First of all, about the basin
1. Selection of nutrient soil: Rhododendron likes fertile, loose and humus-containing acidic sandy soil. Generally, humus soil, fine sand, garden soil, coal cinder, sawdust and appropriate amount of bone powder can be evenly mixed for later use.
2. Potted containers: porcelain pots, pottery pots, purple sand pots and pottery pots can be selected. The size depends on the size of the plant. Good air permeability and good water permeability are enough.
(3) Rhododendron can be propagated and raised by sowing, grafting, cutting, layering, dividing plants, etc. (one-year-old seedlings can be potted); You can also dig old piles that grow vigorously as materials.
4. Generally put the pot in March-April in spring. Before putting the pot, cover the drain hole at the bottom of the pot with tiles, spread a layer of coarse sand, add some bone meal as base fertilizer, put some nutrient soil, put the seedlings into the pot, straighten with one hand, keep the root system stretched, fill in the nutrient soil, and fill it to 1~2cm below the mouth of the pot, then compact and pour water. Leave it in a cool and ventilated place for about a week, and then move it to a sunny place for normal management.
Second, the daily management
1, it should be placed in the sunny place in spring and autumn and in the semi-shady place in summer, and the surface of the basin soil should be covered with soft grass to prevent the fine fibrous roots on the surface of the basin soil from being burned by the hot sun; When moving to indoor maintenance in winter, the indoor temperature shall not be lower than 5℃. The optimum temperature of rhododendron is 12~25℃, and it will go into dormancy if the temperature is too high.
2, watering, azaleas like to be wet, always keep the soil moist, but there can be no water in the basin. Keep the soil moist during the growing period. Proper watering control during flowering period to avoid falling flowers; Water more in summer and spray water around appropriately to keep the environment moist; After September, reduce watering in winter and keep the soil slightly wet. Rhododendron is a typical flower in acidic soil. To prevent yellowing, 0.2% ferrous sulfate/kloc-0 should be applied every 20 days. If the leaf color is yellow, directly spray 0.2% ferrous sulfate water on the leaf surface to make the leaf turn from yellow to green.
3. Rhododendron root system is shallow and thin, and its absorption capacity is weak. When applying fertilizer, we must master the principle of "thin fertilizer and diligent application". During the growth period, liquid fertilizer mainly containing phosphorus should be topdressing 1 times every 10~ 15 days, and fertilization should be stopped at flowering stage, and topdressing 1 times every 10 days after flowering; After the end of July, it is the flower bud differentiation period of rhododendron, and liquid fertilizer with phosphorus as the main component 1 time is applied every 10~ 15 days to promote flower bud differentiation. No fertilization is needed in winter dormancy period, and topdressing should be stopped.
4. Change pots every two years, and change pots after flowers wither. Fill in new culture soil when changing pots.
Third, trimming and shaping.
1, Rhododendron has strong germination and dense branches. After flowering, dense branches, sparse branches, dead branches, diseased branches, residual branches, horizontal branches and long branches should be cut off to facilitate ventilation and light transmission. During the growth period, adventitious buds often germinate on the stems and branches, which should be erased in time to avoid disturbing the plant type.
2. Rhododendron branches have poor toughness, so it is not necessary to climb excessively, and pruning modeling is often used. The seedlings can form the whole plant type by heading, and the umbrella shape is better. Remove the residual flowers in time after flowering to avoid consuming plant nutrients, which will end at the end of May.
Fourth, pest control.
Potted azaleas have fewer diseases, mainly pests, such as red spiders and aphids. When a small number of pests are found, they can be wiped off with a wet cloth. If the insect pest is serious, it can be sprayed with 25% mixed liquid with the ratio of 1000-2000. (China Agriculture and Forestry Science and Technology Network)