Azaleas are great landscape shrubs, but they can also charm indoors! Learn how to keep them happy and blooming even when potted inside your home.
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Azaleas are popular small shrubs used in landscaping for their abundant and colorful spring flowers. If you love this pretty shrub, you might want to consider growing azalea as a houseplant. It can be done, but your indoors azalea will require some special care and consideration.
Azaleas are stunning flowering shrubs that can add a pop of color to any outdoor landscape. But did you know you can also grow azaleas as houseplants? With the right care, azaleas can thrive indoors and provide gorgeous blooms within your home.
In this complete guide. we will cover everything you need to know about growing and caring for azalea plants indoors including
Choosing the Right Azalea Variety
Not all azaleas are well-suited for growing indoors. The best varieties for indoor azalea care are:
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Florist azaleas – These have been specifically cultivated as houseplants Look for names like ‘Coral Bells’ and ‘Simply Red’
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Indica azaleas – Also called evergreen azaleas. These do well in low light and indoor conditions.
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Kurume azaleas – Can be tricky indoors but are possible with bright light.
Avoid hardy outdoor deciduous azalea varieties like Gumpo azaleas. They require a dormancy period and are difficult to bloom again indoors.
Providing the Right Lighting Conditions
Azaleas prefer bright, indirect light when grown indoors. Direct hot sunlight can scorch their leaves.
The best placements are near an east or west facing window, or a north facing window with sheer curtains to filter the light. Rotate the plant occasionally so all sides get light exposure.
Supplement with artificial lighting if needed. Fluorescent plant lights placed 4-6 inches above the azalea foliage for 12-16 hours per day can work well.
Maintaining Ideal Temperatures
Keeping your indoor azalea in a cool environment is key to promoting lush growth and abundant blooms. Ideal temperatures are:
- Daytime – 65-70°F
- Nighttime – 55-65°F
Avoid placing azaleas near heat sources like radiators, fireplaces, or appliances. High temperatures can cause bud drop.
In hotter climates, you may need to run air conditioning during the day to keep the azalea cool. Moving it to a basement or porch at night can also help regulate temperatures.
Watering Azaleas Properly
Azaleas prefer evenly moist (but not soggy) soil. Water your indoor azalea whenever the top 1-2 inches of soil become dry.
Always water thoroughly until water drains from the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. This helps flush out mineral deposits from tap water.
The frequency of watering depends on factors like light exposure, humidity, and temperature. In most indoor conditions, plan to water a potted azalea every 5-7 days.
Use room temperature filtered or distilled water for the best results. Tap water may be too alkaline. Adding vinegar or lemon juice to the water can help lower the pH.
Providing Humidity
Azaleas appreciate moderate humidity between 40-60%. In dry indoor environments, run a humidifier nearby or place the pot on a pebble tray filled with water.
Misting the plant daily can help boost moisture levels around the foliage. Just be careful not to get water on the flowers as this can cause rot.
Using the Right Potting Mix
Adequate drainage is crucial for azaleas. Use a potting mix designed for acid-loving plants, containing ingredients like peat moss, pine bark, and perlite.
You can also make your own mix with 1 part potting soil, 1 part peat moss, and 1 part perlite or vermiculite.
Always choose a container with drainage holes and place pebbles or gravel in the bottom of the pot to improve drainage.
Fertilizing for Healthy Growth
While azaleas are blooming in the spring, fertilize every 2-3 weeks with a fertilizer made for azaleas and other acid-loving plants. This will promote flowering.
In summer and fall, fertilize monthly. Stop fertilizing in late fall to allow buds to set for next year’s blooms.
Look for organic or slow-release fertilizers where the first number (indicating nitrogen) is lower than the other numbers. This encourages bloom production over leafy growth.
Pruning Tips
Prune azaleas after flowering by removing spent blooms and trimming back overly long branches. This encourages fullness.
In mid-summer you can do a second pruning to shape the plant. Avoid heavy pruning late in the season as this can remove next year’s flower buds.
Always sterilize pruning tools before using them on azaleas to prevent disease transmission. Rubbing alcohol works well for this.
Dealing with Pests and Diseases
Indoor azaleas are prone to infestations from common houseplant pests like aphids, mealybugs, scales, and spider mites.
Check plants frequently and treat with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap sprays at the first sign of bugs. Be sure to spray the undersides of leaves.
Prevent diseases like root rot by not overwatering and providing good drainage. Leaf spot can be a problem in humid conditions – improve air circulation to help combat this.
With the proper care, azaleas can thrive for many years as indoor houseplants. Follow these tips and you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous blooms every spring!
Can You Grow Azaleas Indoors?
Yes, you can definitely grow azaleas indoors. In fact, in late winter and early spring, you’ll probably start seeing potted azaleas in retail stores. These so-called florists’ azaleas are grown and potted specifically for use as houseplants. Most of these azaleas are not reliably cold hardy, so it is best to keep them inside year-round or to move them outside in summer only.
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Fertilizer (Image credit: Seniz Ozbey / Getty Images)
Use a fertilizer designed for azaleas or acid-loving houseplants plants in general. Follow the guidelines on the product to learn how and when to fertilize azaleas.
How to Care for Indoor Azaleas Like a Pro!
FAQ
How do you keep azaleas alive indoors?
Indoor azaleas like cool air, ideally between 60-68° F. Protect your azalea from freezing drafts near exterior doors and icy windows.
How long do indoor azaleas last?
Keep an eye out for Spider Mites & Aphids that’ll hide in the plant’s cubbyholes and underneath the leaves. Unfortunately, Azalea usually only last a few years due to the species’ tendency to die shortly (a year or two) after flowering in domestic settings.
Why are the leaves falling off my indoor azalea?
If your area has been experiencing usually heavy rain fall, the azalea will start to drop leaves. Azaleas become stressed in soggy soil.May 19, 2010
What does an overwatered azalea look like?
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Ask Extensionhttps://ask2.extension.orgSatsuki Azalea-Rhododendron Indicum #867976 – Ask ExtensionMay 11, 2024 — Azaleas are definitely sensitive to over-watering, but when they are stressed by poor root oxygen levels due to that saturation, the foliage tends t…
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Bloomscapehttps://bloomscape.com5 Telltale Signs of Overwatered Plants | BloomscapeIf a plant is overwatered, it will likely develop yellow or brown limp, droopy leaves as opposed to dry, crispy leaves (which are a sign of too little water). .
