My azalea thread

Giga

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I started this year with one azalea and now I have 5. All from big box stores where you see hundreds of the same thing and only have an ID on one because they where all in 75% sale. Here are the first 3 about a month ago - i'll get a individual pic of each. All have much more development ahead of them but for one growing season i'm happy where they are.

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Hey Giga, whats the colour of the one in the white pot? i really wanna see it in flower because i think itll look fantastic in it!
 

Giga

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cool trees, and pots.
thanks!

Hey Giga, whats the colour of the one in the white pot? i really wanna see it in flower because i think itll look fantastic in it!

That one is a deep red

I would chop off that descending branch.

The one in the first photo that is crushing your fence :)
CW

yeah we had a bad storm and a couple branches of the neighbors tree fell down. Haven't had time to clean it up:rolleyes:

Some updates - I made this pot and it's a bit to big and the nebari needs work on this guy and will be repotted in spring - unsure of the flowers on this one
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Before winter i'll remove the moss that needs removed and tidy things up - this one has super deep red flowers.
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This guy was collected in August, hence the dis-shoveled look, and wire holding it in;) Come spring I will repot this guy and I will go with exposed root style, It will be plated much higher in a tube of something(cardboard or foil) and then slower removed and the roots exposed.
0928161729_HDR.jpg

Then there this guy - it's an interesting one but has white flowers as it decided to bloom after I gave it a trim 2 weeks ago. It was in poor shape when I got it and needs a lot of work but should be something cool down the road
0928161730_HDR.jpg 0928161731b_HDR.jpg

Have one more that's not pictured, as it has it's own thread ,but i'll put it here and link that thread to this one for the development and continue it here.
 

augustine

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Nice finds, I believe the last azalea shown with big white flowers is Girard's "Pleasant White." Leaves and flowers are on the large side but it is a great plant for container, the flowers are beautiful and it's a vigorous grower. Maybe a traditional satsuki grower won't like it but I do very much. (One of my bonsai friends gave me a big chunky group that was dug from a landscape.) when in flower mine gets more comments and compliments than anything else in my garden.
 

Cypress187

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I think the slanting tree looks/feels too slanted, it's because the left branch is long and the apex also points in the same angle (outside the composition / making it look more slanted / about to fall over). Maybe grow more on the right side (branch/apex).
 

Giga

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I think the slanting tree looks/feels too slanted, it's because the left branch is long and the apex also points in the same angle (outside the composition / making it look more slanted / about to fall over). Maybe grow more on the right side (branch/apex).

This is true, but the tree has a long way ahead of it and it will change to a better image in the next year or two- got 2 look ugly before you can look good!o_O

Here's the other azalea and this one is bright pink and not your standard azalea
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The nebari needs some work this coming spring
1001160947b_HDR.jpg
 

Leo in N E Illinois

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Love all of them, they all have potential. For the white, you got your picture, get in there and remove the flowers. The tree is freshly repotted and needs to put energy into roots.

Purists will tell you for quickest development, you should not let them flower at all. In my mind what is the point of an azalea if you don't let it flower. :rolleyes: However, on consideration, and after watching mine for the last decade, I do agree that flowers are a big metabolic cost to the plant. The energy that goes into flowering is significant. For best growth, especially the season after repotting, don't let more than a few flowers develop. If possible, in autumn, before the azalea has put a lot of energy into new flower buds, go through and prune out the majority of them. You can leave a few, after all, that is the point of azalea, but leaving too many flowers will slow development of roots, branches and the rest of the tree. Especially since you just repotted this one, cut the flowers off now that you have your photo.

It has taken me years to accept this, but now I do go through and remove buds on azaleas in early phases of development.

Remember, as you create your branch structure, leave room for flowers. The branches should be platforms for flower display. Your whie has very large flowers, leave enough room between levels of branches so flowers have room to expand and develop.

But you have been doing bonsai for quite a while, you probably already know this. But for those new to azaleas, that is what I would advise.
 

Giga

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Love all of them, they all have potential. For the white, you got your picture, get in there and remove the flowers. The tree is freshly repotted and needs to put energy into roots.

Purists will tell you for quickest development, you should not let them flower at all. In my mind what is the point of an azalea if you don't let it flower. :rolleyes: However, on consideration, and after watching mine for the last decade, I do agree that flowers are a big metabolic cost to the plant. The energy that goes into flowering is significant. For best growth, especially the season after repotting, don't let more than a few flowers develop. If possible, in autumn, before the azalea has put a lot of energy into new flower buds, go through and prune out the majority of them. You can leave a few, after all, that is the point of azalea, but leaving too many flowers will slow development of roots, branches and the rest of the tree. Especially since you just repotted this one, cut the flowers off now that you have your photo.

It has taken me years to accept this, but now I do go through and remove buds on azaleas in early phases of development.

Remember, as you create your branch structure, leave room for flowers. The branches should be platforms for flower display. Your whie has very large flowers, leave enough room between levels of branches so flowers have room to expand and develop.

But you have been doing bonsai for quite a while, you probably already know this. But for those new to azaleas, that is what I would advise.

I've been through a lot lately so I left them for two reasons on this one tree, one, I needed them in my life, two, I needed them in my life. Thanks for the critique though but I'm well aware of when to remove and allow to flower. I was also curious of the color so I left them for that reason too.

Gasp !! No cut paste , omg ...lol I had to

:) I use a liquid cut paste on all azaleas on any cut bigger then a green branch
 

Giga

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Just an FYI - I'll be putting a few of these on FB auction if anyone is interested
 

Carol 83

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Just an FYI - I'll be putting a few of these on FB auction if anyone is interested
Any idea what you'll be asking for them?
 

Carol 83

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So far the deep red one is up to 125$
https://www.facebook.com/groups/bonsai.sales/


If your interested in the other ones pm me an reasonable offer and we can work something out
Oh, I am interested. However, I think I need to err on the side of caution. I have one small Azalea, that I want to make sure I can get through the winter here, before I get any as nice as yours, as tempting as it may be. :(
 

Giga

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Oh, I am interested. However, I think I need to err on the side of caution. I have one small Azalea, that I want to make sure I can get through the winter here, before I get any as nice as yours, as tempting as it may be. :(

Your zone should be fine, it's one down from mine - just protect in winter and you should be fine
 

Nybonsai12

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what varieties are these?
 
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