Question
I have 3 azaleas.  One is green and grows well but it has not bloomed in quite a while. What can I do to help?  I have bought specific fertilizer for them all.  One I thought was dead but new leaves are now appearing slowly.  Will it be ok?  The last one I fear is all ready dead, but how do I know for sure? And is there anything I can do to revive it?  The leaves and flowers are all gone, but the brances seem to be still flexible, but not a lot.  I have tried to keep them moist at all times.  Is this incorrect also?

Answer
Hi Rebecca,

Let me give you some general care instructions for Azaleas and then I will answer your specific question.

Azaleas love cool temps and fresh air. They do best outside in the warmer months. Indoors they need lots of light, cool temps, and soil that is kept constantly moist, but not left standing in water. Even a single episode of drought can do it in and cause major leaf drop. High humidity also helps. Fertilize with an acid-based fertilizer when it is growing actively. The flower buds are formed in the summer and are much larger than leaf buds. It is best to keep the plant in a semi-shady cool place outdoors in summer. Cool temps of about 50 degrees in the winter are important for setting buds. So let it stay outdoors until the temperatures are close to freezing. Then bring it indoors and put in a sunny window. It is rare for Azaleas to flower if they are kept indoors year round.

Prune it back by about one-third following its spring blooming period, particularly long stems without many leaves. These are difficult conditions to meet. If you cannot, it may be best to discard the plant.

Once an Azalea loses most of its leaves, it will never again be a very attractive-looking plant even if you do revive it. For the one that appears to be dead, prune back the stems by about one-third. If the tissue inside the cut stems appears to be dry, then it is dead. Otherwise, wait several weeks after the pruning and discard the plant if you see no new growth by then.

To sum up, the best way to revive your Azaleas is to provide a lot of light, keep the soil damp, and provide cool temps.

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

Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

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