Jan I have had nothing but trouble with my Azalea's. I bought 14 last year and this year, from a certain store that I told you about there are only two left. Now I keep all my dockets as they said they would replace them , too late now.

Then a couple of months ago I was watching Gardening Australia and they had a segment on about Azalea's in Queensland and went on to say that here in Qld the azalea tends to wrap its roots around the pot,( probably kept in the shops too long) so to check before you buy them so they are not a mass of roots, then before you plant them pull them apart a bit.

So I dug up the five that were left in the garden and he was right they were all root bound, it was just like pulling out a pot, the roots had not done anything in over a year, no wonder they were all dieing, so I pulled them apart and I have only two left, they will probably die too, but I bought another plant from a Sunday Market and I tipped it up and out and had a look at the roots they were Ok and it is coming along fine.

Now there are two kinds of Azalea's and both dont like too much sun, one is just for the shade and the other will take a bit of both, but this is Queensland, they cannot withstand exposure and prefer broken sunlight, they need rich, acid, well drained moist soil.

Mine are in a raised garden bed under the trees and only get a little morning sun in summer but more in winter when the sun is lower. The single ones are more hardy than the double ones. I would not plant in full Sun it is just too hot. Hopes this helps a little

Now about your Natives I would not be watering them every day and dont fertilize unless you use a native type maybe once a year, I never fertilize my natives they should grow with out all this pampering Yes sadly I think you are killing them with kindness.

MM.

Jan I found the article from Gardening Australia in the link below do have a read.

MM.

Here is a link that might be useful: Azalea Factsheet

I think I'd be checking your soil's PH.

I'm in Perth, and having the same problems with azaleas. We have 14 plants, most of which are 4-5 years old. I re-potted them some time ago and they were looking fine. About a month ago, the leaves started drying up, though the soil was moist. All but two look just awful. I pruned one back severely (as my partner said he'd done two summers ago whilst I was overseas) and it looks quite dead. Don't know what to do with the others. Only the single Kurume and one Indica look fine. Any suggestions?

Hi All,

Are Azaleas suited to Australia's particularly hot summers ? This is one of the main reasons that I have stuck with natives, with the exception of my 'tropical room' : everything else seems to wilt in the blazing Rocky sun.

Cheers,

Artie