Azaleas are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful, prolific blooming plants available to grace your home. It is not unusual at all for an indoor azalea to be so covered with blooms that you have to search for the foliage. While they are close relatives to the rhododendrons and azaleas that bloom in your landscape, this type of azalea is not winter-hardy in our area. All the hardy azaleas in our climate are deciduous, losing their leaves every winter. Indoor azaleas are actually evergreen and grow prolifically in the deep South.  Azaleas will bloom for as long as a month at a time, especially if they are kept cool.

Like the lilacs, daffodils and crabapples that provide us with color each spring, azaleas have to go through a full season before they will bloom again. To trigger an azalea back into bloom, it should be kept outdoors throughout the summer. Protect it from frost, but leave it out until the nights have been reliably in the low 40ºs for several weeks before bringing it back indoors. With luck, this cold treatment followed by warmer temps indoors will trick the plant into thinking it is spring again and it should bloom. If this sounds like too much trouble, simply thank the plant for the beauty it brought into your life and let it go. To choose a quality azalea, look for a plant with a few blooms and lots of tight buds just beginning to show color. The leaves should be  rich dark green and the plant should be compact and full.

Tips for Growing Healthy Azaleas
What are the light requirements for azaleas? To keep blooming azaleas beautiful indoors, it is important to supply as much light as possible without letting them get direct afternoon sun, especially in the summer.

How much water do they need? Azaleas prefer to be consistently moist. This may require daily watering if your home is warm and dry. Avoid leaving water in the saucer for more than an hour. Since azaleas are acid lovers, be sure your water is not too alkaline. This is a common problem in our area. One option is to slightly acidify your plant water by adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar to each gallon.

Do they have any special temperature requirements? While they are in bloom, they do best if they are kept around 55-60º. At warmer temperatures, the blooms don't last as long. Azaleas will tolerate a wide range of temperatures, from near freezing to 90º plus. Re-blooming is triggered by low temperatures.

Do azaleas need much humidity? They prefer high humidity. Using a humidity tray provides the moisture without harming the flowers. When they aren't in bloom, they like to be misted.

How much fertilizer do they require? Azaleas perform best when they are given weekly light applications of food most of the year. Use Bachman's Excel Gro™ Acid fertilizer or Miracid half strength. Let the plant rest without feeding for a month or two in mid-summer.

What type of soil do they prefer? Any well-drained peat-based potting soil, such as Exceloam or Hyde Park Professional Potting Soil.

When should I repot my azaleas? They like to be crowded in the pot. Repot in late summer or early fall. If possible, use a clay pot.

Will they need any grooming? As the blooms fade, remove the flowers. If it needs pruning, it should be done immediately after bloom. Other than that, an occasional shower to clean off the dust is all it needs.

How are they propagated? Azaleas are not usually propagated at home. Commercially they are propagated by either tissue culture or rooted softwood cuttings.

Troubleshooting Problems with Azaleas
What causes the leaves and flowers to fall off azaleas? This can be triggered by too little water or too much water. It can also be caused by keeping the plant where it is too hot and the air is too dry.

Why would flower buds fail to open? When the buds have developed but don't open, it is typically because the plant is either being kept too wet or hot.

What causes black specks on the leaves and blooms? Azaleas, especially the blooms, hate to be sprayed with leafshine or strong insecticides.

Why do azaleas seem to get scraggly and thin after a while? The natural growth habit of an azalea is to be much more open and loose than those produced for indoor blooming. To keep them compact, prune right after they bloom and provide lots of light.

When the leaves turn black, what is the cause? Blackened or severely discolored foliage usually indicates cold damage.

If the leaves develop little white trails, what is the cause? Sometimes azaleas get a leaf-mining insect that tunnels around in the foliage, leaving white trails. Since the flowers are so sensitive to sprays, wait until after it has finished blooming to treat. This is best treated with Malathion at half the recommended rate. Malathion should only be used outdoors. Repeat in a week. Insecticidal granules can also be used for control.

What causes the buds to be covered with brown husks? This is a natural covering for the developing flower.
The leaves almost seem hairy. Why? This is natural, too, especially on young leaves.

What keeps the plant from blooming again? It naturally blooms only once a year. Flowering is triggered by extended cool weather (a simulated winter period) followed by warmer, brighter conditions.

When the leaves look rough and sandy, what is the cause? Spider mites are sucking insects that make the foliage look generally unhealthy and rough. After blooming, spray with insecticidal soap or pyrethrins. Repeat if needed.

What causes all the little white bugs that fly around the azalea? These little pests are whiteflies. After blooming, spray with insecticidal soap or pyrethrins. Repeat the spray again in 3 days and again in 3 days, being sure to target the undersurface of all the leaves.

What causes the leaves to be a pale green? This can be from too little fertilizer or too little light. Check to make sure your water is not too alkaline. If necessary, switch to spring or distilled water or add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to each gallon of tap water.

Recommended Products
Bachman's-Grown Azaleas                                              
Excel Gro Acid Fertilizer
Quality Containers and Saucers               
Artificial Lights for Indoor Gardening
Safe and Effective Insecticides

©Bachman's 2008