Saotome azalea

[Rickybonsai]

Rickybonsai,
A few years ago I visited a local country show which had some saotome azaleas on display. I took some pics which help illustrate -

I'm not sure azaleas need an apex as such. They seem to look far better with a rounded dome top to me so I usually just shear/ hedge the top of mine and occasionally go in and remove the thicker branches to leave room for more finer twigs.

The best sao to me bonsai I have seen are just 'green helmets' - a dome of green leaves on a short trunk. Usually developed by regularly shearing or hedge trimming the outline to increase ramification and branch density.

Although it looks like your vision for styling is heading towards a more open & layered branching style - The pics do illustrate how dense these little trees can actually get. They seem to love the clipping! Enjoy working on your tree.

sao1.jpg

sao2.jpg

sao3.jpg

sao4.jpg

Ohh thank you dot those pics, they are exactly what I needed...some inspiration. I think I might still try to get that style in the long run but I had to clean out some bad clumping of branches first

Although it may take me a while to get there now haha

[shibui]

Soa to me actually grows and develops quite quick so don't give up hope just yet. Just keep feeding, watering and clipping.

[Rickybonsai]

Well that’s good news haha. Yeah there’s still hope I’ve noticed they do grow quite quick

[isimiyaki]

Hi Ricky
Saotome are great plants to work with due to their small leaves. A style to also consider the potential for not only broom style but informal upright especially for Shohin size.
I have posted 3 pics. of my Saotome

[Rickybonsai]

Hey guys, thought I would show you the progress on my little azalea that I chopped back a while ago.

Thanks you all for the advice it is looking soo much better! There is room for improvement and some gaps to fill in which I’m working on but its really starting to take shape.

Thanks again everyone for the advice which gave me confidence.




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[Keels]

That's coming along nicely.

[morconheiro]

Hi Ricky
Saotome are great plants to work with due to their small leaves. A style to also consider the potential for not only broom style but informal upright especially for Shohin size.
I have posted 3 pics. of my Saotome

Those two informals uprights are amazing.