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Azalea

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Bunny ...
23/01/2013 at 12:20
I have had 2 azaleas for few years now (white) as a present from OH, I have had them in the ground and now in pots with correct compost, although they have generated more leaves they have never flowered and not sure what I need to do next, have I no hope of them thriving ? : (
sotongeoff
23/01/2013 at 13:00

I have two in containers a red and white one -to be honest all they get is rainwater-perhaps neglect is an answer?

Or feed with high potash like tomato food might help-I think if they are healthy enough they will just in time do what they are born to do-that could be this year.

Bunny ...
23/01/2013 at 13:03
Do you have them sheltered sotongeoff ? It's quite a windy garden and wondering if my deck by the house may be better? I shall certainly try the tomato feed once this weather warms a little I shall check the roots maybe a larger pot?
sotongeoff
23/01/2013 at 13:10

Don't think I would pot them on-that will just induce more growth-try the starvation approach-the whole role of a plant like this is to flower and set seed -if it thinks it is on the way out then that is what it is more likely to do

A tomato feed promotes flower growth rather than leaf growth

As for location- would not think that makes much difference-they are fairly hardy

Do you know the variety?

Bunny ...
23/01/2013 at 13:15
I don't think I still have the label (pup had a thing about plant tags and labels in the early days) but I shall check . Thanks for the advice I shall try the be mean approach and feed .
jo4eyes
23/01/2013 at 13:34

If they didnt get enough water the previous early Autumn then they can be shy to flower. You can usually start to see the signs of new flower buds by about October IME.

They are in pots, so that will have been down to you despite all the rain last year. If that deck is in sun then they will have been dry at their roots & that wont have helped. They are basically woodland understorey plants, so actually prefer a part shade position.

I'd feed this spring, keep watered, with rainwater if your tap water is hard, & add some more ericaceous compost as a mulch to the pot. If necessary/possible move the pots out of sun into a cooler spot.

They may still not flower this yr, but next yr, if watered in autumn should do so. J.

 

Bunny ...
23/01/2013 at 13:39
They are in early sun thenshade rest of day near the greenhouse at the moment and I water from water butt . I will do as advised with the added compost as mulch, I had buds last year but nothing came of them even with the amount of rain we get here. My mission now is to get some flowers , thank you.
jo4eyes
23/01/2013 at 13:44

Hmm, sounds as if you're doing things right. Sometimes plants are just downright stubborn. I know that I've moved a small azalea 3X to it's existing spot & bingo flowers & a happy plant. Literally 1ft to the side of it's original position.

Good luck. J.

Lyn
23/01/2013 at 18:17
Are they in the proper ericacius (scuse spelling) soil and fed with same liquid feed.
My dad had one for a present when he retired, we put it in the greenhouse for the winter and bring into the conservatory in February, where it has flowered for 27 years. Have you checked for vine weevil, when I repotted ours last year, the pot was full of them!.
Welshonion
23/01/2013 at 18:36

Are they garden plants or were they given to you as pot plants for indoors?

artjak
23/01/2013 at 18:40

I was given 2 Azaleas for Christmas and told to only water them with 'soft' water. Here in Norfolk the water is v. hard, so apparently I should use water from the water butts, BUT the taps on the butts are frozen, so have been using house tap water that has been standing in a jug for 3 days. I have been told this helps noxious chemicals to evaporate.

Lyn
23/01/2013 at 18:40
That's what I am thinking WO.
Bunny ...
23/01/2013 at 19:39
No they are garden centre outdoor ones , I shall check in pot. Wen. Removed them from ground into pot and compost they grew a lot more leaves , maybe they need a rest from my 'messing' .
Welshonion
24/01/2013 at 00:45

artjak, the hardness of the water will not disappear however long you leave the tap water to stand.  Your best bet is to put some rainwater ice or snow in a jug and leave it to melt.

artjak
24/01/2013 at 08:48

Welsh onion, thank you for that advice; I'll have to try to thaw the taps on the waterbutts

Bunny ...
28/01/2013 at 14:06
Checked for variety ...just says azalea shrub . Booo. Have given them a stern talking to and told them to buck their ideas up this year. I wait and see.
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