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Azaleas
Guernsey Donkey2
Posts: 6,713
in Plants
I have never been successful with azaleas, however today I was given two Koran Yuki plants - both are approx 12 inches tall but were very dry, having been neglected for several weeks, the red flowers are screwed up. I am hoping to revive the plants - where should I plant them - what type of soil/situation do they like?
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They're everywhere here in Texas, but I have had mixed results with them over the years at 3 different houses. They love part to full shade and will scorch in Texas sun. But that might not happen in the UK as your temps in summer are milder. They like acid soil so I buy fertilizer at the garden center specifically stating it is for acid loving plants. I just planted out 5 "Autumn Embers" coral-colored ones in a narrow wedge of dirt along my driveway this February. They bloomed for awhile and now are focusing on leafing. Here's a pic of one of them while it was blooming still. The 5 seem happe in their new location, which is mostly shady all day long.
They seem to like 'edge of woodland' locations. Some shade, as Peggy says, reasonably good light though - I don't think they are deep shade under-planting type things. Shelter from cold winds. Deep light soil with plenty of leaf mould is perfect - they are happy in neutral soil in that situation. The heavier the soil, the more acidic it needs to be, as far as I can tell. The deciduous varieties are more tolerant of a bit of breeze than the evergreens.
I have a deciduous one in a semi-shaded location, in heavy clay acidic soil (pH is typically 5.5 here). It seems happy
I also have an evergreen one in a pot against a north facing wall which is in bud but not yet in flower. It may not this year because it's so dry at the moment and I can't keep everything watered. I'm hoping to find a spot to plant it out this year, which it may like better as my neglect will have less impact.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Oh, my, that one is gorgeous, RaisinGirl.
Peggy & RaisinGirl - if mine grow to be as attractive as yours are then I will be very happy. Sorry no photo of them now, but suffice to say the red flowers are tiny and very shrivelled up - so they may already be dead. However I have watered them very well, put them in pots with leaf mould in a semi shaded area - fingers crossed that they survive.
Semi-shade should be good for them, GD. I keep mine pretty well-watered, buy the auto-watering system every 3 days and again by hand anytime between that schedule they look wilted or dry. That can happen really FAST on a hot day in Texas. Mine are devoid of blooms now and showing no signs of further blooming, s o I just keep them happy with water.
Best of luck with your red ones. My two red ones in 5-gal. pots didn't like our freeze this winter and have few leaves, but just this week have started re-leafing and looking better, so I'm hopeful they'll snap back by next blooming season. They're pretty tough plants I think.
It is surprising how you can right a plant off, and then low and behold a tiny sign of life emerges from the centre of the plant and before you know it the first shoots appear - a sigh of relief that the plant has come through the winter and beginning it's life cycle all over again. That is one of the aspects of gardening that I enjoy so much Peggy. You have reassured me with your suggestion that Azaleas are pretty tough plants.
Yes, I'd written of all my variegated hostas last summer as our hot, hot, temps in the 100's quite a few times in last August and September cooked them above ground. then this week one pops up and is 3" tall; another peeked up yesterday and is 1" tall. I've learned never to write off a plant. They really DO want to LIVE it would appear. LOL
I do that with lemon verbena almost every year. They just sit there, brown and sticky, while all around them is vibrant and green. And then finally a teeny little yellow leaf will appear weeks after you might have given it up for dead had you not been warned
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
And yet another hosta popped out of the ground down in my little garden at the other end of the back yard. Silly me, thinking the slow pokes were dead. LOL
good old Hostas.
Gotta luv 'em.