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

Luxurious azaleas conquer most gardeners. 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 correct care for azaleas 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 shop, 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 cannot immediately put the azalea in a sunny place, as it must get used to the new quality of lighting.

Quarantine conditions

An azalea flower brought from a store should not immediately reach houseplants. Even if she looks good, it doesn't always mean that the flower is healthy and won't infect others. In order to avoid possible infection, it is necessary to quarantine the azalea for 2 weeks in a room in which there are no other plants. If there are no problems with her during this time, you can set the flower to 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 you need an azalea transplant after the store?

After buying an azalea, a transplant is very desirable, since in the farms where the plants are grown, in order for the small sprout to start blooming actively, special chemical stimulants are used. Their action not only pushes the bush to open the maximum of buds, but also inhibits the development of the root and green mass so that they do not waste energy. 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 possibility of normal root development. The transplant should be carried out 10-14 days after purchase, when the azalea has adapted to the new conditions.

Requirement for soil and pot

The soil is best used from a flower shop, one that is specifically made for growing azaleas. If it is impossible to purchase such soil, then heather earth 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 certainly placed on the bottom, which prevents root decay.

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

Azalea: care after purchase

Azalea is very difficult to endure stress, one of which is a change of place. In order for this period not to ruin the flowering bush, it needs especially high-quality care. It is best to cut off all the flowers from the plant, since a lot of energy 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 you bought a garden azalea, 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. It is almost impossible to provide such conditions in warm apartments, and therefore it is worth abandoning the azalea. She can tolerate 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 pallet and water should be poured. Evaporating, it will create the necessary moisture around the bush. The main thing is to make sure that the expanded clay does not dry out.
You need a lot of azalea light and you need the most illuminated window for it.

So that a sharp change in conditions does not lead to a serious deterioration in the condition 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 optimal conditions for growth and development can be created for them.

Watering the azalea

If the temperature in the room 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 preserving the azalea.

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

Top dressing and fertilization

From spring to late summer, the plant is fed every week. In September, fertilizing becomes less frequent and is carried out only once every 2 weeks. In winter, they stop completely. It is necessary to use formulations specially designed for azaleas for plant nutrition. When the process of bud formation begins, feeding with superphosphate is applied, while 1 bucket of water requires 20 g of fertilizer.

Post-flowering care rules

After flowering, the azalea goes into a dormant state. Caring for room 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 slightly shortened, and those that grow in the depths of the bush are cut off completely, since 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 base. All other shoots must be cut off. It is important during the growth of such a tree to regularly rotate it so that all its shoots receive the same amount of light and grow evenly.

Reproduction of azaleas at home

At home, it is possible to breed azaleas with cuttings or layering. The first method is difficult and rarely gives positive results. Only very experienced flower growers can handle it. Cutting and planting of 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 at the edge of the pot and, bending a branch into it, sprinkle it with earth and fix it with a stiff wire. After about 6 months, the cuttings will take root. After that, it is cut with pruning shears from the mother plant and transplanted into a separate pot. This method gives 100% result.

The main problems when growing a plant

The main difficulties in growing the flower in question are to create optimal growth conditions for it. In an ordinary apartment, so that the plant does not overheat, it is necessary to constantly put crushed ice in the pallet.

Providing sufficient light for an azalea without backlighting is also not always possible. Most often, it must be supplemented with light, since without this the bush does not give high-quality flowering.

The plant's high susceptibility to stress complicates the maintenance of an azalea in an apartment. The plant can become seriously ill by simply 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 quarantine.

Azalea pests and methods of dealing with them

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

Most often, 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 lengthy, 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 that, the plant is sprayed with a special preparation against the pest.
spider mite. Appears when the indoor air 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 primarily for a winter garden, not an apartment.

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

Let's take a close 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 to transplant the plant - plastic or ceramic?

From the point of view of aesthetics, ceramics are more attractive, and for practical reasons, 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 so much in winter. In addition, it is more convenient to water azaleas by dipping the pot, using the so-called bottom watering. This assumes 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 the azalea immediately after purchase or do it after flowering. As you prefer.

In which land to transplant the azalea.

It should be transplanted into an acidic or slightly acidic soil - light, loose, nutritious. Coniferous-leaf land will be ideal for planting. As a last resort, you can use ready-made peat soils suitable for azaleas, gardenia, camellia, begonias. If you see that the quality is not very good - the soil for planting is dense, monolithic, then you need to add some kind of loosening element to it - vermiculite or perlite.

How to transplant azalea by transshipment

You need to transplant the plant into a larger bowl. For example, from a shipping pot with a diameter of 12 cm, it will need to be transplanted 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 the lump into parts!

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

You need to transplant the azalea 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 outlined.

You can slightly separate the roots with a sharpened 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 place it so that on top, on which it was possible to pour 1-1.5 cm of earth, and at the same time about a centimeter of free space remained for convenient watering to the upper edge of the new pot.

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

Transplanting the plant turned out to be easy and simple!

Water well, abundantly, so that the water reaches the pan. After 20 minutes, we remove the excess water! If we neglect this, 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 after transplantation to better take root in a new place, after transplantation it can be spilled with Kornevin's solution or sprayed and watered with Zircon.

In the heather family, there is an exotic flowering shrub called azalea. In the wild, it grows in Asia, Europe, and North America. The Japanese have a special attitude towards him. They call it a "lust-intoxicating" plant for its seductive 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.

Appointment

The shrub is highly branched. It has lanceolate, elliptical, ovoid leaves. They are pubescent on both sides. Depending on which species the azaleas belong to, they can be one-color - white, pink, red, purple, purple, dark red - or variegated buds. They can be terry or plain.

Azalea is one of the plants that are finicky and moody. In warm regions, it is grown in the garden, and in cold regions - on the window. Florists breed it to enjoy the extraordinarily beautiful flowering.

A representative of the genus rhododendron is a valuable ornamental plant that is formed as a standard tree or as a dwarf tree. It has a long flowering period. Florists use azalea in their 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 examine her at home. Find out if there are traces of mold on the ground. If they are, process the potting soil. 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, at first the azalea should not have "neighbors": a good appearance does not mean its health and the absence of pests. Maintain high humidity by spraying the flower with a spray bottle or by placing an air humidifier in close proximity to it.

In order not to infect all indoor plants, the azalea is kept in quarantine for 14 days. If during this time ticks, whiteflies and aphids have not appeared, rearrange the pot 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 a mixture of peat, are treated with a synthetic substance called a retardant, which induces them to hibernation. In addition to them, fertilizing with prolonged action is added to the soil, thereby maintaining a blooming and fresh appearance of the azalea for two to three months.

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

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 blossoming 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, a transplant is carried out in the future after flowering.

Experienced growers do not transplant a flower in winter due to the fact that it is dormant. 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 new soil.

Preparation

The growth and appearance of buds on azaleas depend on how meticulously the grower prepared for the transplant.

Soil selection and preparation

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

Ready soil

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

Carefully study the label 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 potting mix is suitable for an adult plant. Young or vegetatively propagated flowers are planted in a land where nutrients are scarce.

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

DIY soil preparation

Experienced growers plant the azalea in their own soil mixture. It must 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 deciduous humus, 2 parts of humus from fallen needles of spruce, fir, larch, pine and 3 parts of peat collected during the decomposition of sphagnum or cotton grass moss with the participation of moisture;
in equal proportions, take special soil for azaleas, sphagnum moss, steamed bark, vermiculite, charcoal, perlite.

Whichever method of preparation of the substrate you choose, before transplanting, remove all excess from it (twigs, pebbles, pieces of polyethylene) and disinfect it. 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 are faced with the defeat of the plant by pests and fungal diseases.

Without taking care of the cleanliness of the soil in advance, you can either face the death of the flower, or heal 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, transplant it in accordance with the sequence below.

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

Take out the azalea from the old container. The soil mixture in it must be dry. If the container is plastic, it is easier to remove it by crushing the walls.

After removing from the pot, the roots are pruned one centimeter from the bottom, along 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. And also remove the broken, rotten or podoprevshie roots in the old container. Places of cuts are treated with folk remedies (crushed charcoal) or purchased biostimulants ("Kornevin" or "Heteroauxin").

Place the plant with a lump of roots in boiled or filtered water with a pitcher filter. A growth stimulant is added to it. By holding the flower in water, the old soil is partially removed. This is done to remove excess salt deposits.

So that the transshipment goes well, and the water is absorbed, cuts of 5 millimeters are made in the coma of earth - from the bottom, from the side and from the top. The beneficial ingredients from the stimulant will saturate all parts of the plant.

Take the azalea out of the water. They are waiting for all the water to drain.

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

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

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

Follow-up care

The growth, development and flowering of azaleas depend on whether the grower followed the steps from the step-by-step instructions or not, and whether he organized 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, since it will die from the onslaught of direct sunlight, if there is nowhere to put it, they shade the azalea from them.

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.

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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.