Azalea is one of the top ten famous flowers in my country. Its other names include azalea, mountain pomegranate, mountain azalea, red azalea, mountain azalea, etc. Among all ornamental flowers and trees, it is said to have both beautiful flowers and leaves. It is suitable for both ground planting and potted planting. Let me tell you how to grow azaleas and the precautions for their cultivation!
How to grow rhododendrons:
1. Environmental conditions: It is best to cultivate azaleas in both indoor and outdoor environments. Indoor environment is used in winter. For outdoor venues, used in summer and autumn, it is better to use mud instead of cement. The site should be spacious, ventilated and shady. A shade shed should be built above, covered with reed curtains or protected by natural tree shades. The light transmittance should be about 30%, and sunset sunlight should be avoided.
2. Pot soil requirements: Rhododendron prefers acidic soil that is loose, highly permeable, well-drained, and rich in humus, with a pH value of 5.0-6.0. If you use clay or alkaline soil, you can get rid of all difficulties. Especially summer cuckoos and cuckoos must be grown in mountainous soil. Mountain soil also needs to be transformed. Currently, three types of culture soil are usually used.
3. Flower pot selection: Generally, two types of flower pots are used for cultivating azaleas: mud pots and purple sand pots. Mud pots have good ventilation and water permeability, and are used in production units for cultivation. Formed azaleas, especially shaped azaleas, are generally planted in beautiful and elegant purple sand pots for indoor and outdoor display. The purple sand pots have fine texture, rich colors and beautiful shapes, which can double the ornamental value.
4. Improve water quality: It is best to use rainwater to water azaleas, followed by river water and pond water. If you use tap water, it is advisable to store the water for 1-2 days to allow the chlorine to evaporate before use. Add 0.2% ferrous sulfate when used, water it once every 7-10 days during the growing season, and use it frequently to ensure that the soil is acidic.
5. Fertilizer and water management: Rhododendron likes dampness and should not be too dry. More water is especially needed during flowering. In winter, azaleas have entered a dormant period and do not require much water. Watering is usually done once every 4-5 days, preferably around noon on a sunny and warm day;
6. Outdoor shading: It is advisable to see more sunlight before leaving the house and before blooming; during the flowering period, short-term shading is required at noon, with a light transmittance of 60%;
7. Shaping and pruning: Rhododendrons grow slowly. Generally, they are allowed to grow naturally. They are only pruned after flowering. Cut off leggy branches, diseased and weak branches, deformed branches, and damaged branches.
8. DefenseDisease and pest control: During the damage period, spray 40% dimethoate solution 1500 times for armyworm (also known as crown stink bug) once every 7 days for 3 consecutive times. The control method for terminal bud leaf rollers mainly relies on manual capture and killing. The larvae or pupae can also be sprayed with 40% Dimethoate EC 2000 times or dichlorvos 1500 times.
Notes on azalea cultivation:
1. The roots of azaleas are as thin as hair, and there are very few thick main roots. They are afraid of both dryness and moisture, especially heavy fertilizer. If you water too much, the roots will soak in the water and dry out, the branches and leaves will shrink, and the leaves will fall off, which is a great threat to the plant. As for watering heavy fertilizers, it will be life-threatening.
2. After the flowers fade, the remaining flowers must be cut off to avoid fruiting and consuming nutrients. After the new branches sprout, the branches should be thinned appropriately, and the branches should be removed according to the growth of the plant.
3. Rhododendrons are most suitable to be planted in mud pots, because mud pots absorb water and are breathable, which is conducive to the growth and development of root systems and luxuriant branches and leaves.
4. The place where potted azaleas are placed should be particular. They should generally be placed on the balcony in the southeast direction, and should be ventilated and moved as little as possible. Without ventilation, you are prone to black spot disease and a large number of leaves will fall.
5. Rhododendrons should also have moderate light requirements and avoid direct light in summer.
6. Thinning buds and leaves in time, remove part of the buds and leaves that have grown too densely to allow air to circulate and nutrients to concentrate in the buds. After the flower buds are formed, it is necessary to increase nutrition and apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizers appropriately, otherwise the flower buds will transform into leaf buds.
7. The main reasons for rhododendron falling leaves and not blooming are: too much direct light in summer, severe cold and frostbite, too much watering, too heavy fertilization, leaving it indoors for too long, and keeping it in a dark or humid place with poor air circulation. , acid rain, etc., so these situations should be avoided during the maintenance process.
8. Repotting and soil replacement does not need to be done every year, usually once every 2 to 3 years. Try to minimize damage to the roots. The time should be spent.After harvest or in autumn, spray thiophanate at the same time to prevent diseases.
9. The main pests of azaleas are red spiders, aphids, etc. You can spray them with pyrethrin, etc. The effect is better. If they are not dead after three days, spray again.
10. The main method of propagating rhododendrons is cuttings. Select new branches before and after awn planting, 5 cm to 10 cm long, cut them at the bifurcation point, peel off the lower leaves, leaving 3 to 4 top leaves, insert 1/3 of the branches into the soil, spray enough water, and cover Cover with plastic film. Management should be strengthened at ordinary times and transplanted after one year.
The above is the method of breeding azaleas and the precautions during the breeding process. As long as you take good care of it according to the instructions, you will definitely be able to grow beautiful azaleas.
