Azalea sheds leaves, what should I do? Why does the azalea fall off leaves?

Exotic flowering azalea plant came to us from very far away countries. At least, his motherland is also called China, and Japan, and North America. In addition to beauty, in the eastern countries it embodies joy, freedom and peace. However, with the cultivation of this plant there are many difficulties.

Home care for azalea

Any flower loves good care. What can we say about the most exotic of them, those who are unaccustomed to our climate and other conditions of growth? Therefore, it is very important for such plants, as far as possible, to create conditions more or less close to their relatives.

Care at home for azalea requires proper placement in the apartment. She likes bright diffused light or even partial shade, but does not tolerate hot sunlight. Of course, it's good to take the plant out on the balcony in the summer, but you have to beware of drafts and sunburn.

The temperature in the room, which contains azalea at home, should be low: 16-18 degrees in summer heat, 12-15 degrees in winter. Fans of houseplants noticed that at the time of bookmarking and development of flower buds, that is, in autumn, the temperature is best reduced to 8 or even 5 degrees. This means that azalea for a long time can be kept on a closed loggia, and then moved to the west or north window in the apartment.

Warning for beginners of florists: if the room is too warm, moreover, very dry, the timing of flowering plants are reduced, and azalea sheds leaves.

Humidity does not hurt, but will help

The flower prefers high humidity, so you need to provide it. Firstly, you should place the pot with the plant on a pallet with expanded clay, which must be constantly wet. It is useful to periodically wash the keramzit under running water. Secondly, home care for azalea requires its constant spraying. It is advisable to do this daily, and in hot weather - twice a day. During the flowering period, spraying is not necessary, so that no stains appear on the flowers.

Remember that the large dryness of air with central heating can often serve as an answer to the question: "Why does azalea shed leaves?"

Abundant should be watering

Watering the plant should be abundant, but at the same time, do not overmoist the soil. In autumn, when the process of bud formation is in progress, watering should be significantly reduced.

But in summer it is possible to recommend special water procedures for azaleas. Once a month, you must put a pot of flower for 3-4 hours in a bucket of water. Then you need to let the plant stand, so that excess liquid is gone, and return the pot to its original place on the windowsill.

Water for irrigation is best used to take rain, thaw (from melted snow) or distilled. Tap water can be used only after it has well settled (ideally not less than three days), it will be even better if it is boiled. We must not forget that the plant does not like hard water, but prefers, on the contrary, soft. Water can be softened not only by settling or boiling, but also by adding peat or various chemicals that are sold in stores.

Watering conditions must be strictly observed, otherwise you can see how azalea sheds leaves. What to do?

Transplant or transshipment

Young plants should be transplanted every year after flowering. For adults, this procedure can be carried out in two to three years.

Before proceeding with the transplant, you must remove all the dried flowers along with pedicels. If by this time young shoots appeared on the bush, their tops should be pinched, and the weak or strongly stretched are best cut off.

The root system of this flower is horizontal, so it is best to place the azalea in a wide pot. When loosening the soil, you need to be careful not to affect the roots. They are not deep, because they like good aeration.

To transplant the flower, the soil should be bought in the store, since it is a mixture of peat, leaf, heather and coniferous land, river sand. At the bottom it is necessary to put drainage.

When transplanting the land around the roots it is advisable not to touch, you just need to pass it into a new pot with fresh soil. Having damaged the roots, then you will have to wonder: "Why does the azalea fall off leaves?"

To help the plant feeding

To azalea developed well and enjoyed its flowering around, it should be fed. From February to August, fertilizer should be applied once a week. These can be ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, superphosphate or potassium sulfate. In winter and autumn, superphosphate does not interfere, it promotes good budding.

To maintain the desired acidity of the soil occasionally, for example, once every two weeks, plants can be watered with a solution of citric acid. To do this, dilute 1 teaspoon of acid in two liters of water. Another way to acidify the soil - after 3-4 months, water the flower with a solution (0.2%) of sulfuric acid. Each time this should be done only after the soil is moistened.

There are special fertilizers used for top dressing of beautiful flowering plants. This, for example, "Kemira" or "FeroVitom." They are used as a means to prevent various diseases.

Cutting is not an easy task

If you prefer not to buy azalea in a store, but to do it yourself, then you should immediately tune in to the fact that everything will not be so easy.

For cuttings, only young shoots, not yet stiffened, will do. A sharp knife (blade) cuts a kidney 10-15 cm in size under the kidney. It is placed in a container with moist peat and is buried about 5 cm, the soil around it must be compacted. Then the cutting is closed with a jar or polyethylene. You can also put it in the greenhouse. For rooting to occur faster, high humidity and a temperature of +25 degrees are needed.

Cuttings will not rot if they are aerated and sprinkled at least three times a day.

Rooting of cuttings will have to wait a long time, up to six months. Then they are transplanted into a pot, to a permanent place.

For reproduction, you can still try to root off the layers of this plant. Under the kidney on the side shoot you need to make an incision. With a wooden hook, this shoot is pinned to the ground and sprinkled with soil. By the way, there must be at least a few leaves on the kidney.

When rooting takes place, gently separate the brood from the main plant and transplant it into a separate pot.

Azalea sheds leaves. What to do?

Undoubtedly, the whole reason is non-compliance with the rules of care. The temperature regime, lack of lighting, improper irrigation, not such, as needed, soil are not sustained. One of these reasons is enough that azalea discards the leaves. What to do in this case?

It's simple. It is necessary to strictly follow all the recommendations for plant care, and it will come to life, will cease to lose leaves and buds.

However, the reason for the poor health of the flower is much more serious. Dry air and very high temperatures can cause the appearance of a spider mite on the plant. It is a small pest of red color, which envelops the underside of the leaves with thin white cobwebs.

So, because of the spider mites, azalea sheds leaves. What to do? To deal with it, you need to wash the leaves, especially their underside, with a special solution - not very strong tobacco infusion with soap. For infusion, you can also use onions, garlic, calendula, yarrow. Another way is to pollinate the azalea with ground sulfur, always in the fresh air. Finally, it can be treated with systemic insecticides that are sold in the store. All this will have to be done several times.

When the fight against the pest is crowned with success, it will be necessary to restore the immunity of the plant: to spray several times with a solution of "Epin".

Good in the air

According to general ideas, azalea is a houseplant. But, it turns out, she feels well on the street. In spring, when good weather is established, the flower can not only be carried to a loggia or balcony, but even planted in the garden. The main thing is not to forget that azalea does not like hot sun rays, so it's better to place it in shaded places. In the open air, the plant can be located before the onset of cold weather.