A nearly embarrassing Satsuki .... or maybe remove ‘nearly’.

[MJL]

Ok.... I nearly didn’t put this photo/post up as there are so many magnificent satsuki azaleas. This is not one of them!

Why am I posting? Well ... I am sort of proud’ish - sort of - I wish I had the original photo - but it was an ugly, woody cheap buy....terrible nebari too.

First - I thought - root over rock would be different for a satsuki and make better use of ugly roots. Then I cut stuff off; probably not as much as I should have - started to shape.

Anyway - wired it up - again - this morning - didn’t not snap one branch .... that’s an achievement for fumble-hands me on a woody azalea!

Soon I’ll repot. I think the front is this photo below.

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[Beano]

I think it’s not bad! You should’ve seen mine before I killed it...

[KIRKY]

Looks ok for a start. Just need to shorten all the branches back. Also the last top right branch looks a bit too heavy for a top branch. If it were mine I think I would make that the new leader. (It could also just be the angle of the pic?)
Cheers
Kirky

[MJL]

Looks ok for a start. Just need to shorten all the branches back. Also the last top right branch looks a bit too heavy for a top branch. If it were mine I think I would make that the new leader. (It could also just be the angle of the pic?)
Cheers
Kirky

Hey Kirky,
You’re a genius - thanks. I didn’t muck around ... I don’t take all advice but bang .... I took that ....

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Indeed - now new front. Better taper. I reckon new top right will come off too ... too big again. Soon.

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I’ll bang this in the ground too .... but I’m out of cutting hormone so I don’t like my chances.

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Cheers,

Mark



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[MJL]

In fact - I might make the new top right the new leader but ... I’ll watch the footy now. That’s for another day.


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[melbrackstone]

I have no luck with azaleas in pots, so it's good to see there are some that survive. I like what you've done, especially after the changes with Kirky's input.

[KIRKY]

That looks good Mark, I would leave it for now liquid feed to push growth for Spring it should start pushing some growth now and if it’s a Susuki it will push more growth again after November. Then you will have more options and can decide what to keep and what to remove.
Cheers
Kirky

[MJL]

Ok - Kirky (and others) provided some great advice and feedback about this little Azalea in back about six months ago. It’s responded really well to the trim/styling. Now the next steps and when - should I wait for autumn?

Here a few new photos with some tricky spots - as usual happy to have my thoughts adjusted like the Bonsai that I am trying to tend. [SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]
Front

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Front slightly rotated - I think at some point this will be the new front

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Back

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And rotated

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Tricky trouble spot 1
Wire marked and whether I should be keeping all these branches
From back

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And front

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And where to make the new leader- that little growth in top or perhaps even that squiggly beach underneath it?

IMG_6241.jpg

And is this bug a friend or foe?

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[MJL]

Sorry comments are out of whack with photos - it seems the Tapatalk app doesn’t like it when you delete photos mid-draft.... well that’s the excuse I am using anyway!Hopefully you get the picture!


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[KIRKY]

Hi Mark, looking good. You can cut back Azaleas at any time of year the only thing to bare in mind is flowering time. You have two choices you can cut back the new growth to start ramification. However if you do cut back at this time of year you will be cutting off any potential flower buds. Or you can leave it and cut back after flowering in November. There are two schools of thought never allow a tree in training to flower until the tree is fully trained or if like me, I want the flowers if you decide to cut back you wil see what needs to be removed to complement your future style. With regards to the few wire marks just leave them the tree is young and the wire marks don’t look that deep so they should eventually not be as obvious. With regards to bug looks like a cockroach, no harm to your plant.
Check with Rudi for the next Satsuki meeting at Bonsai Art it will be good for you to know timing on Satsuki’s. They are a pleasure to have in your collection
Cheers
Kirky

[MJL]

Great idea to check with Rudi and Trevor! Ha! I forget the help that’s right under my sizeable nose! I’ll take this little plants to the next Satsuki event.

On bug - yeah - we have the odd cockroach here but when I saw this I didn’t believe it was a cockroach .... alas, it was! [SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH AND TIGHTLY-CLOSED EYES]


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