begin to form. it will be useful to lower the temperature level for the flower to +6 degrees. And when the flowers appear and begin to bloom, you can raise the degrees to +15. Remember - the cooler the azaleas are, the longer they will bloom.

Azalea does not tolerate hot weather. But in any case, do not pour cold water on it! This risks becoming the reason for the occurrence of fungus. In summer, the pot can be covered with ice cubes. This not only protects the plant from the heat, but also adds moisture to the air.

Humidity level

This is one of the most important factors. Dry air can simply kill a flower.

Here's what you can do to keep the humidity at the proper level:

Choose a deep tray for the pot;
Cover the pallet with pebbles and moss;
Observe that there is moisture in the pan;
Spray the leaves during flowering;
When spraying with a spray bottle, try to keep the droplets small.

Lighting

Azalea really just loves bright light. At the same time, she should not be exposed to direct sunlight - this can cause her to wither. For azaleas, a room located in the northern or western part of the apartment is perfect.

You can also place the flower in the southern room, but then it is better not to put it on the windowsill. A good solution would be to buy a special stand and place it by the window.

How to water properly

As with any plant, water is a very important detail that saves them from wilting.

For home flowers, the following are of great importance:

Water quality;
Temperature level;
Frequency and abundance of watering.

Never water your azalea with cold or even ice water! An unexpected change in temperature can be a real stress for a flower.

Up to the point that this can serve as a kind of signal for the plant that autumn has already come. And then the azalea will drop both flowers and leaves. Ideal for azaleas will be water at the same temperature as the flower itself.

Only soft water is needed. It will be better to boil the water first, then let it cool. It is also important to water only the upper layers of water in the container, trying to prevent sediment from getting into the ground.

If you water the soil with plain water, the acidic soil will become alkaline, because it contains a lot of mineral salts. After boiling, they become the aforementioned sediment. To acidify the soil a little more, you can add three drops of juice to a liter of water.

If you bury the azalea in the street soil for the summer period, the rain will only benefit it.

This plant will not be able to withstand drought. If you notice that the leaves or flowers have begun to drop, this is the first signal that the flower must be watered immediately. Nothing like this should be allowed. It is better to keep the moisture content of the earthen mixture normal. Excessive fluid can also damage fragile roots, and they can start to rot.

This plant loves water, so it’s a good idea if watering is plentiful. It should usually be watered every other day. But if the air in the room where you placed it is dry (this often happens especially in winter), then it will be better to water every day.

Water the plant from above, and it is better to drain the excess water from the pan. As you probably already understood, you need to monitor the soil moisture so that the leaves do not begin to fall off.

"First aid" for azaleas

What should not be allowed under any circumstances:

Droughts;
Heat;
Excess moisture;
Direct sunlight.
A sharp change in temperature;

What to do if the plant starts to wilt:

Examine the soil in the flowerpot;
Moisten if necessary;
Track humidity;
Perhaps the location is not the most suitable - move the plant to a cooler place, away from the sun's rays.

If the azalea begins to throw off the leaves, this is most likely the first signal that the plant is beginning to die. What to do:

Azalea is a very demanding and capricious plant. It requires not only care in accordance with all the rules, but also a lot of attention. It often happens that even as a result of all rescue operations, the azalea cannot be brought back to life. Therefore, it is better to watch the flower every day than to bring it to such a state, and then frantically try to save it.

If you care for your flower correctly and carefully, it will delight you with its luxurious flowering for many years.

An inexperienced florist will probably think that azalea takes a lot of time and brings a lot of trouble. But in practice, all these rules are gradually becoming a habit that will only bring pleasant emotions.

Azaleas come to stores from growing nurseries, where they care little about the development of the root system of plants. The bushes, artificially prepared for flowering and planted in shipping pots with a small amount of peat mixture, are treated with synthetic compounds. These substances induce the azalea into a sleep-like state. Fertilizers are added to the ground, the supply of which is enough to maintain the freshness and flowering of the plant for two to three months.

The shipping soil, which contains the plant in the store, tends to be compressed and firmly adhered to the roots. In addition, this land does not contain nutrients.

Chemical stimulants of flowering, used in nurseries, activate the formation of buds, inhibiting the development of the root and green mass. Such a plant is at risk of contracting fungal infections.

Reference. In order for the root system to develop normally, after acquiring the azalea, it is necessary to carry out a transplant. This procedure is recommended to be carried out 10-15 days after purchase, giving the plant time to adapt to new conditions.

After purchase, you need to carefully examine the plant. In case of detecting mold, mildew, root problems, as well as in poor soil condition, the azalea needs to be transplanted into high-quality soil, removing the damaged areas.

It is recommended to replant young plants annually, adults every two years. The procedure must be carried out when the flowering period is over. If the azalea is poured or the pot is too small for the plant, an unscheduled transplant is required.

If the plant is flowering

Azalea should not be transplanted during flowering. At this time, the plant spends all its energy on forming buds and maintaining flowers. The procedure will lead to extreme stress, as a result of which the azalea can shed its leaves, flowers and buds. It is very difficult to get a plant out of this state. In the case when an urgent need to save the azalea, before transplanting, you must carefully remove most of the blossoming flowers and colored buds.
Learn more about when and how to transplant azalea.

Step-by-step instruction

Preparing inventory

Prepare a spacious container of water. A regular basin will do. Take boiled or filtered water.
Spray knife, pruning shears or scissors with alcohol-based liquid or ignite.

Pot selection

Choose a pot that is five centimeters taller than the old one, wide and deep enough. Both a clay and a plastic pot will work. You can choose a planter or any other pot.

The acidity of the substrate should be pH 4.5–5.5. It is best to buy a potting potting potting mix made for azaleas. Add baking powder to the purchased soil:

Mix azalea earth with vermiculite.
Chop sphagnum there.
Add some river sand.
Mix well.

It is quite difficult to independently form the soil for an azalea at home. The following options are possible:

With peat and needles

Peat - 1 part.
Overripe needles - 2 parts.

With the addition of sand, humus and earth

Peat - 1 part.
Humus - 1 part.
Sand - 1 part.
Sod land - 1 part.
Leafy land - 1 part.
Coniferous land - 5 parts.

With moss

Sand - 1 part.
Dried chopped sphagnum moss - 1 part.
Overripe needles - 2 parts.

Important! By the time of transplantation, the aerial part of the azalea should be pruned, the dead branches should be cut off, the dry leaves and faded buds should be removed.

Putting in a new pot

Pour a drainage three centimeters thick, consisting of small stones, on the bottom of the pot.
Place some chips, river sand, steamed pine bark or moss on top. The layer thickness should not exceed two centimeters.
Then sprinkle with Trichodermin to prevent fungi and rot.
Place a little potting soil on top, distribute evenly over the flowerpot.
Remove the azalea from the container with water, lightly squeeze the earthen lump, let the liquid drain.
Place the plant in the prepared soil in the center of the pot.
Gradually cover the azalea with fresh soil so that the root collar of the bush is not affected. Add soil to the sides of the earthy clod. The root collar does not need to be deeply deepened into the ground.
Compact the soil a little around the roots.
After transplanting, slightly moisten the substrate with a solution in which the root system was soaked.

Note! Do not water the plant abundantly after the procedure. Roots dry out more slowly than soil and can rot.

From the video you will learn how to properly transplant a purchased azalea:

For more information on how to transplant an azalea at home, see.

First watering

The first time after soil moistening is not required. After three to four days after the procedure, it is necessary to gradually resume watering. To do this, use settled boiled water at room temperature. For a speedy recovery, it is recommended to sometimes add "Zircon" to the water for irrigation.

During the procedure, it is necessary to pay great attention to the roots of the azalea. When transplanting, special care is important, namely, you need to preserve the microflora of the root system, which the plant maintains throughout its life. Violation of microflora can lead to disease and death of the azalea.

The roots of the plant are thin, fibrous. An earthen lump is like a sponge, the transport soil grows tightly to the roots. It is very difficult to clean the root system from the old substrate. It also makes it difficult to divide the process when it is necessary to plant too large a bush.

How to take care of it properly?

The flower weakened after the procedure can be treated with growth stimulants. After transplanting at home, you need to provide the plant with proper care and favorable conditions for a successful recovery.

Seat selection

After the procedure, it is necessary to place the azalea in a warm, bright place, protected from direct sunlight, away from drafts and heating appliances. A window on the west or north side will do.

Lighting

Azalea loves light, but does not tolerate direct rays of the sun. The lack of light can be compensated for by artificial lighting. First, you should shade the plant a little, after a couple of weeks put it on the window without protection. If the weather is dry and warm outside, you can take the azalea out onto the balcony or loggia, providing a little shade.

Humidity

It is important to create high humidity conditions. If the air in the room is dry, pour expanded clay into the pallet and pour water regularly. Make sure that the expanded clay does not dry out.

On a note. To prevent drying out of the leaves, it is recommended to spray the plant every other day.

Temperature

From October to December, the optimum temperature for an azalea should be between +6 and + 10 ° C. It is in such conditions that the process of bud formation for further flowering takes place.

When the buds begin to bloom, the temperature should be raised to + 17 ° C. In summer, the indicators should not exceed + 18 ° C, in winter they should not fall below + 5 ° C.

Watering

Potted azalea should be watered every two to three days in the morning. Pour water through the tray. Drain off excess water after 15 minutes. It is important that the earthen lump is completely saturated with moisture.

It is necessary to regularly monitor soil moisture. The earthen coma should not be allowed to dry out.

Watering requires clean boiled water at room temperature, which must be defended for at least two days. To increase the acidity of the soil, you can add a drop of lemon juice to the water.

Top dressing

There is no need to fertilize the azalea for one to two months after transplanting. After the procedure, the plant will be weakened, as a result of feeding the roots may burn out.

After recovery, fertilizer must be applied every seven days in the spring and summer. In September, fertilizing becomes less frequent and is carried out every two weeks. In winter they stop completely. Fertilizing plants is required with special formulations for azaleas. When forming buds, superphosphate feeding is used.

Transplanting an azalea after purchase is a complex undertaking that requires certain knowledge and strength. If everything is done correctly, one or two months after the procedure, the acclimatization process is successfully completed and the loss of the root system is reimbursed. With proper care, the bush develops successfully, blooms magnificently and grows.

If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.

The beauty azalea is the star of the flower collections and is known for her capricious disposition.

She requires a careful attitude towards herself, a lot of attention and care. It is rather difficult to provide her with the necessary conditions, but it is possible.

The main thing is to strictly follow all the rules for caring and transplanting an azalea at home.

Transplantation and reproduction of azaleas at home require special attention. In order for the plant to continue to develop well and delight the grower with its beauty, it is important to take into account many nuances.

Care and reproduction

In this article we will try to answer the questions that interest many flower growers:

how azalea flowers multiply and how to care for them;
how to plant and how to plant an azalea at home?

How to propagate at home?

Azalea can be propagated from spring to August in several ways: cuttings, seeds and dividing the bush. This is painstaking work that requires a fair amount of patience from the grower.

How does azalea reproduce at home?

Cuttings

The most reliable method is considered to be propagation of azaleas by cuttings, which gives up to 90% success.

How to propagate indoor azalea at home with cuttings? This procedure is carried out as follows:

After a healthy plant has faded, cuttings about 10 cm long are cut from it - for this, they take the tops of half-year-old shoots. Cuttings are cut obliquely directly under the kidney.
Three to four lower leaves are carefully removed, leaving petioles about 0.5 cm each, and the remaining leaves are cut in half.
For better rooting, the azalea stalk is immersed in slices in a solution of "Zircon", "Kornevin" or "Heteroauxin" and left in it for 5-6 hours.
Next, a layer of drainage up to 3 cm thick is placed on the bottom of the bowl or box and sprinkled with a layer of sand 2 cm thick. Then the container is filled with a nutrient mixture with an acid reaction.
Ready-made soil for azaleas or a mixture of equal shares of coniferous soil (rotted needles) and peat is best suited.
Cuttings are planted in a substrate, deepening by 3 cm and maintaining a distance of 4 cm between them. After that, the soil is thoroughly shed.
The container with the cuttings is covered with a film, thus creating a "mini-greenhouse", and placed in a light shaded place. Further, the cuttings are regularly sprayed and ventilated daily in the morning, opening the film for 35-40 minutes.
The soil should always be slightly damp. Experienced gardeners also recommend bottom heating.
At a temperature of 25 to 30 ° C and a humidity of 80%, cuttings usually take root in a month or a month and a half, after which they can be transplanted into permanent pots. Rooted cuttings begin to “harden” 7-8 days before transplanting. First, the "greenhouse" is opened for a couple of hours, then for a longer time. A week later, the "greenhouse" is fully opened.
Then the cuttings are transplanted into separate containers and again covered with foil for 11-12 days. After two to three months, the tops of the young bushes are pinched for the growth of new shoots and better tillering. If the plant has gained the first buds, it is recommended to remove them.
After the azalea has overwintered, in early March it is pinched again. In this case, you can cut up to 6 young shoots. Next, the plant is transferred into a new container with a diameter of about 11 cm with holes for water drainage and a good drainage layer.
In the future, a young azalea is looked after as an adult. In a couple of years, it will reveal itself in all its glory and delight the grower with abundant flowering.

Many plants are propagated by cuttings at home, for example, Balzamin, Fatty, Croton and many others.

Seeds

Reproduction of room azalea seeds is an even more difficult and time-consuming process.

The seeds of the plant germinate with difficulty and do not retain varietal characteristics. In addition, they remain viable for only 3 months.

But it's worth trying, because this is a very exciting process, as a result of which you can grow an azalea with a completely unexpected color of flowers.

The seed planting algorithm is as follows:

In early March, small plant seeds are mixed with sand and sown on a moistened substrate surface. The container is covered with glass and placed in a sunny place - azalea seeds are photosensitive and germinate only under the rays of the sun.
Then the "greenhouse" is regularly ventilated and the substrate is watered from a fine spray with soft and well-settled water. It can be softened with oxalic acid by diluting 4 g of the substance in 10 liters of water.
When watering, you should not overmoisten the soil so that the seedlings do not rot.
If the seeds are fresh, the first shoots can be expected in 14-15 days or a little earlier. After 3 weeks, all seeds will germinate. Their germination rate is up to 70%.
When the cotyledons are almost completely unfolded, the seedlings, together with a lump of earth, dive into another container, maintaining a distance of about 3 cm between the sprouts. The seedlings are buried to the very leaves. The composition of the soil is selected the same as for cuttings.
In August, the grown small bushes are transplanted into separate pots no more than 7 cm in diameter and looked after in the same way as cuttings.
Azalea grown from seed begins to bloom after 5 years.

At home, not only azalea can be grown from seeds, but also many other beautiful flowers, such as Geranium and Beloperone.

Dividing the bush

Another way to reproduce azaleas is by dividing the bush.

To do this, use only a healthy, branched plant at least 3-4 years old and with a well-developed and intact root system. After flowering, the azalea bush is removed from the pot and carefully divided into several parts, being careful not to damage the thin roots. Next, the delenki are seated in separate shallow containers, the soil is well spilled in them and the plants are placed in a shaded place for a week.

Transfer

How and when to transplant an azalea at home?

Azalea transplant is carried out in the spring, after flowering.

Otherwise, the plant may discard buds, flowers, and leaves. It will be difficult to save him.

How to transplant an azalea? When transplanting an azalea, it is important to know that it has a very sensitive root system, which has its own microflora. Mushrooms live on its roots, providing the azalea with good nutrition. Therefore, it is very important not to break this symbiosis during transplantation.

The correct substrate is very important for the healthy development of the plant. It is desirable that it is acidic, with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5, light and nutritious.

You can take a ready-made mixture called "Azalea" or prepare the soil yourself, taking 1 part of peat and 2 parts of rotted needles. Or you can mix in equal parts peat, humus, sand, turf and leafy soil and add 5 parts of coniferous soil to them. Another option:

part of the sand
part of dried and crushed sphagnum moss
2 parts of rotted needles.

For an azalea with a superficial root system, a new container should be selected wide enough and not very deep, but 5 cm higher than the previous one.

At the bottom of the pot, a drainage layer of at least 3 cm thick is placed in the form of large expanded clay or broken shards. A layer of pine bark is placed on the drainage (it helps to increase the acidity of the soil), and then the container is filled with prepared soil. It is useful to add Trichodermin to the substrate to prevent fungal infections and rot.

Before transplanting azaleas, cut off dry twigs, faded buds and clean the stems of dried leaves. Next, the bush together with a lump of earth is taken out of the pot and placed with its roots in a bowl with filtered or boiled water and "Kornevin" or "Zircon" dissolved in it.

The procedure is repeated by changing the water twice. The roots of the azalea are very tightly entwined with a clod of earth, so it is impossible to completely remove it, and it is not necessary. However, such bathing helps to flush out most of the salts that have accumulated in the soil during the year.

Before immersing the plant in water, it is recommended to make cuts in the earthen coma with a knife - these should be grooves about 0.5 cm wide on the sides, bottom and top. This will help the roots to absorb moisture, easier to settle down and germinate in new soil. Otherwise, they will not be able to get enough nutrients and dry out, which can lead to the death of the plant.

After part of the soil (usually no more than a third) is washed out of the roots, you can start transplanting, or rather, transferring the flower to a new pot. It is taken out of the basin and, when the water drains, is placed in the center of the container, and then evenly sprinkle the roots with earth, lightly tamping. In this case, it is very important not to deepen the root collar of the plant.

If the azalea has grown too much, it is divided into bushes, cutting the root ball into several parts according to the number of divisions. Each bush with a lump of earth is placed in a separate pot.

What to do after an azalea transplant?

After transplantation, the azalea is poured abundantly with water in which it has soaked, and placed in a warm and bright place with shade from the sun's rays. Watering is repeated after four days. In partial shade, the plant is kept for about 12 days. It is useful to spray a flower that has not yet matured after transplantation with "Zircon" or "Epin".

You should also protect the weakened plant from drafts. You should not immediately fertilize the transplanted flower, you must definitely give it the opportunity to adapt and get stronger well.

Transfer after purchase

It is undesirable to immediately subject the newly purchased azalea to the transplant procedure.
Let the plant remain in quarantine for several days - separate from other flowers.

During this time, it adapts to unfamiliar conditions and can painlessly move into a new pot.

Often, azalea is sold in a store in blooming form and, according to the rules, it is impossible to transplant it at this moment.

However, if it is flooded and sick or its capacity is clearly low, an exception can be made and the soil and pot can be changed to the plant. But this must be done very carefully, using the transshipment method, only slightly cleaning the root ball.

`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````