Azalea... Help!

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CaptMicha Brookeville, MD(Zone 7a) Jun 30, 2007

My parents planted some evergreen azaleas in full sun, which I know is too much. To make them recover, I think that feeding them once a week with highly diluted plant food would help and some Superthrive and some epsom salt. They've already been watering them everyday. I also think that providing some shade would help too. Should we use umbrellas??

I've never really known how much epsom salt to use, I just sprinkle it in my pots but never used it on the ground. I don't want to make the plants worse, so how much am I supposed to use on about 2' tall shrubs?

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Jun 30, 2007

Have they transplanted them to a shadier location, or are you trying to nurse them back to health while leaving them in a spot they're not happy? If they're still in the sunny spot, first thing they should do is find some way to shade them until they can transplant them, make sure they get the right amount of water, and then transplant them as soon as it's appropriate in your climate. Regardless of whether they've been moved or not, I wouldn't fertilize them, fertilizing plants that are already under stress can do more harm than good. The Superthrive is good if they have transplanted them but I'm not sure it does much otherwise. Don't know anything about the Epsom salts, I've never heard that they help transplants and I can't imagine they'd do much to help anything recover from heat stress.

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Jun 30, 2007

What kind of Azaleas are they? Some will live in full sun just fine.

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CaptMicha Brookeville, MD(Zone 7a) Jul 01, 2007

These say part sun on the tags.

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snapple45 Holland, OH(Zone 5b) Jul 03, 2007

Epsom salts can be used to correct a magnesium deficiency in the soil. It is highly soluable. Magnesium deficiency shows up on leaves as chlorosis between the veins of the leaves. Best not to use it unless you are certain that lack of magnesium is the problem. Do you know what the Ph of the soil really is? If the Ph does need to be lowered then use soil sulphur. Very effective in lowering soil Ph. http://www.fertilome.com/Labels/HiYield/Fertilizers/HY%20Soil%20Sulphur%20Label.pdf

Avoid using Aluminum Sulphate for lowering soil Ph. The aluminum accumulates in the roots eventually to a toxic level and will destroy the plant over time. If you really need a quick acid based nitrogen fertilizer then Ammonium Sulphate can be used. However, use it sparingly. It contains sulphur and is a high nitrogen fertilizer which will burn.

You want a cool mulched root run for azaleas, some shade from the afternoon sun, even moisture, and Ph below 7, preferably below 6.5. They dislike being too wet as much as being too dry.

By the way, CaptMicha, that's a nice thing you are doing for your folks.

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