I've been given a beautiful azalia (sp) in a pot, do I repot it or plant it in the garden?

[FanjolinaJolie]

Basically, the ? I'm asking is if I plant it in the garden, will it survive all weathers?

Azaleas are pretty hardy, but don't like wind. Most importantly, they dont tolerate alkaline soils at all, so if you can't see many rhododendrons near you the chances are your soil will need some help. You can plant them in special compost and mulch with pine needles to help the acidity. They also prefer shade and will grow in north-facing spots so can be useful as well as pretty!

Azaleas aren't keen on frost, so a pot would be the best thing for it, that way if there's a bad patch in winter you can bring it in, pop it in a shed or something. They are acid loving, so need ericaceous potting mix, with added leafmould,they are shallow rooted, so will dry out quickly, water frequently and add water retaining gel when potting up, making sure that the mixture is always just moist. They need a semi shaded site. And after flowering feed weekly until mid summer.

Pick a pot a couple of sizes up from the one it's arrived in to give some growing room. I had a lovely azalea in a pot for about five yrs, and one beautiful summers day I got back late and oops! dead from drought! The bees love their flowers.

Oh, and draw a thick line of vasline round the pot to deter dreaded vine eevil!