My $3 chinzan azalea is finally blooming.....

[Wee]

This is 1 of the 3 I bought last fall.....My dog did the root work on them twice.....The other 2 didn't make it...This one seems to be doing well despite the fact that the soil it is in is not very good and doesn't drain well. I'm not sure when to tackle that. I'm afraid if I wait till next sprint it will not make it....Any advise on re-potting it....? Here are a few pics some when the buds first started to open and some today.

Brian

 

[edprocoat]

Wee, have you looked at the bottom of the pot to see if there is a drain hole? The reason I ask is that the soil looks like it should drain well while the pot looks like one of those pots they keep glass rocks in at a craft store, they have no drain hole.

ed

 

[Wee]

It has (3) 3/4" drain holes....I drilled them myself. The soil mostly organic with just a little turface and gravel thrown in. I'm not sure other than that way it doesn't drain well. I'm just amazed that it is still living after the chewing my dog gave it twice.

Brian

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Describe "doesn't drain well". Water pools up, runs over the sides? Sits on top for the first couple passes? Retains water in the soil long after watering? Repels water, can't seem to wet soil?

Repotting now is not recommended. Aerating bad-draining soil by scraping off and replacing the top 3/4", and poking holes through to the bottom with a chopstick can buy enough time to get to next spring. At that time you will have determined the factors leading to bad drainage and can make the necessary changes.

 

[Wee]

Retains water in the soil long after watering is the problem.....Or maybe it's not really a problem.... It does seem to be dong well. I think I'll just poke a few holes and hope for the best

Brian

 

[Dav4]

The azalea looks very happy and healthy and not suffering from any root issues related to soggy soil. I'd hold off on the repot until next spring.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

The tree looks healthy, and not affected by the problem you're describing. My azalea consumes water very slowly, and stays on the wet side with no complaints over the last 12 years. Roots take a long time to fill the pot, so you may be seeing some of the effects of that too. Mine went 5 years between transplantings, and could have made it another 2-3; in straight Kanuma.

 

[Paradox]

You can repot azaleas after they are done flowering.

 

[lordy]

I think the foliage shows that the tree seems to not have too much problem with the soil and how moist it stays. If that were to change for the worse in the near future, I would be for repotting as an "emergency" to save the tree. While I did that, I would also choose another style of pot that does not have such a constraining lip design. IF you can get that tree out of the pot without breaking the pot, I will be surprised, OR the root ball is very small. In any event, some day you may end up having to take a hammer to the pot like it was a cheap piggy bank, just to release the treasure within.