AusBonsai

Hi here is a few azaleas i colllected a few months back, they started buding about 1-2 months ago with healthy buds but now they are not looking so healthy.
They are receiving about 4-5 hrs of sun each day and are in a good quality mix
These are my first azaleas so im not experienced at looking after them.
If any one has any suggestions let me know

Thanks,
Hugh

It may well be die back from the new cut but only time will tell.
Looks like lace bug, spray with confidore to control them but damaged foliage will not recover. Next season they will be replaced. I spray all my azaleas about 3 times / year.

I collected one about 9 months ago, and a part of it that I cut off, struggled along until recently and then died off. Pulled out and there was no ne root development. Other parts of the clump are growing real strong, tho so all good.
I mention this to say theat they can struggle on for ages and then turn up the toes. If they continue to grow and power on thru the spring then you are fine.

Ken

thanks ken
i thought it might be lace bug but wasnt 100% sure.
so does anyone have any ideas as to why some of the buds are withering like in picture 2 which dosnt look like lace bug?

Hugh

G'day again Hugh

As ken said sometimes they can take a while. If the root supply is not strong to a tree or particular area, they can throw shoots off the sap that is in the tree but then not get topped up with supply from the roots. It is possible that is what is happening here. Spray with confidor for the bugs, but water with seasol for the roots and see how they go.

Tony

Hi Hugh, Please describe your "good quality mix" and what is your watering regime? These are the usual problems with azaleas.
I use my usual bonsai mix with about a third coco peat or ordinary peat added . they seem to thrive in a peaty , slightly acidic medium. With watering I let the top dry out slightly before re wetting.

Tony Bebb wrote:G'day again Hugh

As ken said sometimes they can take a while. If the root supply is not strong to a tree or particular area, they can throw shoots off the sap that is in the tree but then not get topped up with supply from the roots. It is possible that is what is happening here. Spray with confidor for the bugs, but water with seasol for the roots and see how they go.

Tony

thanks for those thoughts tony. that may be what is happening as they did have alot of root removed during collection. ill keep the seasol up to them.

Hackimoto wrote:Hi Hugh, Please describe your "good quality mix" and what is your watering regime? These are the usual problems with azaleas.
I use my usual bonsai mix with about a third coco peat or ordinary peat added . they seem to thrive in a peaty , slightly acidic medium. With watering I let the top dry out slightly before re wetting.

Hi mate
they are in Ray nesci's mix if your familiar with it. i sieved some of the fine material out of it so its very well draining.
ive been watering, like you say when the top starts to dry out, but they have been in a a bit of rain the last few weeks so they have been pretty damp for a while. so is it better to water very little? as there would not be much root at this stage to tke up water anyway.

thanks,
Hugh