poorly azalea

[lucca]

I was given a lovely azalea and as the (red) flowers died, I removed them. With virtually no flowers left, the leaves have gone nasty and dry, and are falling off. Any ideas on rescue, please? Thank you. (No instructions came with plant, so I guessed at watering etc - tried to keep soil moist).

[woofgang]

ae you keeping it indoors? they are outdoor plants and need the coolness and humidity of a shady spot outdoors to thrive

[carlton23]

Azaleas require an acid soil, so if yours has a lime/chalk type of soil then you must dig another hole and get some ericaceous soil from a garden centre and add this in the hole before planting, also water only with rainwater.

[Brinjal]

Dont over water mulch with tea leaves for acidity

[muff13]

Assuming that this azalea is a pot plant rather than an outside plant, I would recommend that you keep it outside during the summer months. Do not let it dry out at any time and feed it with dilute feed occassionally- then make sure you bring it inside before the first frosts. Treated this way, it shoudl flower year after year.

[lucca]

Thank you all for your very prompt replies. Shall do as you suggest and cross fingers. Pity no advice came with it. It was in a posh ceramic pot so I imagine it cost a bit. Thanks again.