Azalea: leave big or train as bonsai???

[PinkFlowers]

I found this potted Azalea at the OH's worksite earlier in the year and am thinking I'd like to train it as a bonsai. I like the look of it's base, but is it worth it? It has the prettiest pink and white flowers.
I have a few questions tho, when is the best time to repot and trim it down to size? Now? How do I trim the branches in a way that it won't look like it's been chopped off at it's knees? Or will it just take time to grow out and then look alright? And what kind of pot should I put him in? The big one it's in or just an oversized bonsai pot?

[PinkFlowers]

I found this potted Azalea at the OH's worksite earlier in the year and am thinking I'd like to train it as a bonsai. I like the look of it's base, but is it worth it? It has the prettiest pink and white flowers.
I have a few questions tho, when is the best time to repot and trim it down to size? Now? How do I trim the branches in a way that it won't look like it's been chopped off at it's knees? Or will it just take time to grow out and then look alright? And what kind of pot should I put him in? The big one it's in or just an oversized bonsai pot?

[chrisatrocky]

Its up to you, but I don't see anything bonsai wise to get excited about. I'd trim it back to a better shape and see what develops over the next couple of years. you never know a bonsai may appear.

chris

[nealweb]

You could cut and repot it now. Try to cut to create taper and movement (so it looks less 'cut off at the knees') and to remove long straight sections (or cut them back to short straight sections that will then shoot off at an angle). You could leave it in the big pot to grow it on for a while or if cutting lots off the top you could take the opportunity to trim the roots aswell and put itto a large bonsai pot. If you want the trunk to thicken further then go for the big growing pot. If you chop it back now you should get lots of new shoots and different future design options.
I'm sure you could get a bonsai out of it...or put it into the garden and enjoy a nice flowering shrub

[Guy]

imagine your tree without that long straight left hand trunk

[Jarrod]

Agree with guy, the left branch/trunk goes, and leave the right hand trunk that comes off the lower section at an angle. Guessing it could be viewed from the other side as well

[kcpoole]

Some nice movement in the right hand brnch there that will maybe make a nice trunck.

Cut off the left branches completely and then repot tiled to the left, and see what you have then to work with.

Ken

[Vice]

I'd stick it in your garden. Then in the future take a cutting or layer

[PinkFlowers]

Oh I hadn't thought of removing that left branch. it'll need a root prune aswell cause from memory it has a pretty big chunk of roots, barely fit into the pot it's in.
I'll have a play with it this afternoon and see how it goes. Should I leave some green on or will it be ok if I cut it off fairly short?

[nealweb]

If you cut it completely off straight away there is a chance the roots feeding that trunk, and being fed by that trunks foliage may die off. Best to leave atleast a 1-2cm stub, this will then sprout some shoots which can grow for a season and then cut it all off flush to the trunk next year. Don't forget to seal all cuts immediately.

If it has only just been repotted and disturbed anyway it might be best to leave the roots alone for a bit???

[PinkFlowers]

Well, it's all potted up and looking much better as a bonsai than as a weedy shrub!
I'd hoped to find a nice cream or pale pink colored pot, to complement the delicate flowers it gets, but me being impatient and wanting to get it done today couldn't find one, so instead I have a dark brown one. I think I'll have a better look for it's next pot.
When I took it out of the pot it was in, I had a lovely little surprise in the form of a nice looking base and some thicker roots up near the surface. It also sits over on and angle very naturally which is an added bonus.
Here's the azalea as it is now.



This is what I've decided to be the front as the moment. I couldn't decide about the branch on the left, so I've decided to leave it for a few days and see if I end up loving it or hating it. Part of me feels that it balances the tree, the other part feels it detracts someone from it. Hmm.
I've left some longer branches which some foliage and a few buds, one so that it can absorb some energy but also so that it doesn't look as much like a stick in a pot
Here is my plan for it at the moment:



Or



Anyone care to vote which one? And how to get it there? Thanks muchly for your help guys.

[kcpoole]

Thats Nice now

But do no more till next year please. The tree needs now to recover and grow accustomed to its new environment.

Later this summer, you will want to reduce the Larger stems to about where you Green area starts, as this will let you develop ramification in the branches eventually.
Whether you keep the first branch or not is personal, but I do not mind it as the first foliage pad can be quite low and be OK.

Now Water with Seasol at least twice a week until you see new growth we under way.

Ken

[PinkFlowers]

Thanks I'm just gonna let it sit and grow, I'll sit on my hands and not fiddle with it. Promise.
How long should I expect it to take for new buds to appear? And should i fertilize it at all or just water with seasol?

[deepeetee]

Hi Pink Flowers,

Dont touch it till next year.
I removed two slightly larger than that one, last year. I was told to get as much out of the ground as possible and squeeze as much of the root ball into the biggest pot i could find. Then over the spring and summer of '10 provide as much TLC as possible. No work was to be done for at least a year.

So this year, like yours, i was to remove the left hand trunk. But it oculd only be removed in stages (as Neale) suggested.

Do not touch it till next year, or you may not have it to work on next year.

Dave

[kcpoole]

Hey Pink
I would think 4 - 6 weeks till you see some action now
Seasol only for the next 6- 8 weeks. After o get a months worth of leaves and new shoots extending, you can then start weak ferts

Ken