Flowering pot plants are best considered a long-lasting substitute for cut flowers instead of a house plant with a very short life. Many have blooms lasting four to seven weeks, some even longer. If the flowers die or leaves fade within days, something is wrong. In general, flowering pot plants need bright, cool conditions and moist soil. Warm air is usually their biggest enemy.
Tammy H, wrote, I got a couple of potted azaleas as presents for Easter. Obviously still blooming and holding their own--in fact theyre really doing pretty well. Should I keep them as potted plants and just bring them indoors in the fall, or should I maybe plant them out in the back yard and see if I get anything in the spring?
Azaleas enjoy bright light but not direct sun. Keep the plant cool, ideal is 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit, and mist daily when flowering. Without the proper care the flowers can wilt and leaves drop within two weeks.
The florists azaleas arent likely to survive a Zone Six winter outdoors.
While it is in the house, water it deeply and infrequently. A good way is to soak it in a tub of water until the bubbles stop, and then let it drain out the excess water. Do this about once a week. Exactly how often depends on its potting mix and the temperature and humidity of the room. The goal is to have moist soil, rather than having it either saturated or dry for more than a few hours at a time. Putting the pot on or near a saucer of water and gravel will raise the humidity and help it hold its leaves.
You can plant it outside after the last frost, still in the pot, with the rim of the pot even with the soil level, or use it as a potted plant. Remember to water it, as the roots can only get the water in the pot. Bring it back into the house during fall as a potted plant, and put it in the coolest part of the house during the winter.
If it will be staying in the pot, fertilize it lightly every month or so through the fall, with a fertilizer low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus to promote root and bud growth without promoting plant and leaf growth. Then let it rest during the winter, but dont forget to water it. Also, carefully remove it from the pot every six months or so to check the roots. If you see fine roots circling the root ball, put it into another pot, two to four inches wider than the old pot. Before repotting it, cut those circling roots by making top-to-bottom cuts every few inches, all the way around the root ball.
Until next week, this is Ruth the Grower saying, The Indian azalea (Rhododendron simsii) is the most popular. But as I stated above, it is important to keep it wet, cool and brightly lit. The Japanese azalea (Rhododendron obtusum) has smaller blooms but easier to maintain and can be planted in the garden. Keep writing to ruththegrower@aol.com.
