Collected Azalea Indica "Alba Magna" progression

[bodhidharma]

Lots of good design going into this one Ken. Once the low right hand branch fills out and the little trunks on the left get some bulk and ramification It will be a pearler. I really like how you have filled the bottom left hand space coming of the base.

[fireworks]

What a corker, Ken! That Azalea is coming along beautifully. Well done, mate!

[deepeetee]

Hi Ken,
Really love the progression of this tree, it's a credit to you.
I have an old azalea dug from a garden, which is a work in progress. So this tree strikes an accord with me.
Any chance of an update? I'd love to see the progression for this year.
Thanks Dave

[kcpoole]

Thank you
I am hoping to give it a really good trim this weekend so will update the pics.
its Looking good and the grafted areas are filling in slowly. Needs a good haircut now as the spring / summer growth is elongating.

Ken

[kcpoole]

Got stuck onto it today and now looks much better. this sort of work needs doing about 3 times between spring and mid summer to keep it looking good. Sort of gotten away this season.

It was ragged and leggy so all the shoots got taken back to 1 or 2 leaves, or even cut back further if needed.
I was hoping to get this done a week or so earlier as i think i did it too late last year and had no flowers, As it turns out I did it last year on Aussie day as well
The lower right branches are filling in and just need to extend a little and they will be good.

We shall have to see how well it flowers this year.

Ken

[Boics]

This is a truly fantastic tree Ken.
Well done mate. I love it.

[Stu_my]

Wow nice

[yamadorikid]

Magnificent tree!!!

Brilliant job, would love to find and produce a gem like this one day....

[trident76]

Nice material.
In my humble opinion, I would consider removing or reducing the thick upper left branch, as the diameter of this branch is much greater than the other branches and trunks.
It looks as though there may be a small shoot near the base of this thick branch that you could cut back to.

[kcpoole]

Nice material.
In my humble opinion, I would consider removing or reducing the thick upper left branch, as the diameter of this branch is much greater than the other branches and trunks.
It looks as though there may be a small shoot near the base of this thick branch that you could cut back to.

thanks all for the kudos.
That branch has been the subject of much discussion and Still no real answer
I am trying to grow an interior branch to hide it as I think removing it will take far to long to rebuild that section
Will have to get brave one day and bite the bullet !

Ken

[kcpoole]

gave this a hard trim last week, and repotted today into fresh Kanuma
Ready for another season growth and hopefully good crop of flowers next year.

I have still not done any work on the thick upper branch. Just cannot bring myself to remove it


Ken

[jezz_39]

A really nice image I reckon time is on your side, Ken. Normally a branch that out of proportion would be cut back but its got so much character and ramification ... why not run sacrifice branches at the end of each main branch to thicken a bit quicker and catch up? Another 5-10 years and this is a real elegant piece

[Andrew F]

Beauty of a tree Ken, where are you getting Kanuma from?

[Watto]

Really good progression, thanks.

[kcpoole]

Updated photos today in flower.
The tree has not flowere for 3 years as I have been working out the correct timing for it.

the first 2 years, I cut back hard on Australia day and then left the tree to recover and it did not flower those 2 years.
last summer i cut back a little earlier in between Christmas and New year, and have trimmed it since, except to remove any wayward rampant shoots. The result stands for itself

Ken