How to properly breed rhododendron at home: planting and care

Azalea is often used instead of a living bouquet, because this is a great gift option for any occasion. But some people think that as soon as the flowering is over, the plant can be thrown away and that’s all, but it’s not! It can grow at home and delight for a long time with its wonderful flowering. But for this, of course, you will have to work hard, since Azalea loves to be “capricious”. However, in the East she is considered a symbol of female beauty.
From the article you will learn where to place and how to properly plant the azalea at home and can see a photo of the flower.

Briefly about the features of the species

Of course, Azalea is not an easy plant, it has many of its unique properties and characteristics. This subtropical beauty belongs to the genus Rhododendrons (heather family). She is able to decorate any apartment, any house, and just as well can perfectly become a decorative "pearl" of the garden.

Photo

Here you can see photos of azaleas:

Step-by-step instruction: how to plant an azalea flower at home?

Let's now find out in detail how to properly plant Azaleas.

A place

Where is it better to plant a flower - at home or on the site? It depends on your imagination and goals. Let's consider two options where it can be planted.

In an apartment in a pot

Is it possible to plant varietal Azalea in a flower pot on the windowsill of the house? Of course, there are certain varieties that are suitable for planting at home, the most popular are hybrids, which were obtained on the basis of Rhododendron Sims and Indian Azalea.

In the garden

If you decide to plant Azalea on your garden plot, then the most successful place for it will be planting near a pine or larch. It should be remembered that only frost-resistant varieties should be planted on the streetThe best of them:

• Rhododendron "Grandmother" - undersized shrub with bright pink terry flowers.
• Golden Lights - a wonderful shrub with bright orange large flowers, withstands severe frosts.
• English Roseum - steadily endures the vagaries of the weather and pleases with large domed pink-purple flowers.

Time

The most optimal time for a transplant or for planting is considered the time after the end of its flowering, that is, it is spring. If this is an adult plant, then after flowering it is pruned, removing all excess shoots and twigs and slightly shortening the crown. And if you need to plant a young plant that has not yet bloomed, it is also best to plant it in spring. In more detail about what time it is necessary to plant this plant, you can read in a separate material.

Preparation of inventory and materials

1. Preparing a pot and other equipment - It is very important to choose the right pot, you need to choose a shallow and wide pot, because the roots of the plant are superficial, grow in breadth. Any material can be used, but usually a ceramic pot is chosen for this flower.

   You will also need tools: a knife, pruning shears and scissors, which should definitely be treated with alcohol or well calcined over a fire (to neutralize).

2. Soil preparation - the soil must be loose and light, acidic. For perfect soil we need:
   • special soil for Azalea (or heather);
   • sand;
   • coal;
   • vermiculitis;
   • dried moss sphagnum.
   Attention! From all this wealth with stirring we get the ideal substrate we need. You also need to prepare the drainage - expanded clay.

Methods of breeding: what is the best planting?

Next, we need to decide on the choice of landing method, there are only four of them.

Seedlings

This method is well suited for a newly acquired young flower, usually 2 or even 3 plants are planted in a pot. You need to deal with this procedure in the spring, when flowering ends. The procedure is as follows:

1. We put the pot with the plant in water so that the soil and the root system are well wetted.
2. After 20 minutes we take it out of the water and leave it for a while, so that the excess water in the glass.
3. Next, with a sharp clean knife, we cut the plant into 2 or 3 parts (depending on the plant itself), while trying to damage the roots as little as possible, where it is better to untangle the woven roots with your hands.
4. Ground from the roots can not be shaken off, immediately planted in a separate prepared pot, not forgetting to pre-fill the drainage layer there.

Seeds

This is not the easiest way, but possible, the right time for him is spring.

1. Since Azalea seeds are extremely small, it is best to mix them with sand, and then sow them into the ground (only to the surface).
2. We cover the crops with a film and create the conditions of the greenhouse - high humidity and temperature in the range of 23 - 25 degrees. Care must be taken that mold does not form.
3. After about 3 to 4 weeks, seedlings will appear, you need to wait until leaflets appear on them and pee.
4. When they grow to 12 cm in height, they can be planted in their pots.

Cuttings

With this planting method, in two years you will grow an adult plantcapable of rich flowering.

1. Cuttings are usually cut from last year's shoots (about 8 cm), from the tops.
2. Rooting is carried out in greenhouse conditions: in a light, loose substrate, cuttings are deepened by about 2 cm, moderately watered and sprayed with warm, settled water, periodically aerate the greenhouse and maintain a temperature of about 25 degrees there.
3. Azalea cuttings can be picked from the greenhouse only when their own shoots appear on them, after which small plants are planted in separate pots.
4. At the same time, you immediately need to pinch the top so that the crown will form correctly in the future.

Next, you can watch a video about planting azaleas by cuttings:

Kids

We learn how to plant a flower using children (seedlings) obtained from rooted layers.

1. In spring, we carefully bend the lower shoots to the ground and make a small incision with a sharp knife, into which we insert a match.
2. Then the place of the cut must be gently pinned to the ground (use a hairpin made of wire).
3. The upper part of this layer must be raised so that it stands upright (for reliability, tie it to a peg).
4. The place of nailing should be sprinkled with soil and constantly watered.
5. A few months later (by the fall), a young plant forms its own root system. But it is best to separate this “baby” from the mother bush in the spring, that is, exactly one year after the start of the rooting procedure, now the new plant is finally ready to live separately.

How to care at home?

It is very important now to determine the location of Azalea at home, the main question here is where to put the flower pot in the apartment? It must be remembered that the bright sun is contraindicated in the flower, therefore it is best to put the pot on the north or west window, it is necessary to shade from bright light. You can put the pot and not on the windowsill, but place it, for example, in a hanging pot near the window.
The first watering after planting is done after about 3 or 4 days, giving the plant time to adapt to a new habitat, by the way, you can add a little "Kornevin" to the water.

Further care for the young plant includes compliance with the following rules:

1. Watering - In the summer, frequent watering is required, it all depends on the weather - every other day or even daily, pour warm and necessarily soft water.
2. Humidity - you need high, you need to support it in any way possible:
   • spray frequently;
   • put a container of water near the pot;
   • put the pot in a pan with water;
   • You can use a humidifier (the most ideal option).
3. Temperature - the plant prefers cool content, it is very important for its development and flowering.
   • in winter, the optimum temperature is between 12 - 15 degrees;
   • in summer it should be no higher than 20 degrees (air conditioning would have helped a lot here).
4. Lighting it should always be sufficient; in winter and autumn additional lighting (preferably with a phytolamp) may be required.
5. Pruning - every spring it will be necessary to form a plant, that is, cut and pinch all too long shoots, trim the crown so that it shrubs well.
6. Transfer - Young bushes need to be replanted annually in the spring in a new substrate.
7. Top dressing - you need to constantly feed, except winter, with a frequency of 1 time per week, only a little and only special ones for Azaleas.

Problems and difficulties in growing a houseplant

There may be some difficulties landing:

• For example, it did not work to prepare the ideal soil, but as a result, a newly planted plant can immediately stop growing and begin to lose leaves.
• If the soil dries up, then the flower will throw off all the leaves and it will be very difficult to correct this situation.
• If you do not provide high humidity, then falling leaves and the appearance of various pests are possible.

Conclusion

It is wonderful when a wonderful plant of Azalea lives in your house, but it is even better if it turns out to propagate it. After all, then it becomes possible to please your friends - to give a beautiful flower. And this flower is capable of much, with its appearance in the house the microclimate becomes very favorable for all inhabitants. There is also a belief - if you admire the blooming Azalea for some time, then the nervous tension is completely relieved.

Watch the video: How to Propagate Rhododendrons with a Nearing Frame; Taking Cuttings in the Hoop House (April 2024).