With their numerous colorful flowers, azaleas are popular indoor and outdoor plants. Depending on the species, they have different requirements. Find out here how to properly overwinter indoor and garden azaleas and what needs to be taken into account when caring for them.
How should you care for and protect azaleas in winter?
To overwinter azaleas properly, indoor azaleas should be placed in a bright, cool and draft-free location, while outdoor garden azaleas can be protected with a layer of mulch. Potted plants should be protected from frost or provided with a protective cover.
How do you overwinter indoor azaleas properly?
Indoor azaleas bloom between September and February. To do this, place it in the living area to give the flower its full attention. After flowering,withered flower parts should be cleanly cut off. Then treat her to someWinterrestto relax. Place the houseplantin a bright, cooler location without drafts Always keep it moist and avoid waterlogging. From May you can put your azalea on the balcony. They gain new strength in a shady, sheltered place.
What should you consider when caring for garden azaleas in winter?
In contrast to the indoor azalea, the garden azalea iswinterhardyIt survives European winters without any problems. If the frost is too severe (especially if there is no insulating layer of snow), you canprotect them with a layer of mulchA thick layer of leaves protects the soil and roots from frost. If you keep yourgarden azalea in a pot, you shouldprotect it better To do this, either place it in a frost-protected interior that is as bright as possible or place it well wrapped up on a warm, wind-protected house wall.
Why is overwintering so different depending on the species?
Azaleas belong to the rhododendron family. They originally come from the moist, cool mountain forests of China. Depending on the breedingThey aresuitable for indoor or outdoor useand have different requirements in terms of location and care.
Garden azaleasare mostly deciduous (except the Japanese azalea and the diamond azalea), hardy and bloom from April to summer.
Indoor azaleas are evergreen, sensitive to frost and bloom from September to February. However, most indoor azaleas come from India (Rhododendron Simsii hybrid, also known as pot azaleas).
What temperatures can azaleas endure?
Indoor azaleasshould be cool and protected in winter, but above all bright. You can tolerateup to -8 degrees Celsius. Provided they are not exposed to drafts. Garden azaleaswere bred specifically for European winters and can withstand-25 degrees Celsius in a well-protected location. Garden azaleas in pots, on the other hand, should not be left outdoors. Your root ball is exposed to the outside weather in the pot. If the frost is too severe, the roots cannot transport nutrients and the plant dies.
Tip
Be careful of cold drafts or heating air
Azaleas do not tolerate unprotected locations where they are directly exposed to drafts or heat radiation. Both indoor and garden azaleas should be protected accordingly. Unsuitable winter quarters are, for example, locations directly in front of or next to the heater and other heat-emitting devices such as televisions or computers. A location near a tilted window or a constantly open door is also unsuitable.
