Question
QUESTION: I have a 3ft tall azalea tree in a large container, which is now in full autumn bloom in PA. Will it survive in partial shade next to my frt door all winter or will placing it under my large patio roof, with partial shade be better?
My wive says it should be transplanted into the garden, but I like to have it by the door next year.
If I move it indoors, it may not get any sun, due to the patio roof. If it needs to be indoors without sun; how do I rid the plant of the small bugs (mites?)?
Let me know what solution(s) will work, and how to water, feed it during the winter.
Many thanks,
Dom

ANSWER: Hi Don,

There are many different Azalea species. Some will not withstand any freezing temps, while others that are native to northern climates will survive your PA winters. There is no way to be sure which species you have (unless a good label was attached), but most potted Azaleas are tropical or semi-tropical in origin. So unless you can determine just what species you have, keeping it outdoors could be risky. On the other hand, if you have a northern species, keeping it warm indoors through the winter can be equally risky.

If you decide to leave it outside, don't keep it under your patio roof. At this point, I would not recommended transplanting it into the ground. Wait til spring for that.

If you decide to move it indoors, keep it in your sunniest uncovered window, but also try to keep it cool and moist. Of course, that is not easy to do indoors, which is why indoor Azaleas are challenging. Water it as soon as the top half-inch of soil feels dry. Do not feed it during the winter. I would need to know more about the bugs before I could recommend a treatment.

Given the difficulties of keeping an Azalea healthy indoors through the winter, it may be best to take your chances by leaving it outside and see if it survives. Just be prepared that a hard freeze might do it in.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.
         
Need more information? Visit my website at www.HorticulturalHelp.com
or email me at [email protected]
or call me at 917-887-8601 (EDT)
  
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Assuming this mini-tree with a twisted trunk survives winter: How do you trim or train these azalea trees to maintain the unique tree look? Do I just maintain the ball/global top and leave the growth soley to the trunk or do I need to trim the under branches as needed, to maintain the existing trunk, if it doesn't grow higher?

Answer
Hi Dom,

You have just provided some important new information about your Azalea. Apparently it is a braided topiary. In that case, I am 90% sure that it is a semi-tropical species and will not survive your PA winters outdoors. So now you are faced with finding a sunny, cool and not too dry location inside before temps drop much below 40 degrees.

Give it a good spraying with a hose to knock off any critters from the foliage before you move it inside. Also, remove any dead leaves or debris from the soil surface. You should expect a fair amount of leaf loss once you  move it inside. Just do your best to keep it alive through the winter until you can get it back outside again in the spring. Do not repot or fertilize it during the winter months.

Explaining the pruning of topiaries in text is nearly impossible. There is no substitute for a visual demonstration. Regular pruning is required to maintain its shape. Pruning is best done after it has finished flowering. There is one key principle to understand: new growth is always at the ends of each stem. Thus, you prune back to the place on the stem where you want new growth to come in. You may want to prune back long stems that extend well beyond the outer canopy deep into the center. If it already has the shape and size you want, then simply trim off new growth as it emerges an inch or two beyond the canopy. This regular trimming will maintain its shape and size.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.
         
Need more information? Visit my website at www.HorticulturalHelp.com
or email me at [email protected]
or call me at 917-887-8601 (EDT)
  
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC