Reproduction of azalea is carried out from spring to August. Stem cuttings are taken as planting material. They are germinated in a substrate with an acidic pH. Planted cuttings are covered with a glass or plastic jar and sprayed regularly. Young shoots for breeding are cut only after the flowering of the bush. Their length should be 10-15 cm. It is important to consider that fattening shoots are absolutely not suitable for this.
Reproduction of azalea is complicated by the fact that the cuttings have a low survival rate, so a lot depends on how well the planting material was chosen. As seedlings, it is necessary to take only young semi-lignified shoots, it is best to give preference to the tops of this year. The three lower leaves on the cuttings must be cut off, leaving 0.5 cm from its petiole. The rest of the leaves are cut about half. In this case, the lower oblique cut is made under the kidney itself.
Toazalea reproduction was effective, cuttings are taken only from he althy, well-developed plants. Immediately before planting, the seedlings are tied in several pieces and lowered for 6 hours into a fresh solution of heteroauxin. You can also soak in the preparations "Zircon" or "Kornevin". Only after special treatment with a growth activator are they planted in pre-prepared pots. The process of rooting seedlings will go much faster if the soil has an acidic pH.
Azalea is best planted in specially purchased soil, in stores, as a rule, they sell a ready-made mixture. But if it is not possible to purchase soil designed individually for this flower, you can use universal soil, all houseplants grow well in it. A photo that shows all the information about the composition of this land is on the back of the package. Pots are filled with this soil and well shed with settled water at room temperature. Azalea seedlings are covered with a jar or plastic bag and aired several times a week. To do this, just leave them for a short time in the open air.
If the propagation of the azalea was done correctly, then rooted cuttings should be expected within 1, 5 -2 months. Before transplanting a young plant into a new pot, it is “accustomed” to the dry microclimate of our apartments. The first few days the bag is removed from the pot only for a couple of hours, then the time is increased. After about two weeks, a protective jar orthe cellophane is completely removed.
3 months after transplanting the rooted cuttings, carefully pinch their tops, after which the plant will begin to produce new young shoots. The first flower buds must be removed. This will allow the plant to maintain its strength. Azaleas can bloom from the third year of life, but before that it is fertilized. You can grow an adult plant from a cutting in about 2-3 years. To do this, you will have to spend a lot of effort and patience, since there is no pickier flower than the azalea. You can buy it at any flower shop, but this will not guarantee that the plant will survive and adapt to the conditions of the apartment. But in a do-it-yourself azalea, you can be sure.
