Azalea ?'s

[Ruelas831]

Hey guys wanted to know if I can cut down an azalea now? Do I have to wait till spring to do it? I want to cut it all the way down to get new growth around the base. Thanks

 

[Beng]

Wait till spring.

 

[johng]

Wait till spring.

+1....you only want to do this when the tree is actively growing

 

[woodguy]

In the spring right after they flower. For me in CT this is usually late April into May.

 

[brewmeister83]

In the spring right after they flower. For me in CT this is usually late April into May.

If you remove the blossoms/buds to redirect energy back into the plant does this alter the span in which you can prune it?

 

[woodguy]

If you remove the blossoms/buds to redirect energy back into the plant does this alter the span in which you can prune it?

I don't believe so however I am not an azalea expert. I have never removed all the buds on mine. Now I have a lot of azaleas but I don't believe any of them are Satzuki. They have all been dug from garden beds here in CT. They all flower in the spring and I prune and repot immediately after.[SUB][/SUB]

 

[Eric Group]

If you remove the blossoms/buds to redirect energy back into the plant does this alter the span in which you can prune it?

I have been working with Azalea for years- the answer to your question is sort of complicated it guess.

In my experience you "CAN" prune them most any time of year- in my area at least- without much in the way of negative ramifications. It ally depends on what you are going for.

The common perception is that you have to prune after blooms, but this is really just to make sure you don't prune prior to blooming which would remove a bunch of flowers and the tree won't bloom as profusely. So, if your goal is a tree covered in flowers, yes definitely wait until after blooming!
If your goal is growth and getting new shoots, you can remove all/ most of the buds prior to blooming and your tree should redirect the growth back to the leaves. It is also a good idea to remove all of the flowers if you just recently repotted or if the tree is really weak... Flowering takes a lot of energy and an unhealthy tree that is allowed to produce a bunch of flowers might take a turn for the worse!

 

[drew33998]

I too think if you cut them at the wrong time of year they will throw blooms off at non-seasonal times. I see azaleas blooming all season long here in North Florida. But not a real strong bloom. I believe it is due to the fact that they cut the plant back trying to maintain the shape and all the energy gets directed to the flower buds that were on the interior of the bush. Just a hypothesis I have going.

 

[GrimLore]

There are guidelines BUT as in this photo it seems Azaleas Break a LOT of rules. I suspect it is because there are so many types and so many cultivars. This plant is "supposed" to be deciduous because the blooms are white and pink. I just took this photo a few minutes ago, so it is Evergreen and Blooming in February



Just has been my experience with MANY different Azaleas *shrugs*

Grimmy

 

[KennedyMarx]

Beautiful flowers, Grimmy.

 

[drew33998]

There are guidelines BUT as in this photo it seems Azaleas Break a LOT of rules. I suspect it is because there are so many types and so many cultivars. This plant is "supposed" to be deciduous because the blooms are white and pink. I just took this photo a few minutes ago, so it is Evergreen and Blooming in February



Just has been my experience with MANY different Azaleas *shrugs*

Grimmy

Yea I too have some azaleas that are blooming now. Landscape bushes. Not a full out bloom though. But relatively strong. I think with the increasing length of day and semi warm temps, they have really felt like it was "time" to start blooming.

 

[GrimLore]

Yea I too have some azaleas that are blooming now. Landscape bushes. Not a full out bloom though. But relatively strong. I think with the increasing length of day and semi warm temps, they have really felt like it was "time" to start blooming.

That Plant is indoors in the Northeast and sitting in a windowsill - there is over 3 feet of snow in my yard right now and as Azaleas go it is a great specimen but it has ZERO regards for what it is supposed to be or HOW it is supposed to be grown. I like it and all but the experts would have killed it for certain.

Grimmy

 

[Harunobu]

Greenhouse forced Belgian Indica. They are usually very leggy after flowering, very tender to frost and plant habit not so nice for traditional bonsai.

Large leaves require a large plant that's more about showing flowers than classic bonsai traits.

 

[GrimLore]

Greenhouse forced Belgian Indica. They are usually very leggy after flowering, very tender to frost and plant habit not so nice for traditional bonsai.

Large leaves require a large plant that's more about showing flowers than classic bonsai traits.

I have maintained these for three seasons and if you look closely at the leaves they are tiny compared to the rather large blooms. Also they "seem" to do better if the blooms are trimmed off after a few days instead of letting them go to seed. There is not one leaf over one inch compared to 2 3/4 to 3 inch blooms which I find ok to work with. As far as large goes well to me Imperial Bonsai are the "sky"(but that is me). I am pretty confident I can grow these(all four) into two Large cascades and two nice specimens in a short five years as I see. I would GREATLY appreciate any critique or feedback on that before I proceed. Thank you

Grimmy

 

[Joedes3]

I have a small azaleas growing in my basement (between upper 50's and lowere 60's for temperature) under shop lights.

It also flowered. This is my first year trying this.

Joedes

 

[armetisius]

Cross talking

Originally Posted by Harunobu View Post
Greenhouse forced Belgian Indica. They are usually very leggy after flowering, very tender to frost and plant habit not so nice for traditional bonsai.
Large leaves require a large plant that's more about showing flowers than classic bonsai traits.

I have maintained these for three seasons and if you look closely at the leaves they are tiny compared to the rather large blooms. Also they "seem" to do better if the blooms are trimmed off after a few days instead of letting them go to seed. There is not one leaf over one inch compared to 2 3/4 to 3 inch blooms which I find ok to work with. As far as large goes well to me Imperial Bonsai are the "sky"(but that is me). I am pretty confident I can grow these(all four) into two Large cascades and two nice specimens in a short five years as I see. I would GREATLY appreciate any critique or feedback on that before I proceed. Thank you

Grimmy

Grimmy,
Harunobu gave you an honest answer and you have answered your own question.
The azalea illustrated does indeed belong to a group of azaleas known as "Belgian hybrids"/"Belgian Indicas". They were developed to be a "nicer" alternative to the "potted mum" industry & they can be used in "scent sensitive" settings like hospital rooms and offices. They do not have the "vigor" that the other indicas/satsukis do. They were breed specifically for the "potted flower" market. Which is, I believe, what Harunobu was stating.
Congratulations on culturing it outside a greenhouse setting; they can be finicky even to some greenhouse growers. :applause:
You state that "not one leaf is over 1 inch" then state the flower size; however, when developing these into bonsai you will need to assess growth habit/vigor in relation to your, also stated, desire for a "large cascade". I suppose it is possible in five years but it will also depend on your definition of large. I believe this is the other thing he was trying to convey. They were not bred for a "hefty" demeanor. Do you really feel they have the vigor to even fill a "large bonsai's" foot print in that amount of time? [My experience tends toward "the smaller the leaf the slower it grows" comparatively and with a billion exceptions. So don't berate me with your exceptions.] But another good thing about these particular hybrids is they back bud like crazy. Also this is a hose in hose double; so, don't even bother to cross your fingers over any seed/dust the seed capsules contain. They are genetically incapable to producing a fertile seed. You can regularly dis-bud the flowers to get a slightly more vigorous growth rate but some things are kinda size set genetically. I would love to follow the development of this project Grimmy.
Please keep us posted on them.

 

[GrimLore]

Thank you so much for that explanation! I am moving forward with at least two soon and I now am much "clearer" and have rethought the process I intended. Your(and others) information will be saving me some experimentation and possibly the specimens. Again, everyone, Thank you!

Grimmy