If you sleep together the bright splash of color that azaleas can bring to your 1000 , but do n’t have much room in your garden , why not acquire them in containers alternatively ?
Since these bush thrive in a partially shady surroundings , they make ideal terrace or porch plant life and can liven up apartment balcony too .
In ourguide to growing azalea , we discourse how to cultivate these bloom shrubs in the garden . In this guide , I ’ll cover everything you need to know about how to grow them in tummy and container .
Azalea lacebug.
We tie in to vendors to help you find relevant products . If you buy from one of our link , we may garner a military commission .
Before we dive in , however , a Federal Reserve note of cautiousness : it ’s vital to understand how toxic these shrubs are .
Ingesting any part of the plant or even eat on honey made from bees that feed on azalea peak can cause downhearted origin pressure , a lowered philia charge per unit , and arrhythmia .
Azalea lacebug.
So keep your kids and pets away from the shrubs !
Are you are ready to plant some endearing azalea in pots ? rent ’s get started !
What You’ll Learn
Getting set off
Why uprise in a Container ?
Choosing the Right Container
Preparing Your Container
How to turn
Cultivars to Select
Pests and Disease
Best Uses
Before we launch into choose the right container , countenance ’s break down the two primary eccentric of azalea : deciduous and evergreen . Both type are specie in theRhododendrongenus , part of the Ericaceae family line .
Within these two categories , some azaleas might be species variety show and others may be crop hybrids , which are crosses between different species .
One of the most popular cultivate intercrossed series is Encore ® , developed in the 1980s by Buddy Lee , a Louisiana plantsman and plant stock breeder .
These delicious loanblend bloom in the spring , again in the summer , and once again in the fall . They are a cross between spring - blooming azaleas and Taiwanese summertime - bloom azalea .
Other pop hybrid serial admit Kurume ® and Northern Lights ® , a series of extra - stalwart deciduous plant well - suit for northern gardens .
Deciduous
All of theRhododendronspecies native to North America are deciduous . Most deciduous types have parting that are up to six inches long , and the flower color includes pinkish , empurpled , orangish , red , white , and yellowed .
They tend to have an vertical growth habit and produce unmarried - flower bloom .
Deciduous azaleas are typically hardy in Zones 4 - 8 . Well - bang species includeR. arborescens , R. calendulaceum , andR. atlanticum .
Evergreen
Evergreen varieties are aboriginal to easterly Asia . While deciduous azaleas primarily bring forth individual - blossom bloom , evergreens bloom with single or double - flowered flower .
They come in shades of purple , pinkish , red , white , and orange , but not yellow-bellied .
Evergreen azalea actually produce two circle of farewell , at different times of the year . flimsy , with child spring leaves call on xanthous and fall off in the declension , but not before they are supplant by smaller , thicker wintertime bequeath .
you’re able to grow some evergreen coinage as houseplants , but outside varieties are only stout in Zones 6 - 9 . Popular evergreen metal money includeR. simsii , R. indicum , andR. poukhanense .
deficiency of space is one reason why you might want to grow your azaleas in containers . you could constitute several varieties in pot and arrange them on your terrace or porch each summer for a blinding show of color .
Another matter to consider is that by growing them in containers , you could get your potted evergreen plant azaleas indoors in the wintertime if you endure in Zone 5 and below . Or move them to a sheltered area where they wo n’t break down of exposure .
Since they are battery-acid - love plants , you may also select to uprise your azaleas in container if the soil in your thou is inapplicable and you do n’t care to make amendments that may feign your other plantings .
Many azaleas , whether deciduous or evergreen , develop to between four and six feet in height and cattle ranch .
gnome sort typically hit a mature peak and spread of two to three feet . It ’s authoritative to consider the mature dimensions of the variety you choose when you choose a container .
Since the roots need way to stretch and grow , you will need to choose a mickle that ’s at least two foundation wide-eyed and thick with drainage holes in the bottom .
ensure the container is bombastic and heavy enough that your shrub does n’t fall over in a strong wind .
I love this 27 - inch planter , available from Amazon .
Crescent Garden Brunello Planter
And do n’t permit the facial expression of it fool you : it ’s not frightfully heavy at all . It ’s made with a high - grade polythene , and weighs just nine pounds . You ’ll still be able to move it if you need to .
And it ’s available in six different semblance ( parchment is shown above ) and also in a heavy 31 - inch size .
A gravid terra cotta container work well , too , although it ’s heavier to move . You might require to consider investing in a wheeled base to make this task well-heeled if you recollect you may need to move your plant .
Any plastic , concrete , or wooden container can also work well as long as it has a wide base and passable drainage holes in the bottom . The big the base , the harder it ’ll be to tip over .
you’re able to more about thedifferent container material in this guide .
If you choose a electronic warfare container or one that has n’t been used before , you ’re quick to fill it with potting intermixture . If you have used it before , however , you ’ll want to clean and disinfect it first to forestall the spread of disease .
Azaleas require well - drain , acidic soil with a pH of 4.5 - 5.5 , so it ’s best to select a potting filth that is specifically made for battery-acid - loving plants .
Coast of Maine Planting Soil
I habituate Coast of Maine Organic Planting Soil for Acid Loving Plants , useable from Amazon .
sate your container with your chosen potting mix , leaving two column inch of space between the soil and the top of the container . This will keep the water from overflowing when you give the plant a beverage .
Youcouldfill the pot with a mix of topsoil , well - rotted compost or manure , and perlite , but it ’s recommend to usea fresh potting mixto head off introduce any pests or disease from your yard or garden into the containers .
If you do choose to use ground from your M , considerconducting a ground testor using a plate pH examiner before planting .
Espoma Soil Acidifier
If you need to lower the pH of the soil , you could better with a soil acidifier , such as this one from Espoma , available via Amazon , agree to package teaching .
azalea are usually sold as immature industrial plant in small pots from a greenhouse ( you’re able to alsopropagate your own ) . When you convey yours home , dig a mess as deep and wide-cut as the original pot , take away the industrial plant , and place it inside .
It should be the same profoundness in the dirt of the new container as it was in the old one .
After planting , water it soundly until fluid drains out the bottom of the potty . Place the corporation in an expanse that receivesfull sunor part shade . About six hours of sun per day is ideal , preferably break of the day sun .
If you take to place them in a full Dominicus positioning , they ’ll grow more compactly and bring out more flower . But mind : If you live in a red-hot location , make certain you provide some shade in the hot division of the mean solar day .
When they are grown in part shade with about four hours of full sun per day , they ’ll flower less abundantly but the bloom will last longer . The shrub will reach toward the light , growing in an elegant , arch manner .
Azaleas do n’t like wet metrical unit , so let the top inch of soil juiceless out between watering . This can be as little as once a week or a few time a month in cool , wet areas , or as often as three to four time a week in hot , ironical locales .
ensure you water at the soil level and avoid wet the foliage , as this can contribute to fungal disease .
fertilise the flora once in other spring using fertiliser that ’s appropriate for acid - loving plants , such as Espoma Organic Holly - Tone Fertilizer , uncommitted at Amazon .
Espoma Organic Holly - Tone
If you are produce deciduous azalea and they are look tatty and uneven , or they ’re growing too enceinte for the stool , you may prune them after their first bloom in the saltation .
Use pruning shear to take away any dead , disordered , or morbid limb . Then regain a division with vernal , upright shoots that are growing from healthy , vigorous branches .
trim down the shoots off – but not the branches – to keep the shrub at the desired size . Or , view transplanting the shrub to a larger container and letting it grow as it will .
Evergreen varieties seldom need cut back , you may just take any dead or diseased branches after bloom to straighten it up .
In the winter , mulch the container with a stratum of pale yellow . This will help the root stick around isolate during the cold-blooded months . Alternatively , you’re able to move deciduous kind to a shed or garage and bring them back outside when temperature are consistently above 15 - 20 ° F .
In the case of evergreen azaleas , it ’s best to wash out the plants with insecticidal soap to ward off any wanderer pinch infestations and then move them indoors if winter temperatures are bear to dip below 0 ° farad .
If you do bestow them indoors , check that they ’re kept in an area where they receive brilliant sun through a window and where the temperature stay between 60 - 68 ° F .
quick to obtain a few plant for your pots ? Here are three of our favourite azalea cultivar for successful container growing .
When purchasing , ensure that youunderstand bloom timesso that your plants flower when you want them to .
Autumn Moonlight
Do you dream of pallid , moonlight - shining efflorescence to brighten up your paseo ? Then plant ‘ Autumn Moonlight , ’ an Encore ® hybrid with whitened , semi - double flowers that feature a charge of moonbeam yellow at the pharynx .
‘ Autumn Moonlight ’
This evergreen plant type is hardy in Zones 7 - 10 and reblooms attractively , just like the other Encore ® varieties . It grows to just three foot tall and four foot wide , attain it a gross choice for a container .
you could find plants in one - gallon muckle from Encore Azalea , available from Plants by Mail .
Hino-Crimson
For a vivacious , succinct evergreen with prolific crimson blooms , look no further than ‘ Hino - Crimson ’ , a Kurume ® series hybrid variety .
This low - originate shrub reaches just two to three feet grandiloquent with a three- to five - foot spread .
‘ Hino - Crimson ’
It ’s hardy in Zones 5 - 9 and thrives in partial shade . The deep - green leaves turn a brilliant orangeness in the crepuscule just as the wintertime leaves unfurl .
you could see plants in one - Imperial gallon containersavailable from Nature Hills Nursery .
Lemon Lights
A shrub with bright yellow blossom , ‘ Lemon Lights ’ is a deciduous azalea that ’s part of the Northern Lights ® series . The flowers have different shades of yellow , some parts are dark and others are lighter in color .
‘ Lemon Lights ’
This with child works reach a height and spread of four to five feet and is unfearing in Zones 4 - 9 , making it an excellent alternative for those of us in cold locales .
you could find ‘ Lemon Lights’from Nature Hills Nursery .
Need More Options ?
Be certain to read our supplemental guide : “ 21 of the Best Azaleas for Your Garden and Yard .
Since they ’ll be originate in containers and not in the garden with a tangle of other plants , your potted azaleas wo n’t be as susceptible to pests and disease . But you should know what to watch out for .
If it rain a spate in your arena , you may want to move the container under protection to prevent the soil from becoming oversaturated , which can chip in to the development of root orcrown rot , stimulate by the water mould , Phytophthora .
Once moulder develops , the industrial plant is hard to preserve . But if you verify the container has adequate drainage holes , the soil is well - draining , and you take care not to overwater the flora , you should be able to keep disease at bay .
Various folio spot can appear , caused byCercospora , Septoria , Phyllosticta , andColletotrichumspecies of fungus kingdom .
Keeping the leaves dry goes a foresightful style toward preventing infections , so recall to water at the base of the plant . If you do see small spots appear , you could spray the works with copper color fungicide , according to package instructions .
Watch out for azalea lace bugs ( Stephanitis pyrioides ) , 1/8 - in - long insects that suck sap from the leaves , causing the plant ’s wellness to decline .
Female lacing bugs lay their eggs inside the leaf tissue paper and cover them with a varnish - corresponding substance to lock in the ballock inside the folio , which yield the leaf a dust-covered , spotted appearance .
If you do notice the bearing of these pest or their equipment casualty on the leave of absence , murder regard foliage and utilise insecticidal soap allot to parcel program line . We have more tips on controlling lace hemipterous insect here .
Spider soupcon can also be a problem , so keep an middle out for the tiny pestilence and their cottony web . An lotion of neem oil or insecticidal soap is usually effective against these pests as well .
What better way to line a walkway than with 12 of potted azaleas ? Or possibly you ’d prefer they flank your porch , which is one of my favorite ways to display long - blossom perennials .
To bring the colorful bloom indoors for some decorative cheer , cut prospicient stems at an angle and at once submerge them in way - temperature piss .
add together somehomemade flower foodand revel the burnished salad days for up to a workweek . For full result , bring down the stems and add fresh water and flower nutrient every other sidereal day .
Potted Beauties
Could there be anything sweeter for your mood than a bright bunch of azaleas growing in your favorite plantation owner out on the terrace , or as a friendly welcome on your front porch ? I think not .
And in the meantime , condition out these clause ongrowing delightful shrubsin container next :
© demand the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Originally published January 3rd , 2021 . Last updated : May 4th , 2025 . mathematical product photos via Crescent Garden , Espoma , Coast of Maine , Nature Hills Nursery , and industrial plant by Mail . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock . With additional writing and redaction by Clare Groom .
About
Laura Ojeda Melchor
