Indoor azaleas - will they bloom all year long & a indoor tree (ficus ?)problem?

Question

I found some beautiful Azaleas w/red and white flowers, they look like peppermint. If I keep them indoors can I keep them blooming all year long? And/or what is the best way to keep them in bloom ? Is it best to put them outside? If outside, do I plant them now or wait until spring? I live in Georgia, slightly North of Atlanta. We probably will get some light snow, some light freezes, and some temps below 36 this winter. Perhaps colder, with bad luck, but probably not for extended times. (compared to North New Jersey where I lived for 16 years - a piece of cake)
Thanks for any help. I have a slight brown thumb, that is a light green with some luck. I also have a question about an inside tree with pink and green leaves. Some kind of Ficus? I think it hates me - or just what I am doing to it. It looks very sick and keeps loosing it's leaves. Especially after I moved it from the porch to inside (it was getting colder) after only 2 weeks of buying. Lots of changes in short time for it.

Answer 1

"Light green" thumb - cute!

azaleas bloom in the spring. Once, then they're done until next season. Prune after blooms are spent for increased bloom in spring.

They like acidic soil = epsom salts are an inexpensive alternative to "miracid" augment with MiracleGro.

Azaleas will take full sun to partial shade. Pretty frost tollerant -- Augusta National Golf Course is a good example of very nice specimines.

Ficus don't like to be moved. They are pretty persnickity about watering, never like being too wet, nor too dry. shedding is normal, but with yellowing leaves and profuse shedding could be disaster.

Answer 2

The azalea as well as most all plants can not survive constant blooming all plants need dormancy to some degree. As for putting it out it might work unless it is a florist or hot house plant that is forced to bloom and does not always live long term. Try it though.
Ficus are tempermental they do not like being moved or cold drafts. It can and will probably come back but you must be patient.

Answer 3

Hi:
Living in Geogia, this is a great time of year to put your Azaleas outside. They will do a lot better outside. I live in zone seven also and if your Azalea is blooming now, it could be an Encore Azalea and this will bloom twice a year. Other Azalea species bloom in the springtime.

When putting your Azaleas in the ground, mix in some organic mushroom compost with the soil. This is an organic fertilizer and will last up to a year. It doesn' t smell that great but your Azaleas will love it! Mulch or pine straw around the Azalea and but don't put it up against the base of the plant. Give the plants a little breathing room. Get the plants on a watering schedule for a few weeks to get the roots established in the ground. I recommend to my clients to take a hose for the first couple of weeks and slow drip around each Azalea for five minutes. This will ensure proper watering of the entire shrub.

Best of luck to you and if you need any further information, please feel free to contact me at my website. Take a look at my site map and see if you can find any other landscape ideas. I will also direct you to my gallery of plant section so you can see a variety of different plant specimens with descriptions and zones for each one. Have a great day!
Kimberly
http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.com/Site.html

http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.com/Gallery.html

Answer 4

Go ahead and put your azalea outside now.

Your ficus just resents being moved. Sometimes just moving from one side of the room to the other will result in shedding.. If it needs it, now might be a good time to shape it up. It will soon put out new leaves. Don't water too much.

Answer 5

a thanks to get rid of the insects is to thoroughly change the soil--- it extremely is the position the eggs are till in case you turn the leaves the incorrect way up and they are laying on the bottom of the leaf in direction of the stem-- if it extremely is the case you want a pesticide--i think it really is talked about as diazinon- yet you'll favor to sparkling out the living house of pets and air out your position because it really is poisonous. If it really is no longer on the leaves, purchase new potting soil- be sure that is a good blend with vermiculite and regulate the completed element-- which includes if a threat, washing off the roots. through ways, replacing the potting soil like i discussed above is healthful to do each and every this style of large volume of years once you word your plant has stopped growing to be-- it has depleted the foodstuff contained in the soil and infrequently even the roots have began to rot--this aerates the roots and delivers the plant all new foodstuff.... and far more low-cost than a tremendous number of poisonous spraying and scents on your position. one extra element- if the eggs are below the leaves and are STICKY, get a twig bottle and make a blend of water and dishwashing liquid--- spray each and each and every of the leaves--- and it received't stain your furniture or rugs-- be sure the liquid doesn't have bleach in it because some dishwashing beverages have bleach now. attempt this each and every 2 days and do not WATER THE PLANT for 2 WEEKS. which will kill the fungus.