Common Azalea Buds turned brown

[Jemjn0501]

Hi all…I received a common Azalea as a gift from a florist. It’s not a Satzuki. I have had it for two winters and I kept it in the refrigerator for 6 weeks at around 30 to 35 degrees. Last year it bloomed in March beautifully. This year it got buds but they dried up before they ever opened. Any thoughts as to why this happened? I use a liquid fertilizer once a week and water it every day. I keep it under a grow light and it sits on a shelf next to a heater (too hot maybe?) it has new growth so I don’t think it’s in too bad of shape.
I also believe it needs to be repotted and was thinking of pure Kanuma. Is that ok for a regular azalea? If so how often do I water with that type of soil?
Thanks!!

 

[Glaucus]

You mean the flower buds? This happens sometimes. They abort somewhere during winter, I believe. I had several seedlings indoors that I hoped would flower for the first time. But a couple had dried up flower buds. When you push them a little, they break off. My plants themselves are healthy.

 

[rockm]

Inside conditions are extremely harsh for humidity loving plants like azalea (azaleas are understory shrubs used to high humidity levels) Indoor force air heating produces humidity levels that are sometimes lower than a desert. The heater near it isn't helping. Combine that with the dry air produced inside a refrigerator, dried out shoots and flower buds are gonna happen...

 

[Jemjn0501]

You mean the flower buds? This happens sometimes. They abort somewhere during winter, I believe. I had several seedlings indoors that I hoped would flower for the first time. But a couple had dried up flower buds. When you push them a little, they break off. My plants themselves are healthy.

Sorry yes flower buds. Do you use Kanuma?

 

[Jemjn0501]

Inside conditions are extremely harsh for humidity loving plants like azalea (azaleas are understory shrubs used to high humidity levels) Indoor force air heating produces humidity levels that are sometimes lower than a desert. The heater near it isn't helping. Combine that with the dry air produced inside a refrigerator, dried out shoots and flower buds are gonna happen...

Thank you…I will find a new spot to put it and maybe set up a humidifier until I can put it back outside.