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The Leaves on my azaleas are going brown

michala.austinmichala.austin Posts: 13
in Problem solving
hi 
my azaleas were doing really well up to about 2 weeks ago when the leaves started dropping and going brown.  now they look very sparse and brown.  there are new shoots coming but they also look brown. one looks better than the other but are both treated same, potted in ericaceous soil, feed every 4 weeks with azalea liquid feed. any ideas pics attached.

Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    The pots too small, everyone is losing plants with this heat, maybe you can put it in the garden, It will do better than in a little pot, especially a clay one, they get hot and dry out quicker. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • michala.austinmichala.austin Posts: 13
    thanks lyn - i will look at re-potting into bigger pots :-) 
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Yup, pot too small, bigger pot ericaceas compost, stick it in the shade LOTS of water.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I  wouldn't keep feeding it - that's a bit pointless just now. Like trying to feed someone who's very sick a three course meal.   :)
    Get it out of the sun - that's the most important thing - and keep it moist. Plants  [especially shrubs] also need air round the roots, so don't have it sitting waterlogged either. If it's staying in a pot, and it needs to be as Lyn describes, compost alone is no good - get some decent soil in there, and make sure there's also proper drainage. A mulch of bark will help too.

    If that was mine, I'd prune it right back, but I can understand you might not want to do that! 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • smigger55smigger55 Posts: 34
    They hate tap water as well... try & save rain water for them. . the difference is amazing once you stop with the tap water.. 
  • michala.austinmichala.austin Posts: 13
    thanks everyone - I have been watering it with tap water - will try to save some rain water (if possible!) :smile:
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    I have three azaleas in pots, which I have moved into the shade.  I am watering fairly regularly and have stopped feeding for now and there are new shoots, however some of the older leaves are turning brown too just as you describe michala. I am not concerned though as these plants have finished flowering for this year and will rejuvenate next Spring. 
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