Azalea training, good idea / bad idea ?

onlyrey

Mame
Messages
215
Reaction score
142
Location
Indian Rocks Beach, FL
USDA Zone
9b
I bought this pair of Azaleas at a home depot nearby. They have a nice Trunk base, single trunk, relatively small leaves, and were just for about $15. They are marketed as "peachy keen bloom 'n again(r) Azalea". The flowers are salmon color and have a 1.5" spread. I gave them a good chop (top and bottom), and will plant them on the ground tomorrow.

To encourage better nebary and radial root growth I placed them both on 1/8" plastic base (green). Will this help?
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    189.4 KB · Views: 195
  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    177.3 KB · Views: 182

sorce

Nonsense Rascal
Messages
32,908
Reaction score
45,579
Location
Berwyn, Il
USDA Zone
6.2
The second one seems to sit in a dip that will hold water.

They seem a little large, I'd make them about an inch smaller than the intended pot.

I don't know how hard you can cut their roots, but it seems you might have to go a little more shallow to make it work.

I like it though.

Sorce
 

GrimLore

Bonsai Nut alumnus... we miss you
Messages
8,502
Reaction score
7,452
Location
South East PA
USDA Zone
6b
They can take a bit of abuse and will toss a lot of fine root so your idea will help get root spreading at the surface.

Grimmy
 

onlyrey

Mame
Messages
215
Reaction score
142
Location
Indian Rocks Beach, FL
USDA Zone
9b
I am afraid to go further with root prunning. These will go in the frontyard. Thanks for the "dip" comment. I will make sure the plastic is bent so that water can flow properly.
 
Last edited:

jk_lewis

Masterpiece
Messages
3,817
Reaction score
1,160
Location
Western NC
USDA Zone
7-8
Two very nice plants -- especially for HD. Personally, I'd pot them up in a large-than-final pot and start bonsai training. The develop nice surface roots quickly.
 

GrimLore

Bonsai Nut alumnus... we miss you
Messages
8,502
Reaction score
7,452
Location
South East PA
USDA Zone
6b
I am afraid to go further with root prunning. These will go in the frontyard. Thanks for the "dip" comment. I will make sure the plastic is bent so that water can flow properly.

I agree that you cut enough for now. If you can plant them in indirect sun and keep them "damp" NOT wet you will see them explode with back budding in 30 days or less :) As jkl noted that might be easier to do potted.

Grimmy
 

Joedes3

Shohin
Messages
404
Reaction score
21
Location
Boston, MA
USDA Zone
6
Check out the rest of his videos. He has more azalea etc.
 

johng

Omono
Messages
1,932
Reaction score
3,727
Hey Onlyrey... It's good to see yet another SC bonsai guy on the forum... If you want to see some nice azaleas now is the perfect time to head over to Keislers Azalea farm...on highway 1 a couple miles west of Lexington high school. I was just there this week and a lot of his stock is blooming ...easy to separate the early bloomers from the late bloomers. All of his azaleas are in 3 gal containers....some maybe as old as 20 years...all $10. Certainly worth your time if you like azaleas.

You are wise not to go to crazy on the roots...although I don't think the plastic plate will achieve the effect you hope for...azalea roots aren't like maple roots...

Btw...that guy in the videos doesn't have a clue......
 

Joedes3

Shohin
Messages
404
Reaction score
21
Location
Boston, MA
USDA Zone
6
Please tells us what is wrong with the videos. I tried doing this to an azalea last year and it appears to be ok.

Thanks for the info.
Jiedes
 

GrimLore

Bonsai Nut alumnus... we miss you
Messages
8,502
Reaction score
7,452
Location
South East PA
USDA Zone
6b
Btw...that guy in the videos doesn't have a clue......

Had to laugh out loud on that one John! I am going to be doing the final cut back and digging the 2 I prepped last year and will PM you with the results. I am pretty certain they can both go into large training pots based on all of your work and intend to do the same. Thank you for being you!

Grimmy
 

Joedes3

Shohin
Messages
404
Reaction score
21
Location
Boston, MA
USDA Zone
6
Ok John. You got me!

Thanks for the videos.
Quick question. What would you recommend for azalea soil? I live in the Boston area
 

GrimLore

Bonsai Nut alumnus... we miss you
Messages
8,502
Reaction score
7,452
Location
South East PA
USDA Zone
6b
Ok John. You got me!

Thanks for the videos.
Quick question. What would you recommend for azalea soil? I live in the Boston area

I am anxious to see if John agrees but it has been my experience that Azalea do not care about substrate BUT they do like to be damp NOT moist. So the answer would rely heavily on how often you can water to maintain damp soil conditions(at least here in the NE). They do throw a LOT of fine root so for me a 50/50 mix of Dry Stall and topsoil works out great but only because they get water 2 times a day as needed to maintain moisture in Spring and then 15 minutes 2 times a day with auto watering throughout growing season. I only Fertilize one time in Spring and only a 2 maybe 3 times during grow season as they are a shrub and therefore get treated as one. Just my 2 pennies :rolleyes:

Grimmy
 

Joedes3

Shohin
Messages
404
Reaction score
21
Location
Boston, MA
USDA Zone
6
Would the NAPA 8822 work with top soil? I love watching John's videos, in fact, they are the reason I have tried azalea.

I can't wait to start looking for another azalea as soon as the weather breaks.

Joedes
 
Top Bottom