AusBonsai

Hi people,

This azalea was taken as a cutting in July. It has flowered ever since, but usually only one bloom at a time. Thumb is there for comparison. It has a few new leaves, but not many.

Glenda

I just want to know if this could be karume, satsuki or just a plain indica

Glenda

Glenda wrote:I just want to know if this could be karume, satsuki or just a plain indica

Glenda

If I had to guess I would have to go kurume, just because of the small flower and the spot flowers from july but its only a guess. Nice bright colour!

Hi Glenda,

This is a long shot, but I think it looks a little like the Kurume variety Hinodegiri. I base this on the leaf shape which shows a slight cupping at the end and the flower size and shape. The colour is a little reder than I would expect for Hinodegiri which is a deep hot pink. Either the image is not rendered the colour exact or it is a related form.

If you want to grow it as a bonsai I think you will need to repot it into some fresh soil and fertalise well to encorage some stronger growth and then cut back hard to stimulate some branching.

PS. I wrote this post about an hour ago but the server went down just as I submitted it. Let you know just incase the other one turns up later!!

Thanks guys. I have three very tiny cuttings, all flowering. About 4 days after this post, one of the other cuttings had an open bloom. I have been waiting for better shooting before I disturb it and replant it - probably into diatomite(?)

Tow of the cuttings are rather 'leggy' - no branches down low. How hard can I cut it back? Cut it of just o a short stick with no leaves at all? Or cut back all of the branches bar one and see if it back-buds?

Another cutting I have, a satsuki Sae tome was the same but has budded all the way down the stem. Took a while to do it - 12 months. Maybe I should just let it grow this year and cut it back next year after seeing if it will backbud on its own?

Glenda

Edit: The flowers are more dark pink than red.

Hi Glenda, I would just leave it, its just a cutting so let it have its leaves to help it grow. Azaleas are basally dominant so it will tend to shoot more from the base as it grows anyway, Then later on you will be trying to restrict it to just one trunk!

nealweb wrote:Hi Glenda, I would just leave it, its just a cutting so let it have its leaves to help it grow. Azaleas are basally dominant so it will tend to shoot more from the base as it grows anyway, Then later on you will be trying to restrict it to just one trunk!

Thanks. Will do.

Glenda

when I see the flower is this a Hino Tsukasa
http://www.bonsaispecials.nl/Hino-Tsukasa.html