[LLK] - Azalea "Candlelight"

[LLK]

Azalea "Candlelight", an indica hybrid, sun tolerant;
Height 25 cm
Purchased from local garden centre, 4 days ago
Price $14.95

[LLK]

Update 1 -- 02/09/2011
I still need to remove flower buds and shorten some branches.

[LLK]

I allowed this Azalea to flower, although it requires extra energy from the plant, so that I could see the type and size of the blooms and integrate these in the overall design. Well, the size of the flowers sure isn't ideal for a shohin, but presenting it with only a few blooms will still look quite nice... I hope. One thing is for sure: I'll have to use the full 24.9 cm of height allowed!
Of course, the flowers will be removed now, and the branches shortened.

Lisa

[kcpoole]

Nice flowers Lisa whether it flowers next year at the right time for the finish of the comp is another story tho but you can hope

Ken

[nealweb]

Nice! Large flowered azaleas can be grown as tall plants but are just as often developed as short trees with a thick trunk and a few big blooms. Not quite in scale with a natural tree but looks great!!

Keep up the good work...

n.

[LLK]

This little Azalea isn't looking too good, since a big snail ate much of the new growth.
It won't be photographed.

Lisa

[LLK]

Update: the Azalea has gradually recovered. Here are 3 images, one from Jan. 13, after the snail attack, and 2 from today, the last showing the plant after pruning. The frog is a mascot, it has a positive influence.

Az.Candlelight.comp.a.130112.jpg

Az.Candlelight.comp.1a.080212.jpg

Az.Candlelight.comp.2a.080212.jpg

Lisa

[LLK]

This azalea has put on a lot of new foliage! It feels quite soft and I don't think I'll risk putting the plantg in a bonsai pot this year. No chance of winning this contest, but what the heck, it's stimulated the starting of what may in a few years become a good shohin.

[LLK]

Not much change since end May.... yet.

[LLK]

Lots of flower buds.

[LLK]

The Azalea is almost in full flower. The blooms are really too big for a shohin, but at the start of the comp. this was structurally the best little tree I could get. What I should have had is the small-flowered babe I bought recently at the Goulburn show. What a little beauty! There was no label, so I don't know its name. Until I do, it's provisionally called Goulburn Mini.

Lisa

[LLK]

Coming to the end! My little Azalea has behaved very well. I had to remove all the flowers after my previous post, because they were taking too much of the small tree's strength. It is now 22 cm high, but in view of the size of the leaves and flowers, I am not going to keep it to shohin size, but will aim for Gafu (max. 35 cm). Because of this, I haven't pruned it back as I would have, had it been destined to remain small. Also, it won't go into a bonsai pot for at least 2 - 3 years.

Thanks to Steve for setting up this competition, I enjoyed it.

Lisa

[Andrew Legg]

Coming to the end! My little Azalea has behaved very well. I had to remove all the flowers after my previous post, because they were taking too much of the small tree's strength. It is now 22 cm high, but in view of the size of the leaves and flowers, I am not going to keep it to shohin size, but will aim for Gafu (max. 35 cm). Because of this, I haven't pruned it back as I would have, had it been destined to remain small. Also, it won't go into a bonsai pot for at least 2 - 3 years.

Thanks to Steve for setting up this competition, I enjoyed it.

Lisa

You realise that you stand no chance of winning . . . . . . . the frog is not in the final pictures!

[LLK]

You realise that you stand no chance of winning . . . . . . . the frog is not in the final pictures!

I always knew you were extra observant! Anyway, the frog was only needed as long as the Azalea was struggling. It has shifted its attention to a poorly shohin privet now. And I haven't got the slightest chance of winning, regardless.

Lisa

P.S. - Your corky bark babe is looking super!! Would certainly be a contender for 1st prize. Ever thought of migrating to Australia?
L.

[Andrew Legg]

You realise that you stand no chance of winning . . . . . . . the frog is not in the final pictures!

I always knew you were extra observant! Anyway, the frog was only needed as long as the Azalea was struggling. It has shifted its attention to a poorly shohin privet now. And I haven't got the slightest chance of winning, regardless.

Lisa

P.S. - Your corky bark babe is looking super!! Would certainly be a contender for 1st prize. Ever thought of migrating to Australia?
L.

LOL - Cool. Just as well my daughter has some tadpoles as I'm gonna need a few frogs for some of my trees!

Thanks, I think the tree is missing the bottom branch which needs loads of thickening, so I'm not sure about a first place contender just yet! Have I ever thought of moving to Aus? No ma'am. Too many biting things for my liking!