How to transplant an azalea from a store pot. Azalea transplant rules at home

Luxurious azaleas conquer most flower growers. A variety of flowers, similar to the rhododendron, which is grown in parks, can become the main decoration of the apartment. Consider what is the right care for azalea at home.

In order for the azalea to grow well after purchase, it is necessary to qualitatively adapt it to new conditions. Immediately after the store, the azalea is inspected for mold in the ground. If it is found, the soil is treated with antifungal drugs. Further, the plant must be gradually accustomed to a different habitat. You can not immediately put the azalea in a sunny place, as it should get used to the new quality of lighting.

Quarantine conditions

An azalea flower brought from a store should not immediately fall into house plants. Even if it looks good, it does not always mean that the flower is healthy and will not infect others. In order to avoid possible infection, the azalea should be quarantined for 2 weeks in a room where there are no other plants. If there are no problems with her during this time, you can install a flower for the rest of the pets. Infection from it cannot occur, and all the problems that may arise will no longer apply to the azalea.

Do I need an azalea transplant after the store?

After buying an azalea, a transplant is very desirable, since in the farms where plants are grown, in order for a small sprout to begin to bloom actively, special chemical stimulants are used. Their action not only pushes the bush to open a maximum of buds, but also inhibits the development of the root and green mass so that they do not take strength. As a result, the flower simply becomes a living bouquet. To change this, it is necessary to transplant the culture and provide it with the opportunity for normal root development. Transplantation should be carried out 10-14 days after purchase, when the azalea has adapted to new conditions.

Soil and pot requirements

The soil is best used from a flower shop, one that is specifically designed for growing azaleas. If it is impossible to purchase such soil, then heather land or a mixture of peat and needles is used.

Plant pots need wide and deep enough. Plastic and clay containers are equally suitable for azaleas. Their size must necessarily exceed the one that her pot has. A drainage layer is necessarily placed at the bottom, which prevents the roots from rotting.

During transplantation, it is very important not to damage the roots of the plant and at the same time, as far as possible, remove the old substrate.

Azalea: post-purchase care

Azalea is very difficult to tolerate stress, one of which is a change of place. In order for this period not to ruin a flowering bush, it needs especially high-quality care. It is best to cut off all the flowers from the plant, as a lot of effort is spent on them, which does not allow the bush to fully develop. It is not a pity to do this, such a measure is necessary to preserve the viability of the plant. The same will need to be done if a garden azalea is bought, which today is sometimes found in large garden centers.

Temperature, humidity and lighting

For a plant, the optimum temperature will be 11-15 degrees during the day and 7-9 degrees at night. In warm apartments, it is almost impossible to provide such conditions, and therefore it is worth abandoning the azalea. She will be able to endure temperatures up to 20 degrees only if the rest of her care is organized very competently.

The plant needs increased humidity, and therefore, if the air in the apartment is dry, expanded clay should be poured into the pan and water should be poured. Evaporating, it will create the necessary moisture around the bush. The main thing is to ensure that the expanded clay does not dry out.
Azaleas need a lot of light and choose the most illuminated window for it.

So that a sharp change in conditions does not lead to a serious deterioration in the state of the flower, at first it must be shaded a little and only after a couple of weeks put on the window without protection.

Due to the peculiarities of the temperature regime and high humidity, azaleas are often recommended not as indoor plants, but as greenhouse plants. Only there can optimal conditions for growth and development be created for them.

Watering Azaleas

If the room temperature for the flower is too high, then 2 waterings per day will be required. Under normal conditions, azaleas are watered once every 3-4 days. This should be done through the pallet. It is recommended to spray the plant every other day, which will prevent the leaves from drying out. This is especially important for the conservation of azaleas.

The quality of water for irrigation is of great importance. It should be soft and cool. It is optimal to use melt water.

Top dressing and fertilizer

From spring to the end of summer, the plant is fed every week. In September, top dressing becomes less frequent and is carried out only 1 time in 2 weeks. In winter, they completely stop. It is necessary to use formulations specially designed for azaleas to feed the plants. When the process of bud formation begins, top dressing with superphosphate is applied, while 20 g of fertilizer is required for 1 bucket of water.

Rules for care after flowering

Azaleas go dormant after flowering. Care for indoor azalea at this time comes down to regular watering. Also, after flowering, sanitary and formative pruning is carried out. For early-flowering plants, such manipulations are carried out in March, and for late-flowering plants - in May. All last year's branches are shortened a little, and those that grow deep into the bush are cut off completely, as they only shade the plant and do not allow flower buds to form normally.

If you want the azalea to form like a tree, only the central branch is left in the plant, which serves as the basis. All other shoots must be cut off. It is important in the process of growing such a tree to turn it regularly so that all its shoots receive the same amount of light and grow evenly.

Reproduction of azalea at home

At home, it is possible to breed azaleas by cuttings or layering. The first method is complicated and rarely gives positive results. Only very experienced flower growers will cope with it. Cutting and planting cuttings is carried out from May to August.

It is much easier to propagate a bush by layering. To do this, simply dig a small hole on the edge of the pot and, bending a branch into it, sprinkle it with earth and fix it with a hard wire. After about 6 months, the cuttings will take root. After that, it is cut off with secateurs from the mother plant and transplanted into a separate pot. This method gives 100% results.

The main problems when growing a plant

The main difficulties in growing the discussed flower are in creating optimal growth conditions for it. In an ordinary apartment, in order for the plant not to overheat, it is necessary to constantly put crushed ice in the pan.

It is also not always possible to provide sufficient lighting for azaleas without backlighting. Most often, it needs to be illuminated, because without this the bush does not give high-quality flowering.

The high susceptibility of the plant to stress complicates the maintenance of azalea in the apartment. A plant can become seriously ill simply by moving from one window to another in a room. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately determine a permanent place for the azalea, as soon as it has passed the quarantine.

Azalea pests and methods of dealing with them

The plant can be easily attacked by pests, which, if not taken in a timely manner, will lead to the death of the bush.

Most often, the azalea becomes a victim of such pests:

strawberry mite. It affects the tops of the shoots, buds and buds. Their development stops. The process of extinction of a flower affected by such a pest is long, and usually the grower manages to take action. To get rid of the tick, the leaves of the plant are wiped with a cotton pad dipped in a solution of laundry soap. After the plant is sprayed with a special preparation against the pest.
spider mite. Appears when the air in the room is too dry. It is necessary to eliminate the problem as soon as possible, using special formulations from the pest.

Azalea is a beautiful plant that is intended mainly for a winter garden, not an apartment.

After buying, which pot is better to choose, to water immediately or later - all these questions arise as soon as you become the owner of this luxurious flower.

Let's take a closer look at the plant - an azalea is planted in a small shipping pot. Usually it is plastic, without a pallet and does not have the slightest gap to the top edge, that is, ordinary watering from above becomes impossible. Therefore, you need to transplant the azalea.

How to transplant an azalea into a pot

In which pot should the plant be transplanted - in plastic or ceramic?

From the point of view of aesthetics, ceramics are more attractive, and based on practical considerations, it is better to choose plastic.

In plastic pots, moisture is more evenly distributed, it is more convenient to make good drainage holes, in extreme heat the pot does not heat up so quickly and does not cool down so much in winter. In addition, it is more convenient to water azaleas by immersing the pot, using the so-called bottom watering. This assumes that the pot is submerged in water for about 20 minutes. Plastic will not suffer from such a procedure, and glaze may begin to lag behind beautiful ceramics.

You can transplant an azalea immediately after purchase or do it after flowering. As you prefer.

In what land to transplant azalea.

It should be transplanted into acidic or slightly acidic soil - light, loose, nutritious. Coniferous-leaf land will be ideal for planting. In extreme cases, you can use ready-made peat soils suitable for azaleas, gardenias, camellias, begonias. If you see that the quality is not very good - the soil for planting is dense, monolithic, then you need to add some loosening element to it - vermiculite or perlite.

How to transplant an azalea transshipment

You need to transplant the plant into a larger bowl. For example, from a transport pot with a diameter of 12 cm, it will be necessary to transplant into a container with a diameter of no more than 18 cm, which is about 1.5 liters in volume.

We take out the azalea from the pot, we see that 3 or 4 cuttings are planted together, the roots are very well developed.

Divide? In no case!!! You need to transplant without dividing it into parts!

If we make three out of one, then we will lose everything, because when dividing, there will inevitably be root injuries, and she reacts extremely painfully to this - she can begin to shed leaves and flowers.

Azaleas need to be transplanted by transshipment. At the same time, the roots are not disturbed, because we practically rearrange it from one pot to another. We make drainage holes, usually 2 or 4 of them are planned.

You can slightly separate the roots with a pointed stick, as in these photos.

At the bottom we put a small layer of drainage, about 1 cm, pour earth on it and try on the azalea.

We align it in the center and arrange it so that 1-1.5 cm of earth can be poured on top, and at the same time, about a centimeter of free space remains to the top edge of the new pot for easy watering.

Now we fill the free space with earth and carefully compact it.

Transplanting the plant was easy and simple!

Water well, plentifully so that the water reaches the pan. After 20 minutes, remove excess water! If this is neglected, then the water, remaining in the pan for a long time, will block the access of air to the roots. Deprived of oxygen, they will gradually begin to rot, and the plant may die from this.

In order for the azalea to take root better in a new place after transplantation, after transplantation it can be shed with Kornevin's solution or sprayed and watered with Zircon.

In the heather family, there is an exotic flowering shrub called the azalea. It grows wild in Asia, Europe and North America. The Japanese have a special attitude towards him. They call it the "lust-intoxicating" plant for its alluring and sensual scent. Thanks to the work of breeders, azalea is grown not only in botanical gardens and nurseries, but also at home, resigned to its capriciousness.

Purpose

The shrub is heavily branched. It has lanceolate, elliptical, ovate leaves. They are pubescent on both sides. Depending on the type of azaleas, they can have single colors - white, pink, red, purple, purple, dark red - or variegated buds. They can be terry or simple.

Azalea is one of the plants that are finicky and capricious. In warm regions, it is grown in the garden, and in cold regions, on the window. Flower growers breed it to enjoy an unusually beautiful flowering.

A representative of the genus rhododendron is a valuable ornamental plant, which is formed as a standard tree or as a dwarf tree. It has a long flowering period. Florists use azalea when making bouquets.

Plant care after purchase

It depends on how the adaptation period passes, whether the azalea will grow and bloom well. To make it go well, they inspect it at home. Find out if there are traces of mold on the ground. If they are, treat the soil mixture antifungal drugs("Fundazol", paste "Fitosporin-M", "Trichodermin").

After examining the plant and making sure that there is no fungus, the pot is placed to the north or east window. Shade it from direct sunlight

In a new place, where the temperature should be up to + 18 ° C, the azalea should not have “neighbors” at first: a good appearance does not indicate its health and the absence of pests. Maintain high humidity by spraying the flower with a spray bottle or placing a humidifier in close proximity to it.

In order not to infect all indoor plants, Azaleas are kept in quarantine for 14 days. If mites, whiteflies and aphids have not appeared during this time, the pot is moved to other crops.

Transplant Features

When growing azaleas for sale on farms, chemical stimulants are used. Shrubs planted in cardboard cups with a small amount of peat mixture are treated with a synthetic substance called a retardant, which puts them into hibernation. In addition to them, long-acting fertilizing is added to the soil, thereby maintaining the blooming and fresh look of the azalea for two to three months.

With this approach to growing, buds are obtained even on small sprouts, but the roots and leaves do not develop. After the purchase, flower growers do not use these drugs.

So that the azalea does not die in a couple of weeks, and the root system develops normally, it is transplanted at home, but after a period of adaptation. In this case, do not wait until she drops the buds. Some of the blooming corollas and buds are cut off, and then the flower is transferred to a new substrate. Otherwise, he will experience severe and irreparable stress. For the same reason, further transplantation is carried out after flowering.

Experienced flower growers do not transplant a flower in winter due to the fact that it is at rest. All natural processes are inhibited in him. The right time for transplanting is the resumption of vegetation processes. The best way is to transfer the flower to a new soil.

Training

The growth and appearance of buds on the azalea depend on how scrupulously the grower prepared for the transplant.

Soil selection and preparation

The optimal level of soil acidity for azalea - 3.5-5.5 pH. There are two ways to prepare it: buying ready-made soil for azaleas in a flower shop and preparing the substrate yourself.

Ready soil

Beginners in floriculture transplant azalea into soil purchased at the store: Fasco, Udmurttorf or Permagrobusiness. This method of transplantation is safe for the flower, but on condition that, in addition to other components, coniferous earth is present in the composition. Ready-made soil for azaleas has all the necessary components for healthy root development and flowering.

Read the label carefully before buying. If the composition of the substrate includes a complex of trace elements and minerals, do not fertilize the flower for 2-3 months after transplantation. This soil mixture is suitable for an adult plant. In the ground, where there are few nutrients, young or vegetatively propagated flowers are planted.

According to the inscriptions on the label, the date of manufacture is recognized. This information will not hurt if the grower buys soil for the future: the fresher it is, the better.

Do-it-yourself soil preparation

Experienced flower growers plant azalea in a soil mixture prepared on their own. It should be crumbly to allow air to pass to the root system. There are three recipes for good soil:

1 part of sand and peat, 2 parts of coniferous land;
1 part of sand and leafy humus, 2 parts of humus from fallen needles of spruce, fir, larch, pine and 3 parts of peat collected during the decomposition of sphagnum moss or cotton grass with the participation of moisture;
in equal proportions take a special soil for azaleas, sphagnum moss, steamed bark, vermiculite, charcoal, perlite.

Whatever method of preparation of the substrate is chosen, before transplantation, everything superfluous is removed from it (twigs, pebbles, pieces of polyethylene) and disinfected. To do this, use "Fitosporin", fry it in the oven or steam it in a water bath for 30 minutes with occasional stirring. Without disinfecting it, they face plant damage by pests and fungal diseases.

Without taking care of the cleanliness of the soil in advance, you can either face the death of a flower, or treat it for a long time.

Pot selection

Choose it according to the size of the root system. It should be wider and larger than the previous one.

Step-by-step instruction

So that the azalea takes root in a new place and does not dry out, transplanted in the following order.

Before transplanting, holes are made in the pot to drain water. A 3-5 cm drainage layer is placed at the bottom. To do this, use pebbles, gravel or broken shards. Pine bark is poured on top to increase the acidity of the soil mixture, and prepared and disinfected soil.

They pull out an azalea from an old container. The soil mixture in it must be dry. If the container is plastic, make it easier to take it out by crushing the walls.

After removing from the pot, the roots are cut one centimeter from the bottom, on the sides and at the root collar. To do this, scissors are disinfected in alcohol. This is done to improve the access of water and oxygen to the roots. They also remove broken, rotted or rooted roots in an old container. The cut sites are treated with folk remedies (crushed charcoal) or purchased biostimulants ("Kornevin" or "Heteroauxin").

The plant with a root ball is placed in boiled or filtered water using a jug filter. A growth stimulator is added to it. After holding the flower in water, the old soil is partially removed. This is done to remove excess salt deposits.

In order for the transshipment to go well and the water to be absorbed, in a coma of earth - from below, from the side and from above - cuts of 5 millimeters are made. Useful components from the stimulant will saturate all parts of the plant.

Take the azalea out of the water. Waiting for all the water to drain.

If necessary, the plant is divided. This is done if it has grown, or different types of culture grow in the same pot (during flowering, they interfere with each other). The bushes are divided after cutting the roots.

The bush is placed in the center of the new pot. The crown is pruned, young shoots are pinched and a few pairs of leaves are left. The roots are sprinkled with a pre-prepared soil mixture and gently tamped with your fingers. Make sure that there is no soil on the root collar - it should be on the same level with it.

Water the plant with the solution that was used for soaking.

Aftercare

The growth, development and flowering of the azalea depend on whether the florist completed the steps from the step-by-step instructions or not, and whether he organized high-quality care for successful acclimatization.

After transplanting, the flower is placed on a window where there is enough sunlight.. It is not placed on the south window, as it will die from the onslaught of direct sunlight, if there is nowhere to put it, the azalea will be shaded from them.

Azaleas come to stores from grower nurseries, where they care little about the development of the plant's root system. Bushes artificially prepared for flowering and planted in shipping pots with a small amount of peat mixture are treated with synthetic compounds. These substances put 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 transport soil, which contains the plant in the store, tends to be compressed and firmly adhere to the roots. In addition, this land does not contain nutrients.

Chemical flowering stimulants 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 an azalea, it is necessary to transplant. This procedure is recommended to be carried out 10-15 days after purchase, giving the plant time to adapt to new conditions.

After the purchase, you need to carefully examine the plant. In case of detection of mold, fungus, problems with roots, as well as in poor condition of the soil, the azalea must be transplanted into high-quality soil, removing the damaged areas.

It is recommended to transplant young plants annually, adults - every two years. The procedure must be carried out when the flowering period is over. If the azalea is flooded or the pot has become small, an unscheduled transplant is required.

If the plant is flowering

Azaleas should not be transplanted during the flowering period. At this time, the plant spends all its energy on the formation of buds and the maintenance of flowers. The procedure will lead to severe stress, as a result of which the azalea can drop leaves, flowers and buds. It is very difficult to get a plant out of this state. In the case when it is urgent to save the azalea, most of the blooming flowers and colored buds must be carefully removed before transplanting.
You can find out more about when it is better to transplant an azalea and how to do it.

Step-by-step instruction

Inventory preparation

Prepare a large container of water. An ordinary basin will do. Take boiled or filtered water.
Treat a knife, secateurs or scissors with an alcohol-containing liquid or ignite.

Pot selection

You should choose a pot five centimeters higher than the old one, wide and deep enough. Suitable for both clay and plastic pots. You can choose a planter or any other pot.

The acidity of the substrate should be pH 4.5–5.5. It is better to buy in the store a special soil mixture designed for azaleas. Add baking powder to the purchased soil:

Mix azaleas soil with vermiculite.
Crumble 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.
Leaf land - 1 part.
Coniferous land - 5 parts.

with moss

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

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

Placement in a new pot

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

Note! It is impossible to 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 moistening the soil is not required. 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 sometimes recommended to 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, it is necessary to preserve the microflora of the root system, which the plant maintains throughout its life. Violation of the microflora can lead to disease and death of the azalea.

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

How to properly care?

A 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 successful recovery.

Location selection

After the procedure, it is necessary to put 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 the light, but does not tolerate the direct rays of the sun. The lack of light can be compensated by artificial lighting. At 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, warm, you can take the azalea to the balcony or loggia, providing a little shade.

Humidity

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

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

Temperature

From October to December, the optimum temperature for azaleas should be from +6 to +10ºС. 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 + 17ºС. In summer, the indicators should not exceed + 18ºС, in winter they should not fall below + 5ºС.

Watering

Potted azalea should be watered every two to three days in the morning. Water should be poured through the pan. Drain excess water after 15 minutes. It is important that the earthen ball is completely saturated with moisture.

Soil moisture needs to be monitored regularly. It is impossible to allow the drying up of an earthen coma.

For irrigation, clean boiled water at room temperature is required, 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

Azaleas do not need to be fertilized within one to two months after transplantation. After the procedure, the plant will be weakened, as a result of feeding the roots may burn out.

After restoration, fertilizer must be applied every seven days in the spring and summer. In September, feeding becomes less frequent and is carried out once every two weeks. In winter they stop completely. It is required to fertilize plants with special compounds for azaleas. When forming buds, top dressing with superphosphate is used.

Azalea transplantation 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 losses of the root system are compensated. With proper care, the bush develops safely, blooms luxuriantly and grows.

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Azalea is a rather special flower for home floriculture. Ever since you chose it in a flower shop, it will urgently require close and almost constant attention to itself, as well as especially careful care.

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

One of the features of the azalea is a rather unusual microflora near 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 - this article will describe in detail how to care for 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 flower growers - both amateurs and professionals - know that this flower itself is quite capricious in terms of care. Manufacturers artificially prepare the azalea 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 he received special fertilizers in the nursery. Often the soil is even overfed with them.

However, the root system of the azalea, which we have already mentioned, does not develop in any way, because, in fact, it is sleeping. Because 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 an azalea at home after purchase.

The most popular variety for indoor floriculture is the variety of evergreen Indian azalea. 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 - respectively, the larger, the more expensive;
How many buds does a flower have.

Most of the shops on the Internet have 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 not to let a flower die

When you have made a long-awaited purchase and brought an azalea to its new home, do not rush to get it out of the store 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 recommendations:

A space with good illumination, but without direct sunlight;
Coolness - about + 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 a 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 the ground with paper that absorbs moisture well;
Repeat this action until the ground is dry enough, but this must be done with extreme care due to the fragility of the roots.

If the plant is too dry:

It must be placed in a container of water right in the pot for about sixty minutes. 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 tray lined with expanded clay so that the soil and liquid no longer combine;
The flower should not be transplanted immediately, especially if the flowering period has begun.

Adapting to a new location

You can be sure that the azalea has fully adapted only when, after moving from a flower shop to a home window sill, the plant has faded and sprouts the next shoots. In such a rather exciting period, you should take care of the flower with all care. And watch 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 levels of humidity. The more coolness he gets in the course of getting used to, the more chances there are that the flower will remain alive.

There is also no need to rush with fertilizers. During their stay in the nursery, the azalea is placed in already overfed soil so that the flower lives quietly until it hits the store counter.

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

Special spraying, which is called "Epin", is capable of assisting in addiction. 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. Instructions for use can be read on the package, and sprayed about once every ten days.

What care to provide the purchased plant

First of all, the azaleas need to get used to the new environment where they found themselves after the store. Azalea care at home after purchase is actually quite troublesome. Due to its very capricious nature, a flowering and fragrant plant yesterday can 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 herald of the death of the flower. That is why, before buying an azalea, you need to be prepared 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 with its beauty and lush flowering for a long time, it is extremely important to strictly follow the basic rules for care.

Please note that after purchase, the azalea is advised to transship. But you don't have to move it right away.

Transshipment is quite easy to do:

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

How to save a newly acquired flower? Under what conditions can the azalea more easily adapt to a new environment?

The roots also need special inspection. Symbiont mushrooms live on its roots, which provide the azalea with food. In soil with a high alkalinity, these symbionts die. And, as it is easy to understand, the plant too. That is why the roots of the flower must not be washed.

The substrate mixture should be acidic, let water and air in. It is better to buy the soil already prepared for this flower. And replanting young flowers is advised every year. And when the plant has matured, then once every two or three years. The upper layers of the soil are replaced, trying not to affect the fragile roots.

Temperature regime

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

To maintain the vitality of the plant, an outdoor shade is also great. 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 flower growers say that pests really like the earthy mixture for this color.

With the approach of the autumn season, buds begin to be laid. 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 the flowering will last.

Azalea does not tolerate hot weather. But in no case do not water it with cold water! This risks becoming a cause for the occurrence of fungus. In the summer, the pot can be overlaid with ice cubes. This will not only protect the plant from the heat, but also add humidity 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 right 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 fade. For an azalea, a room located in the northern or western part of the apartment is perfect.

You can also place a 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 near the window.

How to water properly

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

For home flowers are of great importance:

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

Never water an 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 shed both flowers and leaves. Ideal for an azalea would be water of the same temperature, which contains the flower itself.

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

If you water the soil with ordinary water, the acidic soil will become alkaline, because it contains a lot of mineral salts. After boiling, they become the very aforementioned precipitate. 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 outdoor soil for the summer period, the rain will only benefit it.

This plant cannot tolerate drought. If you notice that the leaves or flowers have begun to droop, this is the first signal that the flower must be watered immediately. Nothing like this should be allowed. It is better to maintain the moisture content of the earth mixture is normal. Excess fluid can also harm fragile roots, and they can begin to rot.

This plant loves water, so it's good if watering is plentiful. Usually it should be watered every other day. But if the air in the room where you put it is dry (especially often in winter), then it will be better to water every day.

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

Azalea First Aid

What should never be allowed:

Droughts;
heat;
An excess of moisture;
Direct exposure to sunlight.
A sharp change in temperature;

What to do if the plant begins to wither:

Examine the soil in the flowerpot;
Moisturize, if necessary;
Monitor air humidity;
Perhaps the location is not the most suitable - move the plant to a cooler place, away from the sun.

If the azalea began to throw off the leaves, this is most likely the first signal that the plant is starting 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 follow the flower every day than to bring it to a similar state, and then frantically try to save it.

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

To an inexperienced grower, it will certainly seem that the azalea is very time-consuming and brings a lot of trouble. But in practice, all these rules gradually become a habit that will bring only pleasant emotions.