azalea

Azalea plants should be watered once every 5 to 10 days, depending on the environmental conditions. The amount of water will vary depending on the weather, the pot size, and the time of year — in the summer months, more water will be necessary than in winter. To keep the soil moist but not overly saturated, water until you see it start to drip out of the bottom of the pot. During the growing season, water at the base of the plant rather than from overhead to prevent fungal diseases. Fertilize, using a balanced fertilizer, during the growing season every few weeks. During the winter months, water less frequently and don’t fertilize. To keep the plant looking attractive, remove dead leaves and prune away older stems to allow for new growth.

Azaleas, like other Rhododendron species, prefer bright but indirect sunlight. For the cultivar 'Brown Eyes', a minimum of 4-5 hours of filtered morning sunlight is recommended. During intense summer months, it is best to move the plant just to the edge of the sun, as too much can scorch the leaves. Azaleas cannot handle more than a few hours of direct sunlight. It is best to avoid midday and afternoon direct sunlight that can cause the leaves to burn.

Azaleas (Rhododendron 'Brown Eyes') should be pruned twice a year: once in late winter/early spring and then again in late summer. In late winter/early spring, up to a quarter of the previous years growth should be removed. This helps promote new growth and encouragesplant health, while maintaining the desired size and shape. In late summer, pruning should be kept to light shaping or thinning out. This helps maintain the shape of the azalea bushes and encourages new growth for next year. Additional pruning may be necessary to remove crossed, diseased, or dead branches at any time during the year.