Florist's Azalea Care Tips

Botanical Name: Rhododendron simsii

Good azalea care will help your flowers to stay beautiful.

This tender winter- and spring-blooming house plant, known as florist's azalea, flowers in abundance in shades of pink, white, purple or red.

Dark-green, oval leaves cover this small, spreading shrub. Its woody stems bear clusters of flowers at their tips. With bright light and cool temperatures, it will bloom for 3-4 weeks. Cut off dead flowers to encourage more blooms. Brown leaves are often a symptom of azalea diseases such as fungus or root rot. An infected plant should be discarded because it will not recover.

Keep this plant out of drafts. Flower buds may shrivel and turn brown if exposed to the hot, dry air of a heat vent. Add extra humidity with a room humidifier or by placing the plant on a tray of wet pebbles. I wouldn't recommend misting because this plant is prone to fungus, which can kill the plant.

Unlike hardy azaleas that can be grown in the garden, this florist's type cannot withstand freezing temperatures and should not be planted outdoors unless you live where winters are short and mild.

Origin: Asian hybrids

Height: 12 in (30 cm)

Light: Bright light, no direct sun.

Water: Keep soil thoroughly moist. If allowed to dry out, foliage shrivels and flowers wilt. This acid-loving plant shouldn't be watered with hard water. Use rainwater or distilled water.

Humidity: Moderate to high humidity.

Temperature: Cool to average room temperatures 60-70°F, 16-21°C

Soil: Peat-based (lime free) potting mix.

Fertilizer: Feed every 2 weeks with a high-potassium liquid fertilizer that contains iron, diluted by half.

Propagation: Can be propagated from stem cuttings, although it is slow to root and the results rarely match the quality of the original plant.

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Pink Azalea With clusters of vibrant pink flowers and rich evergreen leaves, this lovely azalea plant really blossoms. It's a great gift idea for a friend, family member, or business associate. The perfect bit of cheer for home or office, the azalea's lovely pink blooms are perfectly accentuated by the accompanying rustic wicker basket.