AusBonsai

I have seen a number of Azalea bonsai pictures on the web and videos which has very thick trunks. I look in the backyards of Melbourne and all I see are not so thick trunks.. Is it because of our weather we don't get such thick trunks or is it that our azaleas are different to the ones used for bonsai? I love the bonsais clothed in flowers and want to start one so look to get the right start.

Those are satsuki and the thick ones are very old and grown in the ground for many years. All the branches are cut off every year or two. To get thick trunks you need to let them grow without messing about with them during the year. Remove all shoots coming from the base of the trunk in late spring. You need to be young if you want a really thick trunk

I will skip it then, @43 not sure there will be enough time to start from the scratch.

Bonsai Art in Heatherton specialise in azaleas - they will probably have some more advanced stock, albeit for a price.

Wow just checked them up online they have a fair few azaleas will head up there. Thanks

The other spot to look for azaleas is in gardens. I have some respectable trunks that have come from garden renovations, demo sites, etc. They are probably around 40-50 years old so no point looking in new suburbs but if you know people living in older areas, builders, gardeners or landscapers, let them know you are interested. It may take a few years for something to come up and you'll probably need to keep reminding your contacts but the fruits are well worth the effort when you get hold of a good trunk.

I have a few experiments going to increase trunk size but none that effective yet.

A friend has grafted satsuki on the standard azalea base quite funny.

I will put a few in the ground this year and see how it goes.

Simon

PeachSlices wrote: ↑May 30th, 2023, 8:59 pm I have a few experiments going to increase trunk size but none that effective yet.

A friend has grafted satsuki on the standard azalea base quite funny.

I will put a few in the ground this year and see how it goes.

Simon

I grew a few in the ground years ago. You want the roots to have a very free run so if the soil is a bit tight they won't advance much and hence they won't thicken much.. If you can afford it, it's a good idea to invest in a couple meters of non-alkaline quartz sand and make a raised bed (150mm deep is enough) and have a mix of 50% sand and the rest soil and some acidic organic material. You can then use that bed again and again for years. The trick is to try to get half a metre of growth in the shoots of the more vigorous satsukis. They do not need lifting for 5 or 6 years before root pruning.

I have purchased many different varieties of satsuki azaleas from bonsai art, I think I have an addiction! Ha ha , I have kept many in large pots and all seem to be growing well. Patience is required, have also planted some in the ground and used 150mm plynth surround and used straight kanuma, costs about $37 per bag, I used 5.per plant I see how it goes.Finding information on satuski's is limited and thanks to Bonsai art for the varities, very hard to find different varieties they don't have, even researched getting from japanbit hesitant with costs involved. This year I'm going to try to keep some seed and raise some more(once again very had to find information regarding satsuki seed germanation) Have taken many cuttings in summer of all the varities, i have 40 odd. over the pass 4yrs. They are a wonderful plant to grow.

James