No luck with azaleas

[Scooter_M]

it did not , i ended up putting in the garden with some good azalea fert near some roses thinking the soil should be better for it. But it appears it was too far gone. i think im just going to give up on azaleas for now. I've killed two in a row so far.

[Jarad]

Bugger, don't give up on them just yet.

Go to the big green shed and grab a soil PH test kit, i think they are $6-$7 in the propagation section. Give the soil around the roses a test and also the pot if you still have it.

One of mine was looking a little under the weather, I checked the soil PH ant it was up above 7 whereas they prefer 4.5-5.5. I added some iron sulphide and osmocote azalea fert.

My mistake was usint powerfeed...

[Scooter_M]

Yeah i need to get myself a PH tester, I cant remember if i used power feed, i usually have Seasol hanging around, but that (atleast according to the website) will not "significantly" affect soil PH. But over time, in a small pot, that might not be the case.

Maybe will give it one more try and see if i can manage the PH better

Cheers

[Jarad]

Maybe get a couple of small ones. Do what you did before on one, try new things on the second and check the soil PH of both.

[elljuu]

I have a small azalea. It's In bonsai potting mix and it seems to love it I even took cuttings not too long ago and they are now growing happily. I don't give it any special treatment.

[kcpoole]

Yeah i need to get myself a PH tester, I cant remember if i used power feed, i usually have Seasol hanging around, but that (atleast according to the website) will not "significantly" affect soil PH. But over time, in a small pot, that might not be the case.

Maybe will give it one more try and see if i can manage the PH better

Cheers

Have heaps of Azaleas and never done anythig special with them except use Kanuma. I find them fast to grow and robust.
I have had them in Ray Nesci soil, Diatomite based substrate ( Mt Sylvia with its suppsed PH = 8) , Kanuma and plain old dirt. They all Do well.

The only thing i know that can kill them is Dynamic lifter. Put that ion an in 6 weeks they are dead!

Ken

[Jarad]

The only thing i know that can kill them is Dynamic lifter. Put that ion an in 6 weeks they are dead!

What is it about DL that kills the azaleas so quickly? Is it just extremely basic?

[Scooter_M]

The only thing i know that can kill them is Dynamic lifter. Put that ion an in 6 weeks they are dead!

What is it about DL that kills the azaleas so quickly? Is it just extremely basic?

I believe its because dynamic lifter is alkaline, and counters the acidity in soil, Azaleas like hanging out in the acidity range of PH.

I went and grabbed a couple of cheap azaleas for 4$ from the green shed, will see how they go 3rd time around!!

[Ray M]

I went and grabbed a couple of cheap azaleas for 4$ from the green shed, will see how they go 3rd time around!!

Hi Scooter,
Well drained soil.
Don't let them get dry.
Warm spot.
Kahoona.
Foliage feeding.

They should do very well. My oldest one is at least 80years old and this is all it gets.

Regards Ray

[Elmar]

Don't they like acidic conditions?!?!


Cheers
Elmar

[Jarad]

I went and grabbed a couple of cheap azaleas for 4$ from the green shed, will see how they go 3rd time around!!

Awesome! I'm glad you're stubborn enough to give it another go.

They should do very well. My oldest one is at least 80years old and this is all it gets.

You wouldn't happen to have a photo or a link would you?

Don't they like acidic conditions?!?!

They love acidic conditions, I believe they prefer a PH of 4.5-5.5. They do not bode well in soil that are basic (high alkalinity)

[kcpoole]

Seems a little bit of confusion here.

Azaleas prefer a slightly acidic soil, which is weird because I grow them quite happily in Mt Sylivia Diatomite mix which is quite alkaline
check the Wiki for More info on PH of Soils, https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=PH

Ken

[kcpoole]

The only thing i know that can kill them is Dynamic lifter. Put that ion an in 6 weeks they are dead!

What is it about DL that kills the azaleas so quickly? Is it just extremely basic?

I believe its because dynamic lifter is alkaline, and counters the acidity in soil, Azaleas like hanging out in the acidity range of PH.

I went and grabbed a couple of cheap azaleas for 4$ from the green shed, will see how they go 3rd time around!!

Funny thing is that I use "Neutrog Sudden Impact for Roses", which is also a chook poo base fert pellets and Azaleas are quite happy with it

Ken

[treeman]

The only thing i know that can kill them is Dynamic lifter. Put that ion an in 6 weeks they are dead!

What is it about DL that kills the azaleas so quickly? Is it just extremely basic?

It's not the high pH that will kill them (although over time it will). It is the high salinity of dynamic lifter. All Rhodos are very sensitive high soil EC.
DL releases its nutrients too quickly. It is high in ammonium and sometimes phosphorus. Its a crap fertilizer for bonsai (good for cabbages) Make your own cakes with cottonseed or soyabean meal and blood and bone.

[Jarad]

It's not the high pH that will kill them (although over time it will). It is the high salinity of dynamic lifter. All Rhodos are very sensitive high soil EC.
DL releases its nutrients too quickly. It is high in ammonium and sometimes phosphorus. Its a crap fertilizer for bonsai (good for cabbages) Make your own cakes with cottonseed or soyabean meal and blood and bone.

Thanks for the explanation Mike.