Azalea fertilizer help

[Nohal]

I was wondering what kind of fertilizer to put on azaleas. I had heard that used coffee grounds were good because they are acid and azaleas are acid loving plants. Has anyone tried this?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You can buy a fertilizer specifically for azaleas. You would do that after blooming and that is it.

As far as using coffee grounds to beef up acidity, which I am not sure of to be honest, unless there is an issue, I would not do it.

You can beef up acidity by using cypress mulch, peat moss, and other organic material like pine needles if you have the available. But I would not do it unless you have an issue.

Is your plant having a problem? How old is it?

Fertilizing azaleas
In general, azaleas in the landscape require little or no fertilizer. Having humus (decomposed organic matter) in the soil and maintaining an organic mulch around azaleas are more important than applying chemical fertilizers, and much safer. Decomposition of the mulch normally provides the nutrients needed for the good health of the azaleas.

If chlorosis of the leaves (yellowed, with green veins) or stunted plant growth suggest there may be nutritional deficiencies, a soil test may be useful. This can usually be arranged through your county agent at little or no cost. Soil test results will show the specific amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and various other important elements that are present in the soil. The results may be accompanied by specific fertilizer recommendations to correct any deficiences. If not, your county agent may be able to provide specific recommendations.

Applying chemical fertilizers without knowledge of any deficiences in your soil may not help much, and may actually harm your azaleas. As a very general rule, more azaleas are killed by kindness than by neglect.

http://www.azaleas.org/index.pl/faq.html

 

[starwood]

We always use coffee grounds around our azaleas.

 

[Nohal]

My azaleas are new and very small. I thought fertilizer would help them grow faster. After reading the mystery machines quote, I guess I will let nature take its course. Thanks mystery machine for the info.