How to ror with azalea

[Spdyracer]

I got an azalea earlier this year and was waiting for it to bloom and the blooms to fall off before I repot it. I've decided to do a root over rock with it. My question is I've read that azaleas don't like to be bare rooted but that's exactly what you need to do for ror. I can't find any how to on this. Would appreciate any advice on doing this.

 

[Adair M]

I got an azalea earlier this year and was waiting for it to bloom and the blooms to fall off before I repot it. I've decided to do a root over rock with it. My question is I've read that azaleas don't like to be bare rooted but that's exactly what you need to do for ror. I can't find any how to on this. Would appreciate any advice on doing this.

Start start with a very small tree. With long roots. Plant it over a rock. Apply spaghnum moss. Wrap real tight. Bottom of roots should stick out, so they're in bonsai soil. Bury in pot of bonsai soil. Wait 10 years. Dig it out. Unwrap wrap. Remove spaghnum moss. Repot. Done!

 

[Spdyracer]

Start start with a very small tree. With long roots. Plant it over a rock. Apply spaghnum moss. Wrap real tight. Bottom of roots should stick out, so they're in bonsai soil. Bury in pot of bonsai soil. Wait 10 years. Dig it out. Unwrap wrap. Remove spaghnum moss. Repot. Done!

Thanks Adair! The azalea I have is medium size and got it cheap at a box store. Think I'll just go for it then and see what happens. I guess only question I have since it is medium size can I dig it up in 2-3 years instead of 10

 

[Nwaite]

You can dig it up when ever you want... it's your tree.

I'm no expert at all but I think the longer you wait the better chance you'll have of the roots becoming one with rock...

 

[Cadillactaste]

I know Will/Grouper52 planted one in ground...root over rock. Maybe having it in ground may offer you quicker results. If your azalea is hardy to your area. But...it's not going to be accomplished in such a brief period and look like an established ROR. That is why you see the price tag on ones done well...I would like to say...trident are also known for their being a hardy grower.

http://www.bonsainut.com/threads/trident-maple-root-over-rock-6-years-in-the-ground.21175/

 

[Adair M]

Thanks Adair! The azalea I have is medium size and got it cheap at a box store. Think I'll just go for it then and see what happens. I guess only question I have since it is medium size can I dig it up in 2-3 years instead of 10

You absolutely missed the point!

Don't start with a big "established " tree. The roots it has will be too stiff to wrap onto the rock. It will always look like "somebody tried to make a ROR, but didn't know what they were doing!" FAIL!!

To do it right, it has to have been grown onto the rock from the start. It has to be an itty bitty thing with soft formless roots!

The trunk is the easy part!

 

[Spdyracer]

You can dig it up when ever you want... it's your tree.

I'm no expert at all but I think the longer you wait the better chance you'll have of the roots becoming one with rock...

Yes yes I know but like Adair mentioned it's more about timing and end result. This thing won't stay in the ground 10 years i can almost garuntee that. Yes they are hardy in my area and I had thought about actually putting it out in the ground in my landscaping. I actually have an empty spot that would be perfect. Well guess I'll take the plunge and do it soon I'll take pictures and share how it goes.

 

[sorce]

Yeah.....

I was gonna say a medium plant will take 15-20....

Cuz it'll be a long time before them stiffies make contact with the rock....
If ever.

Sorce

 

[Adair M]

Yes yes I know but like Adair mentioned it's more about timing and end result. This thing won't stay in the ground 10 years i can almost garuntee that. Yes they are hardy in my area and I had thought about actually putting it out in the ground in my landscaping. I actually have an empty spot that would be perfect. Well guess I'll take the plunge and do it soon I'll take pictures and share how it goes.

It doesn't have to go in the ground, just a larger pot. Azalea root systems are fairly compact, a large flower pot work just fine.

The heavy roots on an old azalea won't attach onto the rock. Only the fine ones. Since you seem determined to try, cut off as many of the heavy roots as possible, and only use the hair roots.

Good luck!

 

[Spdyracer]

It doesn't have to go in the ground, just a larger pot. Azalea root systems are fairly compact, a large flower pot work just fine.

The heavy roots on an old azalea won't attach onto the rock. Only the fine ones. Since you seem determined to try, cut off as many of the heavy roots as possible, and only use the hair roots.

Good luck!

Thanks appreciate the advice and info. The azalea I have is in a 2.5 gallon pot and is about 14 inches tall. It's young but not a an itty bitty thing like you said. Yes I would like to do it but I have no problem getting it out of the pot seeing what kind of roots it has and if it doesn't look like it's going to work well just repotting it and ditch the ror idea with it. Just wanted to prepare myself with all the information I can get since this would be my first time trying this.

 

[johng]

Adair is correct...chances of success starting with a plant that has 2.5 gal root ball are slim to none... it may live, but the roots and stone relationship will never look right! make some cuttings from your plant this year...then start your project next year...or search out some young material to start with this year. Very little has been mentioned about your stone...good stones are harder to come by than good containers...it would be really frustrating to work a project like this for several years only to be later disappointed that the stone you chose sucks! If you decide to give it a try...I strongly suggest starting several...much more likely to get something you are pleased with down the road.

I would never leave one buried in the ground/pot for 10 years...you need to work and expose the roots over time...you also need to insure that the roots are following the contour of the stone. I doubt I would ever let it go more than 2 growing seasons without taking a good look at the progress.

I say all this with limited experience developing root over rock

 

[Spdyracer]

It doesn't have to go in the ground, just a larger pot. Azalea root systems are fairly compact, a large flower pot work just fine.

The heavy roots on an old azalea won't attach onto the rock. Only the fine ones. Since you seem determined to try, cut off as many of the heavy roots as possible, and only use the hair roots.

Good luck!

Took your advice and stopped at the depot on the way home. They had a ton of small azaleas and I found one I really liked. Actually had two plants in the same pot so I figured I got each one for $4. The second one isn't much to look at but I figure I'll plant it and see what happens. I'll try it out and keep my fingers crossed that I can keep it alive and that it will look good on the rock one day. My bigger one I'll repot and start chopping on it. Thanks again for the help.

 

[Adair M]

Adair is correct...chances of success starting with a plant that has 2.5 gal root ball are slim to none... it may live, but the roots and stone relationship will never look right! make some cuttings from your plant this year...then start your project next year...or search out some young material to start with this year. Very little has been mentioned about your stone...good stones are harder to come by than good containers...it would be really frustrating to work a project like this for several years only to be later disappointed that the stone you chose sucks! If you decide to give it a try...I strongly suggest starting several...much more likely to get something you are pleased with down the road.

I would never leave one buried in the ground/pot for 10 years...you need to work and expose the roots over time...you also need to insure that the roots are following the contour of the stone. I doubt I would ever let it go more than 2 growing seasons without taking a good look at the progress.

I say all this with limited experience developing root over rock

The "10 years" was a bit of hyperbole, but it was to make the point that it is a long term project.

I have heard one way to make them is as John suggests, from cuttings. Once the cuttings start making roots, they're transplanted into PVC tubes, about 2 inches around, 6 to 8 inches tall. Grow those out for a couple years, then wash all the soil off. Then you'll have long roots to wrap around a rock.

 

[quietobserver]

The "10 years" was a bit of hyperbole, but it was to make the point that it is a long term project.

I have heard one way to make them is as John suggests, from cuttings. Once the cuttings start making roots, they're transplanted into PVC tubes, about 2 inches around, 6 to 8 inches tall. Grow those out for a couple years, then wash all the soil off. Then you'll have long roots to wrap around a rock.

Do you grow satsuki in NE GA Adair? Curious, should be good to go zone-wise but you don't post pics of your azalea work which would be cool based on your other posts and/or tutorials.

 

[Adair M]

I have a couple azalea. No, I don't have a ROR. I'm too lazy to do it! But that doesn't mean I don't know how it's done.

I have two shohin azalea. One is reasonably developed, the other a work in progress. I'll go out and see if I can take a couple pics in the dark!

 

[Adair M]

Ok:

Here's one I'm working on:



The above picture was how it came out of the winter. Still has bronze foliage. Time for a cut back!



After cutting back, and a little wiring.




Tonight. It's grown out.


This is a different one. A couple years farther along.

I'm just letting it grow out a bit, then, I'll cut back.

 

[j evans]

Both are nice but that second one is especially sweeeeeet! Hope mine turn half as nice as that. Excellent work.
Jamie

 

[Adair M]

Both are nice but that second one is especially sweeeeeet! Hope mine turn half as nice as that. Excellent work.
Jamie

Thanks, but they're both works in progress. Like I said, the second one has a two year head start on the first one.

 

[Spdyracer]

Well not doing ror with this azalea, the original one I had planned to. Started getting the old dirt off and the roots where so fine there like cob webs. I took off 50-60 percent of the root ball and never found any roots that weren't very fine. Sure if I kept digging I may have finally found something but changed my mind after I unburied the trunk and was very happy with it. Didn't even bother looking at the small azalea I got yesterday my wife wants it in our landscape.

Question is are all azalea roots so fine? How far down would I have to dig to get to larger ones I figure they have to be there somewhere. Rethinking what to use with a ror just don't see how an azalea would be good with such fine roots.