How to keep azalea alive in winter

Watering

Rhododendron likes a humid environment and does not require it to be too dry. During the flowering period, it must be given sufficient water. In winter, its growth has actually become slow, and it does not require much water at this time. Generally, it only needs to be watered once every 5 days, preferably at noon on a sunny day. Secondly, if you grow it indoors, you need to ensure a certain level of air humidity. You can spray water on the plants and leaves, but it is best not to spray when they are blooming, otherwise it will cause the flowers to wither.

Fertilization

In winter, it is actually not necessary to fertilize azaleas, but in January, you should apply base fertilizer, either bean cake or bone meal.

temperature

In winter, temperature is also very important, but different varieties of rhododendron have different temperature requirements. Spring azalea, summer azalea and hairy azalea are more cold-resistant, and the winter temperature should not be lower than 0℃. However, the azalea requires the temperature to be above 2°C. If it is lower than this value, insulation measures must be taken, otherwise the plant will be frostbitten.

Therefore, when growing rhododendrons in winter, it is better to keep the temperature at 8℃-10℃. If you are indoors, please avoid air conditioning and heating.

prune

The bonsai of azalea needs to be shaped through pruning and tying. Moderate pruning can also be done in winter, mainly thinning and scissoring, and cutting off the dense branches, long branches, and sick and weak branches. At this time, the spring azalea has begun to produce flower buds, and the dense buds can be appropriately thinned out to concentrate nutrients.