Breeding methods and precautions of spring azalea

How to breed spring azalea

soil

Spring azalea prefers acidic soil and grows poorly in calcareous soil, so acidic soil is mostly used for breeding spring azalea. It should be loose, rich in humus, with good drainage, and avoid clay or alkaline soil. Generally, several types of soil are used for configuration.

Light and temperature

Spring azalea prefers a cool growing environment, and semi-shady conditions are better. It is neither heat-resistant nor cold-resistant. The suitable temperature for its growth is between 12℃ and 25℃. It is not heat-resistant in summer and will go semi-dormant when the temperature exceeds 30℃. It is not cold-resistant in winter and will get frostbite when the temperature is below 0℃, so you must keep warm in winter. It likes scattered light and is not resistant to exposure. It needs proper shading in summer, but be careful not to over-shade.

Watering and fertilizing

Spring azalea likes moisture, so during the growing season, the soil should be kept moist, neither too dry nor waterlogged. When the air is relatively dry, you can spray water on the azalea plants to increase the air humidity; when it rains, you need to drain the water in time to prevent the soil from being too wet and causing root rot.

Spring azalea should be fertilized thinly and frequently, with decomposed thin liquid fertilizer applied once every half a month. Phosphorus fertilizer can be applied 1 to 2 times before flowering to make the flowers large and bright.

Precautions for breeding spring azalea

Plastic pruning

During its growth period, spring azaleas generally grow naturally and are rarely pruned. However, after the spring azalea has bloomed, it needs to be pruned and those branches that are too long, sick, deformed and damaged need to be cut off.

Pests and diseases

Spring azalea has fewer diseases and pests, but it is necessary to prevent their occurrence during the growth period and spray some disinfectants by air. In the summer, red spider mites are prone to outbreaks and need to be sprayed.

Reproduction method

The main methods of reproduction of spring azalea are sowing, cutting, layering and division.