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Mar 8, 2013 9:09 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jackie
Michigan (Zone 5b)
Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener
Hello my friends,

For valentines day by hubby bought me an Azalea that was 3 plants all wrapped up in one (3 colors). I read that it needed to be watered and moist pretty much at all times to keep it blooming. One night, I came home from work and it was all wilted. The only thing I can think of that ive done differently is added very little liquid fertilizer to the water. I didn't even use the full recommended dose so I thought it would be ok. Please help me keep my pretty Azalea alive. Ive already transplanted it once since getting it and it had been doing fine since. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank You!! Crying

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Mar 8, 2013 10:57 AM CST
Name: JT Sessions
Milton,Fl.
Charter ATP Member Forum moderator Garden Ideas: Level 1
There must be some azalea people on here somewhere and maybe they will chime in.In the meantime,I would transplant into a larger pot with some acidic soil.Plain Miracle grow without the water crystals would be fine.Fertilize,when you fertilize,with tomato fertilizer.Most of these plants come from the nurseries planted in almost pure peat.That stuff is terrible for not taking up water.In other words,you take the plant out of the small nursery pot and move rootball and all into a larger pot with decent soil.The good soil holds water fine but the peat doesn't take it up so it isn't available to the plant.If you transplant it now,carefully remove about half the peat surrounding the rootball so those roots can get to some better soil.
Wish I could be more help but here all the azaleas grow in the ground.
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Mar 8, 2013 11:42 AM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
I've also killed Azaleas by overwatering (while living in Holland, in a former life). My mother taught me that what they like is to soak in a bucket for half an hour and then allowed to drain. Hers always looked spectacular.
They also hate being near a heat source.
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Mar 8, 2013 2:09 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jackie
Michigan (Zone 5b)
Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener
Thank you for the help. I have already transplanted this into a bigger pot since I received it and it had been doing fine. Do you think I should still replant it again into a bigger pot? Also is there anyway to cut off the blooms and get it going healthy again after you over water it?
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Mar 8, 2013 3:39 PM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
I'd leave the blooms alone. They may rally - or fall off by themselves.
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Mar 8, 2013 3:57 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jackie
Michigan (Zone 5b)
Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener
Ok Thank you Dutchlady. I will let it dry out some and see how she does. Smiling
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Mar 10, 2013 12:00 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jackie
Michigan (Zone 5b)
Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener
My Azalea is not doing good at all. All the blooms have shriveled up and the leaves are all wilted and limp and falling off very easily. I really wish their was a way I could keep it alive....should I take it out of the dirt and try to re-pot it? Can I cut off the blooms and get them doing better? I really would love to save it if possible. Any more ideas? Confused Sad
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Mar 10, 2013 1:18 PM CST
Name: JT Sessions
Milton,Fl.
Charter ATP Member Forum moderator Garden Ideas: Level 1
If this were my plant I would consider it dead.That way whatever I did from that point forward couldn't hurt.
I would take it out of the pot,wash the roots and repot in a decent soil mix.I would also take off almost all of the leaves.Water very sparingly until it gets some new leaves.
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Mar 10, 2013 1:22 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jackie
Michigan (Zone 5b)
Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener
Gone2seed what kind of soil mix would you recommend? Crying
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Mar 10, 2013 7:56 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jackie
Michigan (Zone 5b)
Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener
I will try to repot and let you know what happens to it. I hope I am able to keep it alive. I know at this point there probably isn't much that can be done. I will be sure to wash the roots first and see if that helps. Thank you all for the advice.
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Mar 11, 2013 11:24 AM CST
Name: Melissa E. Keyes
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Zone 11+
Charter ATP Member
I would guess it drowned. In the future, pick up a potted plant before and after you water, and judge the weight. A dry plant will be much lighter than a wet one. Just try to pick up one side of the pot if it's too big to pick all the way up. It's just too easy to over water a plant. The fertilizer probably didn't cause the wilting.

Or did it start looking like this hours or a day after you got it into your house? Could have gotten too cold on the way home?
Last edited by coconut Mar 11, 2013 11:27 AM Icon for preview
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Mar 11, 2013 11:41 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jackie
Michigan (Zone 5b)
Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener
Melissa,

Ive had it in my house for a good month almost and it was doing fine Sad Is there no way to try and propagate it at this point? Get a cutting and see if it will give me roots so I can try again? I just hate to throw it away.
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Mar 11, 2013 1:41 PM CST
Name: Melissa E. Keyes
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Zone 11+
Charter ATP Member
Have all the leaves dropped off? Let it sit around for a while, and water --when dry-- and it might recover. Or, go buy a new one. Do azaleas grow in your area? In people's yards?

If it's 'doornail dead', you could train a vine on it...

Plants are a pain where a pill can't reach, sometimes!
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Mar 11, 2013 1:45 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jackie
Michigan (Zone 5b)
Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener
Melissa,

No not all of the leaves have dropped off yet. I'm sure if i took it outside and shook it I might come back with a pretty bare looking azalea. I also have some morning glories and moon flowers that I have planted together that are around 5 inches or so. If in fact the Azalea is dead could I have it climb that? Just a thought. I also have some ivy as well that I could take some clippings from.
I believe people do grow Azalea's in the area. I'm not quite sure. I live in Lansing, Michigan.
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Mar 11, 2013 2:09 PM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
I really recognize this problem as one from overwatering/letting the plant sit in water. Shake those leaves off and pretend it's alive, and see what happens. But really, water only by soaking and draining. It worked for years for my mother in Holland! Thumbs up
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Mar 11, 2013 2:24 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jackie
Michigan (Zone 5b)
Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener
Hetty, I will definitely do that as soon as I get home and when I get a new one will try the soaking and draining method!! I will let you know if she starts up again.....I really hope she does. Poor thing Sad

Thank You!
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Mar 12, 2013 7:09 AM CST
Name: JT Sessions
Milton,Fl.
Charter ATP Member Forum moderator Garden Ideas: Level 1
Jookieblue said:Gone2seed what kind of soil mix would you recommend? Crying


Just plain Jungle Growth or Miracle growth from Walmart works for most plants.Get the kind without the water holding crystals.Also,keep in mind when repotting that azaleas are shallow rooted plants so keep it high in the pot.
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Mar 12, 2013 7:21 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jackie
Michigan (Zone 5b)
Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener
Well last night I took it outside and shook it a bit to get everything that was completely dead off and I was still left with a few leaves. The dirt still feels moist so I probably did get carried away with watering it to much. I will re-pot it tonight and see how she does. Is there anyway I can cut a piece and try and grow roots on it by putting it in water?
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Mar 12, 2013 2:08 PM CST
Name: Melissa E. Keyes
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Zone 11+
Charter ATP Member
Do a google search of "how to propogate azaleas"
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Mar 12, 2013 2:12 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jackie
Michigan (Zone 5b)
Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener
Will do Melissa

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