Will azaleas survive in South Florida?

[SFDrake]

I am new to this and recently aquired a satzuki azalea in a bonsai pot, as well as 2 nursery azalea in 1 gallon pots. Not sure if they will do well in this hot environment. I have them in a.m. sun and afternoon shade

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Probably not for long. I’d let them get AM sun and PM shade in the winter, but by April and through November, I’d keep them inside the screened-in pool area sitting on the deck in AM sun and shade for the rest of the day. Might get a year or two out of it.

 

[SFDrake]

Probably not for long. I’d let them get AM sun and PM shade in the winter, but by April and through November, I’d keep them inside the screened-in pool area sitting on the deck in AM sun and shade for the rest of the day. Might get a year or two out of it.

Ok thanks for the help!

 

[Glaucus]

They have native azaleas in Okinawa, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Vietnam. Maybe those work well in south Florida? What about the American Southern indica's? The more cold-loving narrow leaf satsuki may struggle.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

I would consider looking around local nurseries for cultivars sold for landscape use. Those cultivars SHOULD be ok for your climate.

 

[actionflies]

Ask Wigert nusery.

 

[SFDrake]

Well the little guy has made it so far, growing well after flowering and deadheading. But I think I showed it little tooo much love with the water, as evident by the algae on the surface of the soil. I had it covered with a metal screen to keep the squirrels out and did not realize it wasn't draining well. It's basically all roots so I think it need an emergency repot. I have some leftover Kanuma from last year. Is it a good time of year to repot? It flowered a few months ago, and the temps here are above 75 at night now. I'm planning on putting it back in the same pot...

As usual, any and all advice is greatly appreciated

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Two thumbs down on the “Emergency Repot”
Azaleas have lots of roots by nature.

Best thing to do imo is either get a steel 3/16” rod or 3/16” long concrete drill bit and slide/drill it multiple times through the media around the nebari multiple times 10ish to improve drainage.

Then ensure your drain screens and wiring holes are clear. If not back flush with hose

Next rinse out well, immerse in water to short of the top of the media, drain… repeat 3x

Repot late winter when all the frost warnings are clear.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Bob Hunter]

Azaleas good for zone 10 I do not see ay Satsuki on this list.

 

[SFDrake]

Two thumbs down on the “Emergency Repot”
Azaleas have lots of roots by nature.

Best thing to do imo is either get a steel 3/16” rod or 3/16” long concrete drill bit and slide/drill it multiple times through the media around the nebari multiple times 10ish to improve drainage.

Then ensure your drain screens and wiring holes are clear. If not back flush with hose

Next rinse out well, immerse in water to short of the top of the media, drain… repeat 3x

Repot late winter when all the frost warnings are clear.

Cheers
DSD sends

Thanks for the tip, appreciate it! I'm just trying to keep it healthy through my crazy humid summer down here. Will wait for repot til next year...not too many frost warnings down here in 10b though..

 

[Glaucus]

That azalea looks perfectly healthy. You can always put it in a new, larger pot, with good potting mixture, as long as you do not disturb the roots too much and as long as there isn't a dry heatwave.

As for the list of azaleas on the Florida Nursery site, Lady Cavendish likely is part satsuki. Otherwise, those are subtropical azalea's that deal better with both draught and heat than satsuki. They are called southern indica's but more accurately, they are Hirado hybrids.