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How can you tell if an azalea is over-watered?
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Posted by bamboo_ca z10 SoCA (My Page) on Thu, Sep 17, 09 at 13:01
| I have a few shade azaleas that I planted in March which have been doing very well until a few weeks ago when it got hot. I increased the watering to compensate for the hotter temps and a about a week or two later the older growth leaves died. The leaves first wilted and then blackened and fell off.
The new growth leaves have remained healthy and I have cut back on the watering as the temperature has moderated. I also fertilized the azaleas (along with some fuchsia and camellias) with some bone meal not long before it became hot. I was wondering whether the dead leaves had been a sign of over-watering or a bad reaction to the bone meal I put on them?
Thanks
Chad |
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RE: How can you tell if an azalea is over-watered?
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- Posted by morz8 Z8 Wa coast (My Page) on
Sat, Sep 19, 09 at 11:19
| Unfortunately, overwatering produces symptoms similar to underwatering. If an azalea is too wet for any length of time, the roots will rot and the leaf tips will turn brown as a sign of distress. Too little water also results in brown leaf tips, usually preceded or accompanied by a wilted, limp appearance. Your azaleas - not yet fully established - may have been reacting to heat stress, without a photo it's hard to make a guess. Regular applications of bone meal are generally not recommended for azaleas - the ph is wrong for mainting the right soil acidity, high levels of phosphorus in the soil can lead to chlorosis over time. |
RE: How can you tell if an azalea is over-watered?
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You could use the finger method to see if you need to change your watering schedule going forward. For 1-2 weeks, check the soil moisture at the same time every day by inserting a finger to a depth of 4". If it feels moist, do nothing. If it feels dry or almost dry, water the plant and make a note on a wall calendar. If it feels wet, try to determine what is causing the soil to be wet and take whatever action seems appropriate.
After a week or two then review your notes in the calendar and determine how often you were watering. Then set the sprinkler or drip irrigation to water on the same frequency. If the temperatures change by 10-15 degrees and stay there, recheck using the finger method and adjust the amount of water an/or frequency if you need to. |
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