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Are you thinking of growing azaleas in containers but are n’t trusted where to get started ? In this article , horticulture expert Jill Drago will give you all of the answers you need to grow beautiful azaleas in containers .
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Azaleas are famed for their brilliantly colored flowers that begin to bloom in belated spring . These flowering shrubs are most commonly planted in flush beds or flock margin for maximum blossom impact . Did you know those azaleas develop as beautifully in container as they do in the basis ?
Container gardening is growing in popularity and offers a nifty way to tally these bloom beauties to your garden . If you do not have the place or growing conditions to grow azaleas in the ground , give container gardening a endeavour !
Below are11 tip to help you grow the most beautiful azalea in container . permit ’s hollow in !
Choose the Right Container
When choose a container , the principal affair you need to worry about is the muckle size . take a potabout doubly as recondite and doubly as wideas the baby’s room container your azalea is growing in . This will give the azalea plenty of room to grow .
As far as material go , select the material that you care well . Many gardener fuck terracotta or ceramic pots . These are beautiful , and there are so many different options . If you be after on moving your pot inside for the wintertime , you mayopt for a lighter stuff such as plastic , vinyl radical , or afabric grow bag . Either way , take the full aesthetic for you and your garden .
Selecting the Best Azalea
When choosing an azalea at the garden center , you will want to remember the size of the container you have and the require mature size of the cultivar . There are plenteousness of smaller azalea varieties for your to choose from . Here are just a few to get you started !
The Encore line of rhododendron is made up of reblooming azaleas . ‘ Autumn Chiffon ’ is just one of their beautiful options . The stocky size of this azalea make water it perfect for container planting . The lowly size also lends this diverseness well toother planting locations .
Position your containers so ‘ Autumn Chiffon ’ will getbetween 4 - 6 hours of direct sun . This will help the plant to get strong blooms .
‘ Bollywood ’ is a absolutely sized azalea for your containers . This plant produce Battle of Magenta blossom in the spring .
Even though this isnot a reblooming azalea , it still provides year - recollective interest . The leaves on ‘ Bollywood ’ are beautifully vary and semi - evergreen plant .
‘ Doubleshot Watermelon ’ produces beautiful twofold efflorescence in a bright shade of Battle of Magenta . Lucky for us gardener , this is another reblooming azalea variety that willproduce two circle of blooms each class . ‘ Doubleshot Watermelon ’ is an evergreen plant azalea that will hold onto its beautiful glossy farewell all year long .
‘ Gumpo White ’ is a beautiful white option . The flowers on this plant are bloodless with green throats . The leafage are small and bright green .
The foliage is also evergreen and willremain bright all year long . Gumpo bloodless is slightly wider than it is marvelous and would be beautiful growing in a container .
Get your Container Ready
Whether using a steel - new container or one you have had for years , cleaning your pot before you engraft anything in it is serious .
Spray the pot down with a hose , and use a tag end or scrubbrush to remove debris . If your container is in really uncollectible pattern , you may desire touse diluted acetum or diluted whitener solutionto help you clean it up .
Drainage hole are very important . If your batch does not have any , or if you need to add a few more , this is the time to do it .
expend the right recitation bit to bore your holes , depending on your container ’s cloth . A diamond - spot drill is great for ceramic . If you have a plastic mountain , you’re able to apply a hammering and nail to thump a few holes in the bottom of the sight .
Choose an Acidic Potting Soil
It can be very tantalising to use garden soil to fill up your containers . This would decidedly be the more economical way to go . unluckily , it is not always the good solvent for your plants .
Garden soil tends to be heavy and may hold onto too much water , which can cause all sorts of fungal issues . But more importantly , it ’s often not acidic enough for an azalea .
direct to your garden center and buy good - quality potting filth . If you could find potting soilspecifically word for acid - enjoy plant , that would be even better !
Plant the Right Way
When ready to plant , mildly bump off the azalea from the glasshouse pot . If it seem root take a hop , softly use your hands to loosen the root system up .
Place it into your container . ensure that the industrial plant crownwork is2 column inch above the territory line . This will assure that your azalea is getting enough air flow and that the shrub ’s crown will not stay wet for too long .
Lightly pack the soil around the plant life and water !
Find the Best Spot for Your Pot
Azaleas develop well in full Sunday or fond sunshine , depending on the variety you select . Place your pot in an area where it will get aminimum of 4 hours of direct sunshine per day .
The more sunlight your azalea get , the more compact and prolifically flower it will be . These flowers may not last as long as those growing in some tincture .
part shaded azalea will be slightly more leggy but get beautiful , long - lasting flowers . Choose which is best for you .
Potted azalea are beautiful beside a front doorway or paseo . They also make a very decent privateness silver screen or barrier when clustered together or positioned in front of an unsightly element in your yard , such as an air conditioner .
Add Companion Plants
azalea can harbour their own in containers without any help from any companions . But if you are thinking you want toadd some zing to your container , here are a few pick :
Use Good Watering Practices
Azaleas are shallow - rout plants . This is important to call back , especially when growing azalea in containers . You will require to water these potted shrubs more frequently than you would if they were growing in the priming .
Use the rule of pollex and ensure your azalea getabout one in of water supply per week . Keep your eye on the leaves . If they are start to look a small droopy , chance are , you involve to water your shrubs .
you could also apply amoisture sensorto keep track of how much weewee your azalea needs . plainly stick in the sensor in the dirt of your container . When you need to irrigate , the detector will bend blank . If enough moisture is in the soil , the detector will be blue .
Don’t Forget to Fertilize
Do n’t forget , but also do n’t overdo it when fertilizing your azaleas . These bloom shrubsdo not need a net ton of fertilizer .
Using body of water - soluble fertilizer , you’re able to leave plenty of nutrient for your azaleas and their companions . However , remember that azaleas like acid experimental condition .
A fertilizer that is optimise towards an Lucy in the sky with diamonds - have it away plant is ideal for them , and mostly , they ’ll only need an coating of an acid - lover ’s fertilizer once or twice each year .
Prune as Needed
The best time to prune azaleas is right after the bush has complete blossom . This will help keep any flower buds intact .
If you believe that your azalea demand a hard and rejuvenate pruning , this isbest done in early spring . Only remove one - third of the plant at a time to head off any impact .
Prepare for Winter
When the strong summertime begins to enfold up , it is time to decide if you require to overwinter your pot azalea .
One option is to transfer the azalea from its container and engraft it into your landscape painting . If possible , you will need todo so in Septemberto ensure your azalea has enough time to get used to its fresh home plate .
If you need to keep your azaleas growing in your container for years , you will want to protect your container from inhuman temperature . You do n’t need to concern about protecting the leaf so much ; it is the root organization that you should be most concerned with .
you may savvy hole and sink your container in the ground , but that can get slick if your containers are large . Other options are a garage or garden shed that gets indirect sunlight but will keep the roots dependable from photograph to the winter element .
Final Thoughts
Azaleas are beautiful additions to your garden , no matter how you constitute them . Container - set azalea volunteer a whole new wow factor to your yard and allow you to grow these flowering shrub when you may not otherwise have been capable to .
recall to keep a closer oculus on these potted plant since they will need a bit more pee than they commonly would growing in your blossom beds . prefer the azalea you fuck the most , and you will be well on your elbow room to a fresh happy potted industrial plant for your landscape !
