Charm of winter flowering or azalea care at home

Azalea (Azalea) belongs to the family of heather genus rhododendrons, numbering over a thousand species of shrubs, wildly scattered almost all over the world.

These small, abundantly flowering plants with beautiful foliage and magnificent flowers attracted the attention of breeders more than 150 years ago. And today about 12 thousand different varieties of azaleas and rhododendrons suitable for garden and home breeding have been bred.

A surprising feature of azalea is its winter flowering, so ready to blossom bushes beat records among the flower sales in late autumn and early winter.

The content of azaleas at home.

Care for azalea at home requires special knowledge and attention, because this is a rather capricious plant with the wrong attitude, easily "turns off" its flowering and strives to die.

That's why many relate this beauty to typical greenhouse plants, although with good supervision it can quite exist and bloom in an ordinary apartment.

Let's briefly dwell on the main points, of which, in fact, is the care of azalea in the home.

Temperature regime . Azalea can not stand the heat and dry air. The optimum temperature for flowering is 10-15 degrees. The temperature above 18 degrees is inadmissible. It is recommended that the flower be kept away from heaters.

Lighting . He likes bright diffused light, but does not tolerate direct sunlight.

Watering. In order to azalea blossomed for a long time, the whole earthen lump should be constantly not just moistened, but strongly and evenly moisturized. For watering, soft water is needed.

Very useful once a week to put the pot in the water to completely saturate the earth with moisture. Time in water - no more than three hours.
If the earth dries up, the plant will irretrievably perish.

Air humidity. Azalea requires daily spraying from a fine sprayer. During flowering, you need to be careful that water does not fall on the flowers, as this can cause the appearance of dark spots.

The soil. For azaleas suitable light water and air permeable substrate, consisting of coniferous land and peat. The easiest way is to purchase a special zemlesmes for azaleas in a specialized store.

The plant has a superficial root system, so it needs a low and wide pot.

Transplantation . Adult plants are transplanted every two years, and care must be taken to ensure that the root neck of the plant is not buried. When transplanting, the integrity of the earth coma should be preserved, so as not to damage the roots.

Young growing plants are transplanted each year after flowering.
Care for azalea at home after flowering . After the plant blossoms, it is cut off, freeing the faded inflorescences, stretched branches and excess shoots, and transferred to a cool place. In the summer the flower is watered, sprayed, protected from pests and diseases, protected from drafts and direct sunlight. All these activities will benefit azaleas at home, and in September-October the plant will release new buds, preparing for a bright winter flowering.

The most common types of indoor azaleas.

Almost all the azaleas grown in the room belong to two types of dwarf shrubs: Rhododendron Sims or Indian azalea (Rhododendron simsii or Rhododendron indicum) and Japanese azalea (Rhododendron obtusum).

The height of the bushes does not exceed 50 cm. Flowers of different colors - from white to violet through the red-coral range of shades. The shape of flowers - non-marble or terry with corrugated petals. The flowers of Indian azalea are larger.

There are pyramidal and ampel forms of azaleas.

In conclusion, we can say that the care for azalea at home is simple, but requires constant attention to the condition of the plant. Therefore, its abundant and prolonged winter flowering is, to some extent, a confirmation of the qualification of the florist and, accordingly, an object of well-deserved pride.