Hino crimson azalea

[Nybonsai12]

I had an azalea I tried to rescue from my yard but sadly it died on me. I figured I'd try again. When I brought it home it wasn't in the best health but it's now pushing out better looking growth. I'll repot into good soil next year and start thinking about a plan. Thoughts/comments appreciated.

 

[jk_lewis]

That has all the hallmarks of a very nice tree. Remember that azaleas are NOT apically dominant. You will have to keep lower branches well pruned and to prune the top VERY carefully to get the needed fullness up at the top.

You might want to find "Satsuki Azaleas ,for Bonsai and Azalea Enthusiasts" by Robert Z. Callahan, or Peter Adams' "The Art of Flowering Bonsai."

 

[GrimLore]

Azaleas still mystify me a bit. I have four that I posted some time ago. I was told that type was impossible to keep alive indoors and outside as they were hot house grown... They are on their 4th season and this is the first Summer they got separated, went outside, and potted separate. One died, two back budded like crazy and are fine. One did not back bud at all and is blooming... They were all the same but somehow different. The other two I am treating and preparing to dig have been out there 38 years and when I dig those they will remain outdoors all year. It "seems" different cultivars need different care and places like the Azalea Society of America are of little help concerning information. I am doing ok with them but doing it "solo" You have a nice one and my only advice that seems to apply to all of them is do not allow them to dry out as they like "damp". Mine all respond different to pruning so at best it is hit and miss here

Grimmy

 

[Nybonsai12]

Grimmy, what soil are you putting yours in? I ask because your climate is similar to mine. I've heard straight kanuma among other recommendations.

The good thing is that i got it locally so it's used to my climate and has been outside year round for a long while.

JKL,
thanks for the reply and recommendations.

 

[GrimLore]

Grimmy, what soil are you putting yours in? I ask because your climate is similar to mine. I've heard straight kanuma among other recommendations.

The good thing is that i got it locally so it's used to my climate and has been outside year round for a long while.

JKL,
thanks for the reply and recommendations.

I have been using 50/50 Dry Stall and Cactus mix. It is easy to keep damp that way. When they are Indoors I put them in a tray and fill it up an inch or so with water every three days and only a small amount of water at the surface. That mix wicks water very nicely. The Kanuma is course and acidic and very popular but I don't see a need for it so far.

Grimmy

 

[barrosinc]

what is cactus mix?

 

[GrimLore]

what is cactus mix?

The one I use says this on the bag -

Black Gold® Cactus Mix


Description:

A fast-draining medium formulated for succulent plants, Black Gold® Cactus Mix is the first step in creating your own garden oasis. It contains a balanced blend of perlite/pumice, earthworm castings and compost to encourage healthy growth while ensuring ample aeration and drainage that most cacti, bromeliads and succulents require to thrive.

Available Sizes:

8 qt and 1 cf sizes

Ingredients:

Perlite/Pumice, Earthworm Castings, Compost

Applications:

Formulated for the culture of container grown cacti and succulents

Grimmy

 

[jk_lewis]

NYbonsai . . . was your plant bought from a "bonsai nursery?" It looks as if it had had some kind of bonsai training. If that's where it came from, someone there may be able to give you some info.

On soil . . . Grimmy's soil mix is OK. I don't like the perlite that much. It tends to "float" to the top of the soil. The Dry Stall is OK, but very "white" and not that attractive (opinion). Aquarium gravel might substitute, or some coarse soil used for pond plants.

Azaleas insist on an acid soil; Miracle Grow Azalea and Camellia fertilizer acidifies the soil fairly well if used regularly.

 

[GrimLore]

jkl - I suspect the compost in the mix is providing the acidity. I use it with the Pumice as it allows them to stay damp but never soggy. These are all in grow containers so I really do not care what it looks like but honest it normally looks pretty dark. Many of my plants that are potted are in Dry Stall and on occasion get a top "dressing" of various dark colored lava and moss but only for short periods of time.

Grimmy

 

[Dav4]

My azalea soil mix is basically 1 part lava, 1 part kanuma, and 1 part turface, with some chopped sphagnum moss mixed in. Note that this was basically the mix NEBG potted these imports in after they were bare rooted and shipped stateside. In the future, I'll probably reduce the turface a bit and add pumice to the mix.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

the azalea mix I use is 3 parts perlite, one part kanuma if I have it, otherwise pumice. The mix is sifted, anything finer than 1/8th inch is discarded. The perlite and kanuma will both float when dry, pelite always floats. I add a layer of long fiber sphagnum to hold the perlite down and encourage fine surface feeder roots. Straight kanuma is too wet, especially in my winters. Might work well elsewhere.

I quit using peat moss, vermiculite, and turface for azaleas. All seemed to contribute to the excessive moisture and rotten roots problem in my climate. (might be okay elsewhere).

 

[barrosinc]

the azalea mix I use is 3 parts perlite, one part kanuma if I have it, otherwise pumice. The mix is sifted, anything finer than 1/8th inch is discarded. The perlite and kanuma will both float when dry, pelite always floats. I add a layer of long fiber sphagnum to hold the perlite down and encourage fine surface feeder roots. Straight kanuma is too wet, especially in my winters. Might work well elsewhere.

I quit using peat moss, vermiculite, and turface for azaleas. All seemed to contribute to the excessive moisture and rotten roots problem in my climate. (might be okay elsewhere).

just perlite and pumice (when no kanuma)??? Won't that mix basically just drain all the water? Don´t you have to water way too often?

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

just perlite and pumice (when no kanuma)??? Won't that mix basically just drain all the water? Don´t you have to water way too often?

Perlite holds quite a bit of water. Not really a problem. Our summers are humid enough that most of the time I can get away with watering every other day or every 3rd day.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Repotted not too long ago into kanuma. Pruned some branches, little wiring and removed some flower buds. Although it may appear I left a lot on, I actually did remove quite a few. Tree seems to have responded to the work well, but we'll see how the rest of the season goes.

All my photos here on bnut are done with my phone, but this one had a little more effort, with a real camera and got my wife to hold my bathrobe for backdrop! But the damn file size is too large, so you get the phone pics for now!

 

[Nybonsai12]

This years show getting going. At some point I'm going to have to do something about the problems I think I see in this tree. First the potting angle is poor, looks like it started uproot away from the viewer due to a strong wind. I also think the apex is a problem because of how heavy and long that trunk extends up to the top. Thoughts comments always welcome.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Really nice, my hino has bloomed already.

John

 

[Nybonsai12]

Just about done. Now to keep it out of any rain so I get to enjoy them a bit.

 

[LanceMac10]

Great color!! Bet it looks like it vibrates in person!!
Shimmys with color!!
nice!!

 

[Nybonsai12]

Quick pic this morning after I saw a random bloom popping up. A lil shaggy.

 

[VAFisher]

Really nice little tree. The pot really works for me too.

I have a random bloom on one of mine too. I have no clue what kind mine is but I'm starting to wonder if maybe it's an "encore".