Kurume in full bloom...shame about the pot!

[banksia]

I say Kurume as all the Satsuki's I've seen have quite smaller leaves. The largest on this would be about 2.5cms, can anyone confirm this?.
When it comes to cascades, this is my only one (or is it a semi?) so I don't have any pots for it to go in. For the last 2 yrs it's been in this nasty "Pots are Us" jobby and prior to this it lived in a home made wooden grow box which eventually deteriorated.
Once pruned (today or tomorrow) I hope to wire it up and establish some sort of pad definition as the last time I posted this, the general concensus was it needed it.
Could I ask for some advice on a suitable pot for this tree?...better still, is there anyone out there that has an appropriate pot that they'd be willing to sell?.
The existing pot dimensions are: Height: 15cms Width (squared): 13.5cms.

Cheers!
Anthony

[Hackimoto]

Hi Banksia, You are right most Satsuki Azaleas do have small leaves.I don't think that your one is a Kurume as they have very small flowers about a quarter the size of those pictured. Your plant looks like a Southern Indica Azalea, probably Alphonse Anderson or Exquisite. You have done an excellent job with your cultivation techniques to get it to flower so profusely and so compact. That single striped flower is interesting, and the one below it looks dark as well. Alphonse has a tendency to sport or revert sometimes to the darker colour, on certain branches. Was that the only striped flower? If so then it might have Satsuki in there somewhere. Be careful trimming as that branch will probably have striped flowers every year and you don't want to cut it off.(I hope)

As far as the pot goes, I would be looking for something octagonal or round in a somewhat lighter blue colour and about two thirds the depth of that one it is in. Although the tree looks bulky in flower it has a feminine quality about it and needs to be presented in a complimentary round or oval pot, not the strong, heavy masculine pot it is in. I would class this a a semi- cascade. Hope all this helps.

[banksia]

Hack! Thanks so much for your input. I am by no means an azalea aficionado (infact it's my only one) so excuse my ignorance (the ryhme sounded good to me anyway )
I've had it for about 6-7 yrs now and it's flowered this heavily every 2 or 3 yrs with very basic care. All I've done is make sure it's watered well in our hot summers and fed it with Osmocote for Azaleas and Camelias. The mix it's growing in is a combination of regular azalea/camelia potting mix, some commercial bonsai mix and about one third Canarvon River Sand. Thanks for the compliments.
Pot-wise, I thank you for your advice and if no one perks up and offers me something, I'll endevour to find something that fits the desciption you've given.

Thanks Again!
Anthony

P.S Just went out and had a look. It's the only striped one in the whole bunch.

[Craig]

Anthony, this tree I would swap for the Callistemon

[banksia]

G'Day Craig!. I had a feeling you might say that ..however if I did that, I think I'd be up for a divorvce...the missus loves it. Sorry I haven't been in touch, I've just been so busy at the moment. I have a week off coming up so I'll try and tee something up with you then. Sorry mate!...no go on this one.

Cheers!
Anthony

[banksia]

Double posted. Sorry people.