Indian azalea: description, care features

Indoor flowers are the main decoration in the interior of houses and apartments, so many homeowners for decoration try to choose special types of plants that are distinguished by bright colors and shapes. Indian azalea is very popular among flower growers. It is presented in a variety of colors and allows you to create original compositions not only indoors, but also in garden areas.

Indian azalea (indica) belongs to the genus Rhododendron, translated from ancient Greek its name means "dry". This decorative flower is a flowering evergreen shrub, native to Southern Europe and North America. Today, there are about 350 varieties of this flower. When grown at home, the plant reaches a height of no more than 50 cm.It is distinguished by dark green leaves, which are located on short petioles and are up to 3.5 cm long.

In nature, the shrub prefers to grow in areas where cool temperatures and high humidity prevail. Its flowering period usually occurs in early December and late January, while late varieties produce flowers in late February and early March. The inflorescences of the Indian azalea have a bright color, which is dominated by lilac, white, purple and pink shades. The flowers are medium in size, their diameter does not exceed 7 cm. When the plant blooms, it pleases not only with its decorative appearance, but also fills the surrounding space with a delicate aroma.

Many flowers are formed on the bush. They are located next to each other (2-3 pieces each), as a result, they create a thick and bright “cap”.

If this is not done, the flower will begin to lose its "vitality" and spend all its nutrition on the growth of new shoots, after which it will significantly slow down development.

Azalea indica is represented by various varieties, each of which differs not only in decorative properties, but also in growing conditions. Therefore, before purchasing such a "beauty", it is important to know what is required for her care. The most popular plant species include: "John Herens", "Niobe", "Concinnas", "Albert Elizabeth", "Celestina", "Esmeralda", "Eggebrechti", "Verveniana Rosea" and "Fritz Saidor". At the same time, several varieties are in great demand among florists.

• Adventglokhen. The variety is characterized by an early-medium flowering period, during which non-double bell-shaped flowers of red or crimson appear on the shrubs. The diameter of the boot is up to 6 cm.

• Weisse Schame. In this variety, the flowers have a wide-funnel shape, their diameter is 6.5 cm. As for the color, it can be either cream, white or light pink.

• Doberlug. This flower is one of the most beautiful varieties of Indian azalea, in which flowers are irregular in shape. They are terry, medium in size (up to 7.5 cm in diameter) and painted in a dark pink shade with a snow-white border.

• "Dresden 1936". When the plant blooms, it does not leave anyone indifferent, since the shrub is covered with medium-double flowers (their diameter is 6.5 cm) of pink color, which unusually shine and shimmer.

Florists recommend that beginner florists purchase varieties of small-flowered azaleas for growing at home. These include: Kocho no mai, Cattleya, Addy Wery, Azuma kagame, Adonis, and Himomayo. They are less demanding to care for, resistant to various diseases and quickly take root after transplantation.

Azalea indica loves soil with a high level of acidity (pH 4 to 4.5), so for planting it is best purchased in specialized stores. If you have experience in preparing planting mixtures yourself, then they can be easily obtained by mixing coarse sand, coniferous soil and peat in proportions of 1: 2: 1. Choosing the right pot also plays a big role before planting a plant. The container should be small, shallow, wide and have drainage holes. It is not recommended to buy large containers, since the flower grows slowly and pathogenic bacteria can develop in unused soil. A drainage layer consisting of small pebbles or expanded clay should be placed at the bottom of the pot.

Despite the fact that Indian azalea is considered one of the most beautiful and popular types of indoor plants, caring for it at home is not easy. The flower is considered very whimsical to growing conditions and requires maximum comfort. Therefore, after purchase, it should be provided with some care.

• Lighting. The shrub does not tolerate the direct rays of the sun, it should be placed in places protected from bright light, otherwise it may die even at the initial stages of its development. Window sills from the north, east or west side of the apartment are well suited for the plant.

• Temperature conditions. In the cool season (autumn and winter) for indica azalea, it is necessary to create an optimal temperature regime in the range from +15 to +17 degrees. After it is ready for flowering, the temperature must be lowered to + 10– + 12 degrees. In summer, you need to ensure that the air temperature in the room where the shrub is located does not exceed +22 degrees.

• Air humidity. Since the flower in the wild is used to growing in areas with high humidity, in room conditions it is necessary to maintain the humidity at a level of at least 70%. At the same time, it can be additionally sprayed with water at room temperature, but this must be done carefully, since the leaves will darken due to the large amount of moisture.

• Watering. Water procedures should be carried out only with settled water, to which you can additionally add citric acid. The soil must not be allowed to dry out completely, as this is too harmful for the plant. In summer, containers with azalea should be placed in a special tray filled with water. Thanks to this, soil moisture will remain for a long time.

• Top dressing. It is necessary to apply fertilizers both during the active development of the culture and during the dormant period. Fertilizers can be used as top dressing, which include ammonium nitrate, superphosphate, potassium sulfite and other micronutrients.

• Pinching and trimming. When an indica azalea begins to bloom, it is important to monitor its appearance and promptly remove faded buds and seed pods. During this period, the plant also needs pruning (pinching) of the shoots, as in the future this will contribute to more lush flowering.A well-groomed shape is given to the flower by pinching young shoots, only 4-5 leaves are left on them. Shoots that have grown on flower buds are also removed. Indian azalea must also be cleaned of weak and overgrown shoots. Pruning usually begins in March and continues through May. If you do not carry out such events, the plant will turn into a sprawling bush and will bloom weakly.

An important role in the care of a decorative flower is also played by its preparation for wintering. Azalea should be placed for this period in a room where the temperature regime is constantly maintained at least + 15 ° C. It is under such conditions that the plant will be able to "rest" well, gain strength and survive the winter without negative consequences. In order for the Indian azalea to please with its early flowering, in February it should be provided with top dressing, watering and additional artificial lighting. If you adhere to all of the above conditions in growing, then the Indian "beauty" will surely thank her owners with chic and fragrant flowers.

Azalea indica reproduces at home is quite difficult, but experienced gardeners successfully cope with this.

Seed propagation is usually used by breeders who are looking for new varieties. For this, the characteristics of the plant are mixed. Sowing is carried out in prepared acidic soil, consisting of rotted pine needles and peat. The container with the sown seeds is placed in a bright place and covered with polyethylene, waiting for germination. The room temperature should not be lower than + 24 ° C. During this period, it is important to monitor the level of soil moisture and perform timely watering.

Seeds begin to germinate at different times - from 1 week to 2 months. When friendly shoots began to be seen in the container, the air temperature is lowered and the protective cover is removed.

After the formation of the first leaves, the seedlings can be planted in a permanent container.

As for propagation by cuttings, it is much easier to carry out than sowing seeds. The best periods for cutting cuttings are spring (March) and summer (June). Cuttings from 5 to 8 cm long are chosen as planting material. They are cut, treated with special preparations that stimulate growth, and planted in the ground to a depth of 2 cm. After that, the container is covered with polyethylene, and the cuttings are watered, ventilated and sprayed with settled water. After about 6 weeks, roots will appear on the cuttings, the final process of which can take up to 6 months.

In addition to the above breeding techniques, some growers also divide the shrub. For this, a three- or four-year-old bush is taken, which can be divided into separate parts and planted in a pot.

Indian azalea is considered a plant resistant to diseases and pests, but due to improper care conditions (direct sunlight, poor-quality watering, high temperature, inadequacy of soil composition), the flower can be affected by insects and fungal diseases. Common plant diseases are worth considering.

• Phytophthora. The reason for its appearance is the prolonged, abundant moistening of the earth or stagnation of water in the drainage layer.To prevent such a disease, you should constantly monitor the frequency of watering, and when transplanting a color, use only disinfected soil.
• Gray rot and rust. Such diseases occur due to temperature changes in the room. As a prophylaxis and treatment, the affected leaves are removed and the optimal air temperature is restored.
• Chlorosis. If the azalea is planted in soil containing the wrong composition, then its leaves are affected by chlorosis and begin to turn yellow. The purchase of ready-made soil in stores will help to avoid such a problem.

As for pests, the azalea indica most often suffers from aphids, spider mites, whiteflies and scale insects. To prevent their appearance, it is recommended to carry out treatment with special preparations.

For the cultivation of Indian azalea, see the next video.