AusBonsai

Hey Guys

I was wondering besides having a low ph level for your azeleas do you put any think else in the soil or do you use somethink else ( like something from japan) and do you get your azelea soil from bunnings or from a azelea dealer.

thank you

Beaumatsu

The Japanese product is called Kanuma, it is the best for Azaleas, it comes from the Kanuma area of Japan where they grow Azaleas. They have a big festival of them every year.
You cannot get it from Buzzings, or any where except from the importers here in WA. As an individual bag would cost an arm and a leg I would suggest you use an Acid loving soil mix.

Being a student of Horticulture that should be easy to work out Eh!

Cheers Pup

I've had to repot my Azalea due to it being smashed on the ground by some really strong wind. I've put it into a larger pot and used a product from Buzzings called Amgrow bonsai potting mix black label and seems to be going great. I've also used this same soil for My fig which is going really well after a little scare to. Time will tell if my azalea flowers though.

Good luck

Dan

Being the proud owner of an amazing Wollemi, I have had the challenge
of keeping its ph down @ around 4 - 4.5....
...I try to keep my Azaleas @ around 5 - 5.5 , and get the best results from them @ about that ph level...
I use coffe grounds and (old) tealeaves (from teabags) to lower ph - works a treat.
Matt.

..o yeah - and I use a 50/50 mix of Azalea potting mix and Diatomite, with a healthy handful of worm-castings
and osmocote.
I mix the coffee/tea with worm-castings and use as a 'mulch', as the coffee/tea can dry out the surface and can cause
water 'run-off'...


Matt.

I have never really been concerned with ph testing any soil I use, I do use Kanuma though.

If you are concerned just add chopped sphagnum moss to your mix, azaleas love it!

What you need is to ensure that the tree is constantly moist but never sitting in water. So you need a mix that is very well drained but holds moisture, a mulch helps maintain moisture and stop the surface roots cooking and also creates humidity.

You can use composted pine bark, gravel and coir peat. Most of us westies are now using kanuma. You can get it from 3WM here or buy it over the internet. Previously it was used in seperate layers but now we are mixing it. Below the tree (on the bottom) you can use large medium and small mixed and then on the top half just medium and small. We are adding 10% sphagnum that has been rubbed through a sieve, this helps with moisture retention in our hot climate and also a dash of charcoal to keep it 'sweet'. Then some sphagnum over the top as a mulch. Always make sure to sift the kanuma before using it as it contain alot of dust that must be removed or can clog the mix and reduce drainage, also water very well straight after repotting, until the water runs through clear.
Another point is that you can control growth somewhat by the size of the kanuma you use. Large grade will produce coarse growth and roots while finer grade will give finer growth, roots and internodes.

With a good potting mix you can give lots of water producing good growth and keeping trees healthy.

One other point, it is a common practice to pot azaleas in slightly deeper pots that normal as they hate to dry out. A healthy tree is first priority and perfect rule book aesthetics comes second.
Cheers,

neal.

So would it be okay to use searles bonsai mix or azalea, camellia and gardenia mix, i don't have access to the other mediums, so was wondering what the ideal would be, i can add some spag moss as well =], might need a pH kit too

I use the same mix for most trees including azaleas,..... native mix, coco peat, diatomite and some charcoal.
The main thing I feel is important is ph. All my azaleas get a specialized azalea fertilizer, I do not test ph but I feel that the most likely cause of ph change would be fertilizers.