7 Reasons Why Azaleas Fail to Bloom

If your azalea is not blooming, don’t worry. It’s a common problem that can be solved with a few simple solutions. We’re outlining some of the most frequent culprits of why your azalea bush is not blooming (and how to fend them off) below to get your shrubs flowering again.

Reasons for Azaleas Not Blooming

Even if you've got a type of azalea known for frequent flowering, like the popular Encore Azalea, you may undergo a period where your plant struggles to bloom. You can likely chalk it up to one of the reasons below:

Location

If your azaleas are located in an area that gets either too much sun or too much shade, they won't thrive—they like a moderate mix of both. Excessive sun can cause infestations or scorch the plant, while an overabundance of shade will yield greenery, but not flowers. See which spots in your yard have the right conditions, then move the plants there so they will bloom.

Watering

There is a delicate balance to maintain here when it comes to water. Azaleas can't be allowed to dry out, but they do not like "wet feet" either. Mulching can help with water retention and protect the roots from the heat (but your mulch layer should not be any deeper than two to three inches).

Fertilizer

If you fertilize your azaleas with high levels of nitrogen, it will interfere with blooming (though they will spur foliage growth). The Holly-tone brand is a good choice for growing healthy azaleas because it is only four percent nitrogen.

Pruning

If you pruned your azaleas later than normal last year, you may have inadvertently removed the flower buds. For azaleas, the current year's blooms stem from buds developed during the prior summer, so the best time to prune your azaleas is just after the current blooms fall away.

Pest Damage

In many areas, the pest most likely to damage your azaleas is a deer. Since azaleas are not deer-resistant shrubs, it is possible that Bambi ate the flower buds off your plant. If you live in deer country, you may want to erect deer fencing around your flowering shrubs.

Weather

Last year’s weather can affect this year’s blooms. Consider the following factors to determine if the weather is responsible for your azaleas not blooming:

• A period of drought during the prior year could have destroyed your azalea flower buds, resulting in no flowers (or fewer of them) for the current year. 
• An especially cold winter could also be responsible for killing azalea flower buds.
• A lack of cold weather can sometimes result in a plant not blooming since some azaleas have a chilling requirement.
• Unseasonably warm periods in the fall or spring can trick azaleas into blooming prematurely at these times (so-called "bud blast"). Those azalea flower buds then won't come back for the upcoming blooming season.

Wrap your azaleas in burlap and group them for your winter azalea care to keep them insulated from the cold. Pack them with mulch—which conserves moisture and regulates soil temperature near the roots—to protect them from extreme heat.

Wrong Soil pH

One of the most seen reasons for azaleas failing to bloom is that they're planted in non-acidic soil—these plants love acidic soil. Scoop up a soil test kit and, if you get a low pH, adjust your soil's acid levels. Adding sulfur, coffee grounds, and compost to soil can all increase its acidity.