GardenBanter.co.uk - Should I Cover Azalea And If So With What?

On Thu, 2 Nov 2006 21:49:23 -0000, "Martin" [email protected] wrote:

I have an Azalea which looks good all year round but only flowers near
Winter ,starting just before the frosts.

True to form it is now coming out in flower and first frost experienced
yesterday.

Should I cover it with something at night time e.g.: bucket ? In previous
years I've noticed after several frosts the flowers have stopped and the
ones on the plant shriveled up so I would welcome your suggestions.

Thanks.

Martin

It's an odd time of year for most azaleas to be flowering. Is it one
of the so-called Indian or 'Indica' azaleas (mostly hybrids of
Rhododendron Simsii), so popular as presents etc. around Christmas?
These azaleas can flower anytime from November through to spring,
depending on variety. If it is one of these, it will be tender and
will succumb to frost if left outside. But you imply you've had it for
a year or two, so where have you got it? I imagine it's in a pot that
you either put under cover for the winter or put in a _very_ sheltered
spot.

As for covering it, a bucket would be OK for just one night in an
emergency but isn't really a good long-term solution. I'd cover it
with fleece, then if you forget it for a few days it won't come to
much harm. But it's possible that the flowers will fail if it gets too
cold even without being actually frosted, in an unheated greenhouse
for example. In which case I doubt that covering it with anything will
really help. If it is an 'Indica' azalea I would get it into a heated
greenhouse or conservatory as it really needs a bit of warmth.

--
Chris

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net