Finding the best fertilizer for azaleas can be a bit of a challenge since they have very specific fertilizer requirements. That means you can’t just use a general-purpose fertilizer and expect your azaleas to put on a prolific display of vibrant flowers.
If you’re in a rush and you just want to get the best fertilizer for azaleas we recommend Nelson Azalea Acid Loving Plant Food (Buy Online).
Otherwise, you can learn more about an azaleas fertilizer requirements, and when to fertilize azaleas in your area by scrolling further down this page for more information.
Best Fertilizer for Azaleas
| Image | Name | Rating | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Nelson Azalea & All Acid Loving Plant Food |  | |
 | Sunniland Azalea Fertilizer | | |
 | Espoma Organic Azalea-Tone | | |
 | Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Plant Food |  |
Azalea Fertilizer
Nelson Azalea & All Acid Loving Plant Food
Nelson Azalea Plant Food (Buy Online) is made especially for azaleas and any other acid-loving plants in your garden. This fertilizer has a 9-13-11 NPK ratio, and it contains multiple sources of iron fertilizer for azaleas.
Nelson Azalea & All Acid Loving Plant Food is a slow-release fertilizer that will deliver a consistent supply of nutrients throughout the growing season.
The main ingredients in Nelson Azalea Plant Food are a blend of ureaform, monoammonium phosphate, sulfur, potassium sulfate, cottonseed meal, iron oxysulfate, are ferrous sulfate.
Both ureaform and monoammonium are a slow-release form of nitrogen, which won’t burn your plant’s roots. Slow-release nitrogen sources also won’t leach out of your soil quickly, so they won’t contribute to nitrogen runoff or contaminate your groundwater.
The sulfur in this fertilizer serves dual roles as a nutrient for your plants as well as a means to lower the pH of the soil. There are also other nutrients in this fertilizer that are bound to a sulfate molecule that will further enhance the growth of acid-loving plants (potassium sulfate, iron oxysulfate, and ferrous sulfate).
Overall, Nelson Azalea & All Acid Loving Plant Food is a great option if you’re looking for the best fertilizer for azaleas. However, it’s a little more expensive than Sunniland Azalea Fertilizer, but it’s still a great value. And you can get Nelson Azalea Plant Food in 2-pound jars, or you can buy it in bulk in 4-pound, 15-pound, or 25-pound bags.
Sunniland Azalea, Camellia And Gardenia Fertilizer
Sunniland Azalea Fertilizer (Buy Online) is a specially formulated plant food for acid-loving plants. This fertilizer has an 8-4-8 NPK ratio and it also contains additional magnesium and micronutrients.
Sunniland Azalea Fertilizer also helps lower the pH of the soil to improve nutrient availability. A lower soil pH will make it possible for an azalea bush to absorb more nutrients, so it can develop stronger roots, verdant foliage, and produce more flowers.
Espoma Organic Azalea-Tone
Espoma Organic Azalea-Tone (Buy Online) is one of the best fertilizers for azaleas if you’re looking for a good organic fertilizer. This fertilizer has a 4-3-4 NPK ratio, and it contains 3% calcium, 1% magnesium, and 5% sulfur.
This fertilizer is made from all organic ingredients such as Feather Meal, Poultry Meal, Alfalfa Meal, Greensand, Sultate, Potash, Sulfate of Potash Magnesia, and sulfur. It also contains Humic Acid which is derived from Leonardite.
The main nitrogen source in Espoma Organic Azalea-Tone is provided by the Feather Meal, Poultry Manure, Bone Meal, and Alfalfa Meal. These are all slow-release forms of nitrogen that will remain in your soil, so you won’t have to fertilize your azaleas as often.
This fertilizer also contains a special blend of Bio-tone microbes that help breakdown organic material and release the nutrients into the soil. These microbes in addition to the added humic acid will ensure that your plants get all the nutrients they need from this organic fertilizer even if you live in an area with depleted sandy soil.
FoxFarm Happy Frog Acid Loving Plants
FoxFarm Happy Frog Acid Loving Plants (Buy Online) is designed specifically for plants that need to grow in acidic soil conditions. This fertilizer has a 4-5-3 NPK ratio, and it also contains active soil microbes.
FoxFarm Happy Frog Acid Loving Plants is 100% organic and it’s OMRI listed, and registered CDFA Organic. It also contains a blend of microbes and mycorrhizal fungi that will aid in nutrient absorption and root development.
Some of the other fertilizers on this page contain microbes to help breakdown organic material. But this fertilizer is one of the few fertilizers for azaleas that contain mycorrhizal fungal spores.
Mycorrhizal fungi form a symbiotic relationship with a plant’s roots that will improve its ability to absorb nutrients and moisture. This can be a big help for your azaleas health especially if you live in a drought-prone area or if you have nutrient-poor soil.
Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Plant Food
Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Azalea Plant Food (Buy Online) is perfect if you want to give your azaleas a quick dose of fertilizer. This fertilizer has a 3-1-1 NPK ratio, and it contains additional trace elements like copper, boron, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc.
This fertilizer can be mixed with water to make a fast-acting liquid fertilizer. All you need to do is scoop out ½ teaspoon of Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Plant Food and add it to 1-gallon of water.
Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Plant Food will last in the soil for about 1 to 2 weeks.
Is miracle grow good for azaleas? For best results, you should apply this fertilizer around the base of your azalea bushes every 2 weeks throughout the growing season. Or you can use it in addition to a slow-release fertilizer if you want to give your azaleas a quick boost of fertilizer.
Dr. Earth 703P Organic 4 Azalea/Camellia/Rhododendron Acid Fertilizer
Dr. Earth Organic Azalea Acid Fertilizer (Buy Online) is an organic time-release fertilizer that is made for plants that are acid lovers. It has a 3-4-3 NPK ratio, and it contains all OMRI certified ingredients like cottonseed meal, fishbone meal, alfalfa, seaweed extract, potassium sulfate, kelp meal, and seven strains of probiotic microbes along with mycorrhizal fungi.
Feriloam 4lb Azalea & Rhod Food
Feriloam Azalea Food (Buy Online) contains the perfect balance of nutrients for azaleas. This fertilizer has a 9-15-13 NPK ratio, and it contains a good blend trace elements (boron, copper, iron, manganese, zinc).
The primary ingredients in Feriloam Azalea Food are Ammonium Sulfate, Urea, Ammonium Phosphate, Murate of Potash, Sodium Borate, Copper Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, and Zinc Sulfate.
Schultz Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron, ACR 14-7-7 Slow Release Plant Food
Schultz Azalea Food (Buy Online) is a slow-release fertilizer that is made specifically for acid-loving plants like azaleas. It has a 14-7-7 NPK ratio, and it contains added trace elements. This plant food will feed your azaleas for up to 3 months with a single application. And it’s made up of uniform granules that are easy to apply with a fertilizer spreader.
Azalea Fertilizer Ratio
Azaleas prefer a well-balanced fertilizer that contains more phosphorus to promote flower bud development.
A fertilizer like Nelson Azalea & All Acid Loving Plant Food that has a 9-13-11 NPK ratio will provide the perfect blend of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium if you’re looking for the best fertilizer for azaleas.
Azaleas also need a good amount of nitrogen to produce lush green foliage, and if your azalea isn’t getting enough nitrogen the leaves can start to turn yellow. A nitrogen starved plant will also lack the nutrients and energy it needs to produce flowers.
Azaleas also need a steady supply of readily available iron to produce chlorophyll. Iron availability is highly dependent on soil pH, which is why azaleas need to grow in acidic soils.
If you notice your plants are turning yellow and you’re sure that they have enough nitrogen then its probably an iron deficiency. An iron deficiency can be rectified by adding an iron fertilizer for azaleas to your soil.
If trace elements like iron are already present in the soil then you’ll need to lower the pH of your soil with sulfur to make the iron more available.
When To Fertilize Azaleas
Azaleas should be fertilized when they finish blooming so they don’t prematurely drop their flowers. You also want to avoid fertilizing azaleas late in the summer so your plants aren’t actively growing when the cold winter weather starts in your area.
The following sections have more information about when to fertilize azaleas in your area:
When To Fertilize Encore Azaleas
The best time to fertilize Encore Azaleas (Buy Online) is after they bloom in the late spring or early summer. If you live in an area with lots of rainfall, or if you live in a part of a country with a long hot growing season then you might want to add more fertilizer in mid to late summer.
When To Fertilize Azaleas in Georgia
In Georgia, you can fertilize early blooming azaleas towards the end of March. Mid-season blooming azaleas should be fertilized in late June. While late-blooming azaleas should be fertilized in august or September.
When To Fertilize Azaleas in Virginia
If you live in Virginia you can fertilize early-blooming azaleas towards the end of April. Mid-season blooming azaleas should be fertilized in early July. While late-blooming azaleas will need to be fertilized in early august.
When To Fertilize Azaleas in Louisiana
You can fertilize early-blooming azaleas in mid-March if you live in Louisiana. Mid-season blooming azaleas can be fertilized in Early June. And late-blooming azaleas can be fertilized in September.
When To Fertilize Azaleas in Houston
In the Houston area, you can fertilize early-blooming azaleas in March. Mid-season blooming azaleas will need to be fertilized in June. And late-blooming azaleas will need an application of fertilizer in early September.
When To Fertilize Azaleas in NC
If you live in North Carolina you can fertilize early-blooming azaleas towards the end of April or in early May. Mid-season blooming azaleas will need to be fertilized towards the end of June. And late-blooming azaleas should be fertilized in late July or early August.
