Keep your indoor azalea thriving—care tips for long-lasting blooms

The indoor azalea originates from southern China. It has small evergreen leaves and a shrub-like growth habit.

Today, indoor azaleas are available in various sizes, from miniature types to small trees with a trunk. The color range is wide, and the flowers can be single or double.

Choose a indoor azalea with a few open flowers and plenty of buds showing some color. This way, you can enjoy the bloom for a long time. An azalea may blossom for several weeks, even up to two months.

Indoor azalea: growing and care

Location

Place the indoor azalea in a bright spot, protected from strong sunlight. Avoid a location near a radiator. If possible, move it to a cooler spot at night.

A indoor azalea is happiest if it can spend winters in a cool conservatory and summers outside, with the pot sunk into the ground.

Watering your indoor azalea

Keep the soil evenly moist. The easiest way to water is by submerging the pot in water every three or four days. Do not let the soil dry out.

For example, you can place the azalea pot inside a larger container and fill it with lukewarm water. Let the azalea soak up water for a couple of hours, then empty the container. Another option is to fill the sink with water.

You can also add a layer of lightweight gravel on top of the soil in the decorative pot. This helps regulate moisture and makes watering easier.

If you forget to water and the azalea’s flowers droop, you can try to rescue the plant by letting it soak in water overnight.

Misting your indoor azalea

A indoor azalea suffers in dry indoor air, so frequent misting with a spray bottle is beneficial.

Fertilizing your indoor azalea

If your indoor azalea still looks lively after Christmas and is growing well, feel free to keep it on a windowsill. Move it outdoors for the summer and use a mild, lime-free fertilizer, such as rhododendron fertilizer.

Other care for your indoor azalea

Remove wilted blossoms from the indoor azalea as they appear.