StPaddy
Mame
Hi. I was wondering if anyone here keeps azaleas in Los Angeles. I have a few I got earlier this year on a whim. Never have tried them before but my wife likes flowers so I thought I would try a few out.
Grabbed three different varieties in four plants. Two satsuki and two indica. One gallon nursery cans repotted into kanuma. My water is filtered into a 55 gallon drum, treated with an acid ph additive and I keep it around 6-6,5. I use it for almost all my plants and that’s what my pines and junipers like so everything else has to get close to their target mark, as I have a camellia and now these azaleas and a few other species. So far plants are growing. Backbudding, producing next years buds etc. Feeding biogold and a little kelp here and there. One struggling behind the others in vigor, but I probably just leaned on its root system too much when potting. Anyhow weighing the pots and seeing the kanuma dry on top I have decided to add a layer of mountain moss. I am wondering how thick? Very thin or is this a 1/4” layer? I understand it can lower the ph a bit, but also wonder if this might lead to over watering problems? Also I am wondering about sun exposure. I have them under a big podacarpus tree for shade/filtered sunlight and they get maybe direct sun from dawn until 8:30 am or so.
Anyhow just wondering if my program for these guys needs any tweaks. I hate to go a year, have a problem, and realize I made a long term boo boo. That kills me with bonsai. Lastly I’m growing for blooms, not a trunk. Just gonna brighten up the very green garden for the little lady. Thanks for any help.
Grabbed three different varieties in four plants. Two satsuki and two indica. One gallon nursery cans repotted into kanuma. My water is filtered into a 55 gallon drum, treated with an acid ph additive and I keep it around 6-6,5. I use it for almost all my plants and that’s what my pines and junipers like so everything else has to get close to their target mark, as I have a camellia and now these azaleas and a few other species. So far plants are growing. Backbudding, producing next years buds etc. Feeding biogold and a little kelp here and there. One struggling behind the others in vigor, but I probably just leaned on its root system too much when potting. Anyhow weighing the pots and seeing the kanuma dry on top I have decided to add a layer of mountain moss. I am wondering how thick? Very thin or is this a 1/4” layer? I understand it can lower the ph a bit, but also wonder if this might lead to over watering problems? Also I am wondering about sun exposure. I have them under a big podacarpus tree for shade/filtered sunlight and they get maybe direct sun from dawn until 8:30 am or so.
Anyhow just wondering if my program for these guys needs any tweaks. I hate to go a year, have a problem, and realize I made a long term boo boo. That kills me with bonsai. Lastly I’m growing for blooms, not a trunk. Just gonna brighten up the very green garden for the little lady. Thanks for any help.