New Azalea Bonsai & New to Azalea Bonsais

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Hi everyone, I really need some help here. I received an Azalea Bonsai from my boyfriend last Friday who sent it shipped from a website. While I am grateful for the thoughtfulness, I am NOT a plant person. I've killed most of my other plants. I'm really trying to keep this Azalea alive but I'm really struggling because I've had zero experience with it. Here's some information about the plant:

I received the plant that was shipped in a FedEx box on Friday (10/18) and when I opened it I noticed that the top soil seem moist so I didn't water it. Instead, I used a spray bottle to spray the leaves and the top of the soil once a day for the next few days. I only watered it on Wednesday (10/23) when I noticed the soil looked pretty dry. I placed the plant in a shallow pan and let it soak for an hour. Now some of my leaves have turned brown on the edges and curled and I'm worried that I probably let it go without water for too long. There are however some new leaves so I guess there is some hope for my plant. I looked at the soil and it seemed to be mostly dirt so I'm thinking of switching it out to 100% Kanuma soil. I was wondering if you all had any advice for me? Is my plant stressed from traveling? And how long does it take for it to potentially recover from being underwatered?

I've attached some pictures of my plant. Thank you so much in advanced!
 

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Forsoothe!

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Is the tree indoors? In what exposure to light? That weed in it is an outdoor plant. Your tree was probably outdoors before it was shipped to you, and it sounds like you put it on a living-room end table where it would look nice. Put it back outdoors in the shade until the overnight temps are under 40°F and it should recover. That should acclimate it to the low light levels of a house. Put it in your sunniest window and water it every 3rd, 4th, of 5th day with about 20% of the volume of the pot. Calculate what that is and find a vessel that has that volume and have that as your dedicated watering container. Your indoor humidity is much lower than outdoors and will be sort of constant. Figure out how often to water by watering it and touching the surface with your fingertip to check for dry or cold feel. Then associate that 3, 4, or 5 day cycle with the calendar date. Every 3rd day would be watered on any day divisible by 3. Or, divisible by 4, or 5, or whatever. Plants should not be allowed to become bone dry to the point of leaves wilting, but should not sit in water, either. Once you find the cycle, it gets easy to remember when to do it.
 

Eckhoffw

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Welcome!
Your in good hands!
Could b too wet!
As Forsoothe! Mentioned, get the tree Outside for a bit.
when inside, air moisture can be helped simply by placing trays, bowls, etc. filled with water around tour plant.
and yes new ‘soil’ at some point.
👍
 

JudyB

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Another easy way to tell when the soil is drying, is to stick a wood skewer in the soil about halfway between the trunk and the pot. Pull it out every day and when it starts to be feel dryer then it's time to water. Azaleas are ok with moister soils than some trees, so you never want it to dry out. If you try to keep it inside over winter, you will probably want to get a small humidifier for the area you keep it in, that can help a lot. If your window is drafty, then a cheap seedling heat mat is also helpful, it will stay a few degrees above ambient temps in the room. Trees are not indoor plants for the most part, although there are a few that do well indoors, not sure if Azalea is the easiest one for this, so if this makes it thru winter, you'll want to put it outside in the spring after any freezes are over.
 
Messages
3
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Location
Pullman, WA
USDA Zone
6b
Is the tree indoors? In what exposure to light? That weed in it is an outdoor plant. Your tree was probably outdoors before it was shipped to you, and it sounds like you put it on a living-room end table where it would look nice. Put it back outdoors in the shade until the overnight temps are under 40°F and it should recover. That should acclimate it to the low light levels of a house. Put it in your sunniest window and water it every 3rd, 4th, of 5th day with about 20% of the volume of the pot. Calculate what that is and find a vessel that has that volume and have that as your dedicated watering container. Your indoor humidity is much lower than outdoors and will be sort of constant. Figure out how often to water by watering it and touching the surface with your fingertip to check for dry or cold feel. Then associate that 3, 4, or 5 day cycle with the calendar date. Every 3rd day would be watered on any day divisible by 3. Or, divisible by 4, or 5, or whatever. Plants should not be allowed to become bone dry to the point of leaves wilting, but should not sit in water, either. Once you find the cycle, it gets easy to remember when to do it.
Hi! Thank you so much for your reply. The weather where I’m at now is pretty cold. It is supposed to dip to mid 40s in the day and mid 20s at night so should I leave it out for a bit in the day and then bring it back in at night? Also with the wind and such, will it be okay? I’m so worried that it’s leaves will just get blown off - there isn’t much on my patio to provide it with shade but I can figure something out. Right now, it’s sitting in my kitchen near the biggest south facing window to get sunlight, but not directly in the sun
 
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Pullman, WA
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Welcome!
Your in good hands!
Could b too wet!
As Forsoothe! Mentioned, get the tree Outside for a bit.
when inside, air moisture can be helped simply by placing trays, bowls, etc. filled with water around tour plant.
and yes new ‘soil’ at some point.
👍
Thank you for your reply! I will put it outside for a bit. I’m just nervous that this is too late for my plant haha
 

Forsoothe!

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Sorry, thought you were in the other Washington, on the other side of the mountains. Your outdoor season is kaput. In winter, as close to the south window as possible which will require more water, in summer outdoors in bright shade, except on September 1st move to more shade as per above. Outdoors, water it every day with a hose it doesn't get rained on.
 
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