Icy winters and blooming branches. A rare combination. The room azalea comforts us over the dreary season. The green leaves almost completely disappear under the weight of the colorful flowers. White, pink or red specimens can inhabit our home individually or together. Who this azalea, bid. Rhododendron simsii, who would like to give you a cozy warm welcome immediately, is wrong. Cool air is their elixir of life.
Location in closed rooms
The original plant Rhododendron simsii comes from the damp and cold forests of Japan and China. During her main flowering period from September to April, however, it is too cold for her outdoors in this country. However, the conditions in warm living spaces are not exactly ideal. Although the cultivated varieties tolerate higher temperatures.
- a cool hallway is ideal
- also a little heated bedroom
- and other bright, cool rooms
- Temperature values between 8-16 ° C are ideal
- During the flowering period, the azalea can temporarily stand warmer
- do not place close to a heater
- also avoid the window sill above the heater
- Drafts and direct sunlight are not good for her
- prefer a shady to partially shaded location
- Morning and evening sun are welcome
Outdoor location
In their homeland, azaleas are grown outdoors. If possible, this existence should also be made possible for them in this country in phases. You can move outside from the end of May. The place must be shaded and protected. Staying outdoors has a positive effect on the flowering of the azalea and thus ensures the next round of flowers in the coming winter. You can put the pot on the balcony or terrace, or plant the azalea in garden soil. As soon as the first frosts appear, the azalea has to return to the house. Even those specimens that have been planted out.
Substrate
This winter bloomer is a houseplant with special demands on the substrate. You should do this for her own pleasure. It will stay healthy and bloom profusely if its roots are as follows:
- in an acidic soil
- with a pH of 4 to 4.5
- humic but lime-free
- z. B. in rhododendron soil
- alternatively in high-quality potting soil with a proportion of sand
- enriched with acidic coniferous compost
Repot
The substrate is useful for the room azalea for about two or three years, then it has to
be exchanged for a new one. With good care, the visible volume of the houseplant also increases over time and needs a larger pot to compensate. Only then can the root growth keep up.- Repot every 2-3 years
- best time is after flowering
- before the azalea comes out
- choose a larger planter
- Shake the old substrate from the fine roots
- Remove dead roots
- Cut back healthy roots a little
to water
When supplying this Asian immigrant, both the quality and the quantity of water are important to her well-being.
- the warmer the room, the higher the water requirement
- the water supply must be even
- the root ball should always be moist
- but do not stand in waterlogging
- possibly. Put a few stones in the bottom of the planter
- the water must not be very calcareous
- otherwise the flowering period will be short or will not take place at all
- chlorosis can also occur (yellowing of the leaves)
- rainwater is ideal
- Soften tap water beforehand and warm it to room temperature
- there must also be a consistently high level of humidity
- Spray lukewarm daily
- but only the leaves, not the flowers!
Fertilize
Here, too, the azalea turns the gardener's usual care upside down. Other plants are fertilized during the flowering period, but the azalea is not.
- fertilize outside of the flowering phase
- from spring to early autumn
- use liquid fertilizer once a month
- ideally the special azalea and rhododendron fertilizers
- pause fertilizing from autumn
Cut
Cutting is part of the necessary care for this houseplant. However, it will wait until it has completely faded. Excepted from this are parts of the azalea that have faded. You have to cut them quickly or remove them by hand so that they do not rot in humid air. This cleaning action also ensures a nicer appearance. As soon as the last flower has faded, the shape-retaining pruning waits. How to properly prune the room azalea:
- use very sharp scissors
- the shoots must not be crushed under any circumstances
- Scissors must also be clean and disinfected
- Cut the houseplant back to 1/3
- over an eye or leaf resp. Cut the side bud
- Cut away dead branches completely
Tip: Refrain
not on this cutting measure, because it promotes an appealing bushy shape.Multiply
Invest once in an azalea and still transform the whole home into a winter sea of flowers. This can be achieved through propagation. All you need is a little patience. And of course they have to make do with the fact that every plant blooms in the same way. These are the steps required:
1. Separate semi-lignified cuttings from the mother plant in early spring. These should each be 8 to 10 cm long.
2. Fill small pots with a 2: 1 mixture of sand and peat.
3. Put a cutting in each pot, 4 to 5 cm deep. Possibly. you must first remove the lower leaves.
4. Moisten the soil well. From now on, keep the soil moist but not too wet.
5. Put a clear plastic bag over each pot. This increases the humidity.
6. Put the pots in partial shade.
7. After about 8 to 12 weeks, the cutting will have new roots and will begin to grow. Now is the time to transplant it. An acidic substrate suitable for azaleas must be used for this.
Diseases and pests
Mostly it is too dry or too wet a substrate that kills this houseplant or at least weakens its health. Pests are happy about the latter, which they can conquer in no time. The following species have been spotted on it:
- Thunderstorm flies and their larvae
- Spider mites
- Aphids
- Whiteflies
- during stay in the field: black weevil
Thunderstorm flies can be fought with preparations based on neem oil. Collect the black weevil beetles and control the larvae with nematodes. Aphids can be combated well with various home remedies. For example, by spraying with a soft soap solution. To do this, 20 ml of soap is dissolved in 1 liter of water. The use of predatory mites is helpful against spider mites, which love dry and warm locations. These, in turn, can be ordered easily and cheaply over the Internet. Yellow leaves can be a reaction to too calcareous watering. Experts speak of chlorosis.
Tip: Repot an indoor plant that is too wet in new substrate. In the process, cut away any rotting roots.
Overwinter
Wintering a room azalea is a challenge. After all, we don't want to deprive ourselves of their beautiful flowers. Other plants are allowed to disappear tightly packed in a winter quarters. But not the azalea! In the prime she needs the stage. Since their admirers live in warm rooms, it stands to reason that the azalea also spends the winter in them. Nevertheless, try to overwinter them as follows so that you can enjoy their flowering for a long time:
- overwinter in the house
- at a temperature between 8 and 16 degrees Celsius
- more heat shortens the flowering time
- Place the plant very light
- but away from heating, as the air there is too dry
- absolutely avoid waterlogging
Tip: Clever azalea lovers move their azaleas every day. In the morning it comes to a place where it can be admired during the day. In the evening it is put back in a cool place. The azalea does not seem to mind these frequent moves.
Buying tips
Do not be tempted to buy by the numerous bright flowers. These go towards withering with great strides. It makes much more sense to choose a specimen that will only come to full bloom at home. Closed buds can and should be in abundance. But take a closer look at this
at:- they should be firm and equally developed
- Pay attention to dense buds
- even distribution is important
- some open buds are ok
Overall, does the azalea make a good impression? The pots in the market are often unfavorable for days and do not receive the necessary care.
Further purchase criteria
- the soil in the pot should be moist
- fallen buds are not a good sign
- the pot should be big enough
- at least half the circumference of the crown
- the leaves should be shiny green and free from dirt
- no traces of pests should be visible
Tip: Even if you have already found the ideal location for the flowering azalea, move in only gradually after buying it. First put in a cool and shady place for a few days, only then should it get warmer.
Flower variations
White and red - these are the two skin colors that the indoor azalea can choose from. Although the rest of the color components are ignored, their flowers are by no means monotonous. From white to the darkest red, every shade is covered. Occasionally fine patterns are added. Simple and double flowers, subtle differences in the shape of the flowers and deviations in the flowering period round off the variety of varieties. We owe that to the hardworking breeders. You have made Rhododendron simsii one of your favorites. Take your time searching so that you can discover your absolute favorite among this wealth of offers. Here are a few suggestions that will charm you:
Alexander
- Red
- simple bloom
- Flowering period: January to May
Angelina
- pure white
- double flower
- Flowering period: February to May
Antarctica
- light purple
- simple bloom
- Flowering period: February to May
watercolor
- white pink
- simple flower with very attractive pattern
- Flowering period: August to May
Christine Matton
- salmon colored
- simple bloom
- Flowering period: December to May
Lady Melanie
- soft pink
- white flower border
- dark speckles
- Flowering period: March to May
De Waele's Favorite
- pink
- simple bloom
- white flower border
- Flowering period: March to May
Friedhelm Scherrer Roze
- pink
- simple bloom
- Color varies from light to dark
- Flowering period: January to May
Ilona
- pink
- simple bloom
- wide flower border in white
- Flowering period: August to May
Inga
- pink
- simple bloom
- white flower border
- Flowering period: August to May
Queen Fabiola
- white and orange-red
- simple and very beautiful flowering
- Flowering period: February to May
Madame De Croock
- white bloom
- slightly filled
- with red speckles in the middle
- Flowering period: November to February
Sachsenstern
- White
- simple bloom
- delicate red flower edge
- Flowering period: February to May
Terra Nova
- pink
- funnel-shaped
- double flower
- Flowering period: August to April
Venus
- pink
- white flower border
