The forgotten azalea

[Leigh Taafe]

About 10 years ago I was attempting to put some movement into the trunk of a skinny little saotome azalea. I snapped the trunk completely off about 2cm from the base.

I put the tree to the back of my benches and pretty much forgot about it. About 2 years ago I pulled it out and discovered it had grown quite an impressive base, I trimmed it back and took this pic.

Magazines 022.jpg

Since then, I left it to its own devices again. The other day I thought I would pot it up. In hindsight, I think I should have paid a little more attention to it. Over the next 2 or 3 years I might try and make more of a bonsai out of it, rather than a miniature trimmed bush in a pot. The branches are fairly well placed to do this, just a bit of hard pruning and some [careful] wiring, then keeping new growth in check, this will eventually make a brilliant little shohin. It is currently about 13 or 14cm including the pot.

Here are today's pics.

Saotome1.jpg

Saotome2.jpg

[Asus101]

the base is pretty cool.

What do you plan to do with the thick branch? Would it be a problem later, or will you keep all growth in check?

[Leigh Taafe]

What do you plan to do with the thick branch?

I have the option of keeping the fairly well placed primary branches - and cutting them back hard, ie. to stumps. Alternatively, I have another option in cutting all of the branches off, leaving me with just a very well tapered stump, then selecting the new growth as it occurs to train into a nice little shohin bonsai.

This is what I will decide come next late spring / early summer.

I am open to any other options that people might have. Feel free to comment.

Cheers,
Leigh.

[anttal63]

hey leigh this works for me as a mame to shohin:D it is true, they can become a great little base in only a few years.

[Leigh Taafe]

Yeah Antonio - that's it. That is kinda on line with my thoughts. I might grow some branches a little lower on the trunk, see what happens when I attack it next spring.

Thanks for the pic Ant.

Cheers,
Leigh.