Azalea: home care after shopping in the store, what to do next, how to keep a room rhododendron in a pot if it fades and leaves fallen, photo of a flower

Azalea - a flower that requires close and special attention, starting from the moment of its selection in the store.

With proper care, the azalea will not die, but will delight with its flowers, actively reproduce.

A distinctive feature of azaleas is the specific microflora near the root space, breaking which can destroy the flower.

In the article, we will talk in detail about how to properly care for azalea at home after purchase.

How is rhododendron in the store?

Plants enter stores from nurseries. It is no secret that azalea is a rather whimsical flower. Producers prepare plants for flowering and sale artificially.

In nurseries, they are treated with special synthetic substances that enter the flower into a state of sleep. The plant has a presentable appearance and is able to bloom for several months thanks to fertilizers introduced in the nursery.

But at this time, the root system of the azalea is in a state of sleep and does not receive any development. As a result, the plant may become sick - the roots will begin to die from a fungal infection. This is one of the reasons why azalea disappears immediately after it was brought from the store and put on the windowsill of the house.

Approximate cost

Azalea prices in Moscow and St. Petersburg range from 250 to 2500 rubles per flower. There are several factors that affect the cost of a plant:

a variety of azaleas (home and garden);
the size of the flower and its root system (the higher and larger the plant, the more expensive it is);
the number of buds.

Most online stores have sales consultants who are ready to help not only with the choice of a variety of shrubs, but will also tell you in detail about the care of azalea in the home after purchase.

Photo

Next you can see a photo of this plant:

What to do after the acquisition and how to save the plant?

What to do next when you bought the plant? Bringing the plant home, do not rush to remove it from the store wrapper. Leave the shrub for 30 minutes to get used to the microclimate of the room.

Decide on a future place for a flower. Recommended Options:

well-lit space out of direct sunlight (east or north side);
temperature from 16 to 18 heat - quite cool;
high level of humidity.

ATTENTION! Inspect the soil of the plant by gently pulling the flower out of the flowerpot.

Very often, to give a fresh look in stores, the azalea is filled with water. If the soil is too wet it is necessary:

Remove the flower from the pot and wrap the root system with soil with well absorbent paper.
Repeat until the soil is dry enough.

In case the flower is dried:

It should be placed directly with the pot in a container of water for an hour. The fluid should reach the edges of the pot.
After pulling the plant out of the water and allow excess moisture to drain, placing the pot on a plate or pan, previously laid with expanded clay, so that the soil no longer touches the liquid.

It is also not recommended to transplant the plant immediately, especially during flowering.

The adaptation period of the indoor flower

A plant can be considered adapted only when, after moving to a window sill from a store, the azalea fades and gives new shoots. During this nerve period, the plant should be carefully looked after and observed.

Azalea does not tolerate heat, so do not place a flower on the window sills above the radiators.

Also low humidity is harmful to them. The cooler it will be indoors during the adaptation period, the greater the likelihood that the plant will not die. Do not rush to fertilize the plant. In nurseries, azaleas are planted in overfilled soil for further transportation and preservation. Subject to all the rules, it remains only to take a wait and see attitude.

Help with adaptation will help spraying "Epinom". This is a biostimulant for plants created artificially. It helps to activate the individual protective functions of the plant, increases its stress resistance and immunity. The breeding instructions can be read on the packaging and can be sprayed once every 10 days.

More information about plant nutrition, as an essential part of azalea care, fertilizer procedures and other nuances, can be found here.

How to care for a purchased plant so that it does not wilt?

Azalea should get used to the room in which it was brought after purchase. Due to its moodiness, the once beautiful flowering plant can lose flowers and leaves in a few days. If the leaves on the branches of the trunk still fell or the plant withers, then these are the harbingers of the imminent death of the bush, so you need to know what to do in this situation. To enjoy this plant for many years, you must adhere to the basic and important rules for caring for it and know how to care for a room flower in a pot bought in a store.

ATTENTION! After acquiring, azalea is recommended to be transshipped, but not transplanted.

The transshipment process is simple:

carefully remove the earthen lump together with the plant from the purchased pot;
put a flower with soil in a new spacious pot;
fill a free space with a special substrate;
Do not water the earth.

How to save the azalea bought in the store? Under such conditions, azalea tolerates adaptation better. A fragile root system is also preserved. Soils themselves are also subject to special requirements. On the roots of azaleas live special symbiont mushrooms that provide flower nutrition. The symbionts die in alkaline soil, and after them the plant itself. This is another reason why you can not wash the roots of azaleas.

The substrate must be acidic and well permeable to moisture and air masses. It is better to purchase the soil ready specially prepared for azaleas. Replanting young flowers should be annually. More adult generation every 3 years. At the same time, the upper layer of the earth is replaced without touching the delicate roots of the plant.

Temperature

Ideal for the favorable development of azaleas is considered a temperature of 10-15 heat. However, in the summer heat it is very difficult to provide a flower with such a regime. But in the summer months, azaleas begin a period of sleep and rest.

For keeping the plant, a shaded place on the street is suitable. If possible, you can bury the flower with a pot in the ground.

Before this, put the nylon stocking on the pot. This is necessary to prevent the attack of pests on azalea. According to experienced gardeners, the substrate for this flower is very loved by all kinds of parasites.

Autumn is the time to bookmark the buds. During this period, it is necessary to lower the temperature of the azalea content to 6 degrees. As soon as the buds begin to blossom, increase it to 15. About the care of azalea in the fall, we wrote in this article.

IMPORTANT! Azalea does not tolerate heat. But it is not recommended to water the flower with cold water. This can lead to fungus. In summer, put ice around the plant on a saucer. This will save the flower from the heat and moisten the air around it.

Humidity in the pot

This factor is one of the most important. For azaleas, dry air is harmful. To maintain a high level of moisture, you need to perform several manipulations:

choose a deep pallet for a flowerpot;
lay pebbles and moss on the bottom of the pallet (sphagnum is ideal);
make sure that liquid is constantly present in the pan;
during the flowering period, leaves should be sprayed;
avoid large drops when moistened with a spray bottle, the drops should be small to prevent spots on the leaves.

Shine

This plant is very fond of bright lighting. But it can die under the influence of direct rays of the sun. The eastern and northern sides are perfect for azaleas. It is possible to put the azalea in the south, but for this it is better not to use the window sill, but to purchase a stand and install it in front of the window.

Watering

Another important factor that helps protect the azalea from death. A major role is played by:

water quality;
temperature;
abundance of watering;
periodicity.

It is strictly forbidden to water the azalea with ice or cool water. A sharp temperature difference puts the plant in a state of stress. It also serves as a kind of signal about the onset of autumn and the azalea can drop flowers and leaves (how to care for azalea in autumn, it says here). It is best to use a liquid at the same temperature as the azalea.

Use soft water:

boil;
allow to cool;
use only the top layer of liquid;
do not touch the sediment.

When watering with plain water, the soil from acidic will turn into alkaline, since it contains magnesium and calcium salts. And when boiling, they precipitate. Lemon can be used to acidify the soil. 3 drops of juice are dissolved in a liter of liquid. If in the summer you transplant azalea into the street, then rain moisture will affect it favorably.

The flower does not tolerate drought. If the leaves and flowers droop, you need to water the azalea immediately. It is better to prevent this and maintain constant substrate moisture. In this case, excess fluid can also damage the delicate roots of azalea - they can rot.

Find out more about the proper watering of azaleas at home and flower irrigation methods from our material.

What is unacceptable to do?

heat;
drought;
waterlogging;
sharp temperature difference;
direct exposure to sunlight.

If the flower begins to fade:

pay attention to the soil;
moisten it if necessary;
watch for air humidity;
the location may not seem like - transfer the flower to a cooler room, remove from the sun.

If the azalea drops its leaves, this may be the first sign of a plant's death. What to do if the leaves have fallen?

Carefully inspect the soil for pests, mold or rot.
Spray the azalea with Epin or zircon. This should be done at a time when the plant does not bloom.
After 2 days, pour and spray azalea with phytosporin (10 drops per 250 ml of liquid).
Alternate the procedure for 2-3 weeks. This will help the dying plant survive stress.

Azalea requires increased attention and strictly consistent care. Very often, even making rescue procedures, the plant cannot be saved and it dies. Therefore, it is better not to bring the flower to a dying state.

With the right and careful care for azalea, the plant will delight with its magnificent flowers for many years. An inexperienced grower may think that this type of flower will take too much time. However, the rule quickly become a habit that brings only pleasure.