Azalea at home: photophilous flower of rhododendron or not, where to plant and what is the optimum temperature of the content, as well as other nuances of growing

Rhododendron is a woody ornamental plant that strikes with the beauty of form, the richness of flowers and the splendor of flowering. It is also very often called a pink shrub. There are several types of such plants, among which - rhododendron evergreen, semi-evergreen, deciduous. From the article you will learn how to organize comfortable conditions for home rhododendron, does this plant like shade or the sun, and what else needs to be considered when growing it for healthy growth and flowering.

The optimal environment for rhododendron

A distinctive feature of rhododendron is its slow growth, but decorativeness remains good. Therefore, in order for the plant to grow and develop as quickly as possible at home, you need to select peat soil. The plant does not tolerate soil with an alkaline environment or the presence of chlorine in it..

The root system of the rhododendron is small - it is not deep, so you can choose a medium-sized pot.

Reference! To protect the soil from pests, it must be periodically mulched with bark and peat. If possible, an acidic coniferous litter can also be used.

Photophilous plant or not?

Many species of rhododendrons are mountain plants that are found in deciduous forests. As for the smaller varieties, they can be seen in highly lit places. Often a plant calmly tolerates rainfall and shade.

For a houseplant, lighting should be good, but not excessive. In this case, the leaves will be healthy, dark green, and eventually become completely shiny. If the disease has attacked rhododendron, brown spots will appear on the leaves.

Is extra light needed?

In order for the rhododendron to grow and develop, it is worth choosing the eastern windowsill as the location. It quickly forms flower buds. Additional lighting for the flower does not hurt - use fluorescent lamps in the autumn.

Where to plant - in the shade or in the sun?

Do not put the plant in direct sunlight. Under them, it can burn out quickly. However, the constant shadow is not suitable for copious flowering. Therefore, to say that the rhododendron loves the sun or shadow more is impossible; the best place is near the window, but not on the windowsill.

What temperature does it withstand?

Creating the optimum temperature is important for the development of the plant, its lush flowering. Indeed, not every person has a balcony on which plants do not freeze. In winter, the minimum temperature should be 5 degrees, and the maximum 10.

During the flowering period, 14-18 degrees are considered the best indicators.

Humidity

This parameter plays a particularly important role. It is important to spray the plant every day. If the weather is too hot, it is worth carrying out such manipulation 2-3 times a day. To do this, use settled water. Rhododendron is a plant that loves moist air. That's why it should be kept away from central heating appliances that dry the air.

Watering Rules

In the warmer months, rhododendron care involves the use of acidic, softened water. The intensity depends on how the top layer of the earth dries. In this regard, it is worth choosing a middle ground. Drying or waterlogging can adversely affect the plant. The best solution is to alternate watering in the pan with watering from above.

Moisture that is absorbed from the pallet will feed the plant. Excess water needs to be drained after a while. For irrigation, the best solution would be to use rainwater or snow..

You can learn more about irrigation methods and the rules for watering a plant at home in this article.

Soil and fertilizers

Specialists are ready to offer several proven compounds for growing rhododendron. The soil may contain different amounts of minerals. If the soil is stored for some time, its chemical composition also changes.

An acidic environment will help prevent the development of fungus on the roots, and an alkaline environment can lead to their death. Acidity from 3.5 to 5.5 units is considered the best.

Attention! It is optimal that the soil contains leaf and coniferous land, horse peat, sand and heather land.

For top dressing, it is worth using complex fertilizers, the composition of which is as balanced as possible. The presence of iron and magnesium will prevent any defects appearing on the leaves.

Read more about plant nutrition and the fertilizer process here.

Improper care

With improper care, the plant begins to fade. For instance:

When the leaves turn brown, this suggests that they are affected by a fungal disease due to insufficient moisture.
Yellow leaves They say that the plant does not have enough moisture. But also a low acidity of the soil may be a common cause. It is important to defend the water before irrigation and feed the plant with a buffer solution.
If the flower buds begin to crumbleThe reason may be low humidity or high air temperature.
Folding leaves say that watering is not good enough. Also in this case, it is worthwhile to carry out additional spraying of rhododendron.

Useful video

Further, a visual informative video with tips on caring for azalea at home:

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is worth noting that the conditions for growing azaleas play an important role, since the growth and development of the flower, as well as its appearance, depend on them. Following the rules, each grower will be able to grow this plant of incredible beauty.