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Problem with azalea
Karen Gibb
Posts: 11
in Plants
We have an azalea 'pink petticoat' which has been beautiful for the last four years. Last year, after flowering, it was potted up in a new, slightly larger pot with ericaceous compost. It lost it's leaves over winter as usual but unfortunately hasn't produced hardly any new leaves this year. Only a few at the ends. It is flowering as usual at the moment on bare stems. Are we losing it or is there something we can do to save it?
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Posts
Hi Karen Gibb, I'd look at the roots, it could have some white grubs with a brown head. They could be eating the roots. Try to get them all out. Replace as much compost as possible and see how it goes. You could get some nemotodes to water on the compost and any other pots.
I had that problem. I think something is eating the leaves as in my case. Check the leaves carefully for any sign of the culprit, including web like structures to indicate anything being laid within the leaves. Failing that, check for the culprits at night with a torch.
Possibly hungry and thirsty. You need a soil based compost if it's in a pot long term too, not just compost. However, they can also suffer from being waterlogged, so make sure the drainage is adequate, as they also need air around the roots. Compacted soil isn't ideal either. I assume it's in a suitable spot, and isn't planted too deeply? Often a problem seems to suddenly appear from nowhere, but it can be an ongoing issue that has just caught up with it. What do the stems look like? Are they damaged in any way? A healthy plant will shrug off most minor pests and diseases.
The weather early in the year has been quite hit and miss too - almost everywhere- so that could be a factor. I'd give it a bit of time.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks guys. I wondered if it could be some kind of pest. Will tip it out and have a look. There were some leaves curled together to indicate possible insect attack but the surrounding plants are all thriving. Still, they do seem to go for the already ailing. Have ruled out most of the other factors. Hope I can save it as it was a mother's day present! Don't fancy trawling around the nursery to find an identical replacement!