Wakaebisu Repot

My Waka's soil was getting to where it did not drain well, so I decided it was time for a repot, so here we go...

Here is the victim, I mean candidate:



First a little trim:


As you can see, the roots had completely filled the pot, not wonder it would not take water:

But wait, there's more:

Cleaned up the root mass and reduced it some. I have found that Wakas can take a lot of abuse, their cuttings root easily, too:



Here is the soil that I will be using. It is 40% fir bark, 25% lava, 25% pumice, and 10% Turface.



She also gets a new pot. I went with a round one, I always have trouble with picking the front, at least with a round one you get a couple of shots to get it right.


Nebari shot:

Very cool. How old is your waka at this point?

MaverickLancer said:

Very cool. How old is your waka at this point?

Click to expand...

I have had it for about four years, I found it at Lowes or Home Depot. Here is what it looked like then:

UPDATE:

Just got around to posting this, I did this work in June. Just a trim after flowering and a major branch removal. There was a large branch that split three ways, I felt that it was way too low on the tree. I debated on the removal for some time and finally decide, for better or worse, it had to go. Here are the pictures:

This is the start, I like the look, but it was just a mound of green.





This is the troublesome branch that I mentioned, too low and, well, kinda ugly.



Gone

This is what she looks like after the trim.

Fast forward to today. I gave her another light trim, just the long shoots that took away from the lines. It always amazes me how my azaleas grow. The wound is healing nicely too, Waka's are really a tank, tough as nails and fast growers.

Nice work, much more tree like now.

I love how an azalea can go from a ball of leaves and flowers, to the "plucked chicken" skeletal remains of a tree with only a few leaves left to a full bushy tree again all in the span of 3 to 4 months. When happy they are amazing.

I like this tree, but only as constructive criticism, in the apex area you have another cluster of 3 or more branches from one spot, it might not be so in real life, but in the photo it was noticeable. You might consider reducing the number of branches at that point in a year or two when you take this to the "plucked chicken" state again. No rush, right now with foliage it is not noticeable. But you might consider it at some point in the future.

I really like the pot with this tree, pretty good match.

Update: Gave this one a trim and removed the wire. Plenty of buds for a spring show.

This tree has matured nicely. The trunk has picked up some girth. Very nice.

Looking great!

Can't wait to see it in bloom!