azalea are admire for their vivacious spring blooms in shades of pinkish , white , and purple , but they require very specific status to develop well . These shrubs do n’t stomach extreme point — they fight in both to a fault dry and overly besotted environments . To grow well , they necessitate steady moisture , but the soil must drain well . surface area that stay soggy or pull together water after rain can lead to source hurt , especially if the works sit down in those conditions for long periods .
Sun exposure is just as important . Azaleas rise best when they get a few hours of morning light followed by ghost later in the day . Too much direct sun , especially near heat - reflective surfaces like concrete or brick , can dry out the plant life out apace . Drought also poses a jeopardy , so gardener in spicy or irregular climates need to water consistently during teetotal spells . adjoin all of these needs require careful location and attention , and learning how tocare for an azalea treecan be more piece of work than expected for gardeners seek a low - sustainment plant .
Soil pH and competition make azaleas harder to grow
If you project toplant azalea outdoors , it ’s important to know they also require acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 6.0 . In soil with a pH above 6.0 , the plant life can develop alimentary deficiencies and come out pale or weak . A soil run is necessary before set to determine whether acidifying is require . In many cases , gardeners call for to apply products like primary sulphur or ferrous sulfate to depress the pH. These materials must be watered in and reapplied monthly for several months to be effective . However , in soils with a pH above 7.5 , it can be very difficult to make lasting change . In such cases , choosing a unlike plant may be the ripe option .
azalea should not be planted under trees , even though trees can provide shade . Tree roots compete with azalea for nutrients and moisture , which makes it harder for the shrub to last out healthy . If azaleas are plant in the awry location or overfertilized , the works may show signs of stress . The most effective agency to objurgate these problems is to first adjust the soil pH. This unconscious process takes time , and gardeners need to supervise progress over several months to annul over - acidifying the soil , which can cause additional damage .
Common diseases and pests can affect azaleas
Azaleas may count tough , but they are extremely susceptible to a range of pests and diseases that can impact both their appearance and long - condition health . One serious business organisation is Phytophthora dieback , a fungal disease that spread when body of water splashes infected soil or plant life cloth onto the leaves . This disease is especially aggressive in gardens that use overhead sprinkler and can severely damage azalea , rhododendrons , and similar bush .
Insects are another issue . Azalea leafminers start appearing in spring , feeding between foliage bed and causing blotchy wrong . As the louse mature , they create silk - lined tunnel by curling the leaf tips and hiding in spite of appearance to feed . This behavior can lead to former leaf drop and browning during the tender months , especially if the infestation is large . Azalea whitefly are also vulgar on varieties with hirsute leaf . These small insects fee beneath the foliation and can be operose to notice at first . Over prison term , their eating causes leaves to weaken and fade in color . As they feed , they leave alone behind a sugary residuum that can pass to mold buildup on the open of the leave of absence . This combination of stress and Earth’s surface wrong can do the works to look wilted and discolored , especially during warm weather .
Powdery mold is a vulgar emergence in deciduous azalea , especially in vernal plants growing in shaded areas . Thiswhite fungus diseaseshows up as a pale , gunpowder - like stratum on the leave , and is especially common during coolheaded , dampish menses . The fungi stay fighting by producing spores that travel on the wind and attain nearby plants . Even after the season ends , the spore can stay inside the buds and recall again the following year unless the plant life is treated properly .
