RE: Azaleas from seed?
- To: "'woodyplants@mallorn.com'"
- Subject: RE: Azaleas from seed?
- From: G* C*
- Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2000 23:03:12 -0500
Dear Keith:
I have grown azalea and Rhododendrons from seed for many years with varying
degrees of success. Some have now reached flowering age and I have never
been disappointed so they are worth the effort.
Some pointers
1. Never let your seedlings dry out. They will die very suddenly.
2. After a month or two, try to induce a growth spurt by using half
strength water soluble Rhododendron fertilizer. You need to get some size
on the plants before moving them into the garden and have them survive.
Without fertilizer they will often remain tiny for a long time. A plant
which is even a few inches tall can be planted out.
3. Plant out before summer in a sheltered, partially shaded location and
keep them well watered the first year.
4. Most plants will be lost because they were too small when planted out
or because of drought. If the seed is from a hardy plant, most will
survive their first winter without protection.
5. Plants can flower after 2 or 3 years but this will greatly depend on the
care they receive. You should try to encourage vigorous growth by keeping
the young plants watered and fertilized.
Good Luck.
Incidently, I know the owner of Gardens North very well. Some of the
Rhododendron and Azalea seed which she lists in her catalog is from my
garden.
Glenn, Z4b Eastern Ontario, Canada
-----Original Message-----
From: berlin@wycol.com [SMTP:berlin@wycol.com]
Sent: February 4, 2000 6:07 AM
To: woodyplants@mallorn.com
Subject: Azaleas from seed?
As if I don't have enough little trays with sterile soil in little baggies
all over the house as it is (48 at last count) I recently decided to
harvest and sow some seed from my favorite Exbury Hybrid Azalea just to see
what would happen. I cleaned the debris from a handful of pods, sifted it
and planted...well....what looked like debris. After a week the individual
seeds could be seen, I assume after hydrating. Now they're sprouting and
I'm giddy about it, but wondering if Azaleas from seed are worth the
trouble. Can someone tell me how long they take to bloom from seed? Any
special precautions I should take? Should I be on medication?
I should've thought to ask this question before getting caught up in the
excitement of "new arrivals" and ordering Rhododendron seed from Chilterns
and Gardens North.
Capriciously yours,
Keith, zone 5, WNY, Winter
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