Basic Azalea Help

[Slothman]

Ok.

So over the past few months I have been playing with some nursery stock with no real direction. Reading, learning and generally trying things out. My local nurseries don't have much potential bonsai stock but I have a work trip to Perth in January so will stop in on a few on the trip home.

In the meantime however I have picked up some Azalea's from one of the only nurseries locally to carry them in any quantity (that means roughly 4-10 pots at any one time).

Over the past few weeks I stumbled on the following. I believe they are all Kurume.

- Fred Colbert
- Purple Glitters
- Asawa

The Fred Colbert is the most advanced and one I would like to see do well as its flowers are amazing. Had a mangy looking flower when I purchased and once home flowered out with around 10-12 late blooms. I just picked the last bloom off yesterday.

Purple Glitters was an impulse buy. Mainly as it had 2 trunks so appeared to be 2 separate plants in the one pot. One of the trunks had a nice line so I took a punt, and yes they where separate. So are now in separate pots. Finished flowering before I purchased. I also went back and picked up a 3 trunk one I saw at the same time. Will be splitting that down this weekend.

Asawa was a bit of an impulse. When I returned to get the 3 trunk in one pot Purple Glitters I noticed some new plants. Had a look and found 2 pots with 3 trunks labelled Asawa. I shrugged and figured, why not so picked the one with the best growth and structure. This will be split into 3 separate pots on the weekend.

So for around $75 I ended up with roughly 9 Azalea (providing re potting goes fine). I did notice a Coral Bells as well but with no real information attached. From what I have been reading this could be "Kiri" so might need to have a look on the way home

I was all set to start pruning back this weekend, taking cuttings etc as I went. However, I have NEVER had Azalea as bonsai so doubt has entered the brain.

I was going to select the main "branchy" and twiggy ones from Purple Glitters and Asawa to essentially trim back slightly and leave alone to see the flowers next season and let things grow out for a season.

I was than going to select the ones with a good trunk line to trim back, select branches, pluck out the buds in winter and try to promote some good growth. Having never worked with Azalea I am assuming the 2 x 2 rule still applies despite having 5 branches at spots. I assume the standard rule of 2 will help with trunk growth and not "bulging". Are Azalea prone to "bulging"?

The Fred Colbert one shows the most promise and growth, so I want to make sure I don't destroy that one.

So, what I am really after is some general guidance with Azalea and pruning and branch selection. All of these plants are a LONG way from being ready for a bonsai pot. The average height is 30cm, width around 20cm and the trunks are 1cm.....so a LONG way to go. But if I start them on the right path hopefully in a few years I might have some decent stock, failing that some nice colour each year for the entertaining area

Articles? Books? General rules? Links?

Any "whatever you do don't do that"?

[Jason]

Whilst I can't help much with advice personally, I do know we have a Satsuki/Azalea group here in WA. They have some good info on their site

http://www.satsukisociety.com/

[deejay335]

We had a display and chat about Satsuki and azaleas in general at our last meeting (Waverley). It was fantastic and informative. I walked away with one thing solidly in my head, which is also mentioned in the Satsuki society WA notes - the base growth is stronger/faster than canopy growth so if you do too much work up high pruning wise it may not grow back. Explains some issues I have had with azaleas over the past few years. Looking at the plants shown to us azaleas are well worth persevering with, so go for it!

[Ray M]

Hi Slothman,
A very important thing with Azaleas is to prevent dye back after pruning. A friend of mine whom I have a lot of respect for, who I would consider as an "expert" on Azaleas has taught me to seal cuts. When pruning seal the cuts immediately. Normally on a lot of different species I would trim and then seal the cuts after. Her advise is to seal straight after cutting. I have an Azalea that is over 80 years old. Before I new about this I had some dye back after pruning. I now follow her advise very carefully.

Regards Ray

[Slothman]

Ah thanks guys.

Always good to get little bits of info like this, always good

[63pmp]

"A very important thing with Azaleas is to prevent dye back after pruning."

I can't say that I've ever had this happen, I grow both satsuki and kurume.

Could you go into some more detail, Ray?

Another tip is that azalea are prone to ammonium toxicity, initial symptoms is the tips of leaves to become pinched and die back. Eventually, the whole plant will degrade and die.

Paul

[Ray M]

"A very important thing with Azaleas is to prevent dye back after pruning."

I can't say that I've ever had this happen, I grow both satsuki and kurume.

Could you go into some more detail, Ray?

Hi Paul,
The lady I mentioned has been doing bonsai for a long time, and in Sydney is very respected concerning Azaleas. It may depend on the size branch you are pruning. The tree I mentioned had some large branches that I removed. I got quite a lot of dye back before I was aware of how important it is to seal. The areas I have sealed are showing good roll over of the bark. One area I didn't seal a long time ago actually rotted right through the trunk. I have carved all the dead wood out and sealed right through the trunk. In one sense it was good that the rot went right through. Now that it is cleaned out will prevent water pooling in the wound and causing more rot.

Regards Ray

[fae]

I attended a talk on azaleas at the Bonsai Show at Merrylands in October.

The recommendation with branch cutting,if it is as thick as a chopstick seal immediately after cutting.

Have trimmed back some recently collected azaleas, sealed cuts and now it is reshooting.

Fiona

[Ray M]

I attended a talk on azaleas at the Bonsai Show at Merrylands in October.

The recommendation with branch cutting,if it is as thick as a chopstick seal immediately after cutting.

Have trimmed back some recently collected azaleas, sealed cuts and now it is reshooting.

Fiona

Hi Fiona,
Thanks for sharing this. I am doing a lot of work on my old Azalea at present. It has had some serious pruning to try and get foliage right back along the branches. I noticed today that there are a number of buds breaking out into nice new leaves.

Regards Ray