My First Azalea

[fraser67]

I found this guy at a local nursery last month...very cheap...couldn't resist.
My plan is to layer off the top. Hard prune it back (it's throwing buds everywhere) and repot into a training pot. I've done some reading...lots of info, but some conflicting. Should I repot in spring before it flowers? Air layer at the same time...then prune after flowers drop? Is that too much in one season?
Thanks for your input.
Jonathan

 

[Poink88]

If this is mine & w/ your plan in mind, I will...
- NOT let it flower (remove all flower buds as they come out or snip all the terminal buds now). Save all the energy for leaves/growth and not on flower.
- NOT re-pot until the airlayer is done.

Basically, just airlayer this coming season. Good luck!

 

[fraser67]

If this is mine & w/ your plan in mind, I will...
- NOT let it flower (remove all flower buds as they come out or snip all the terminal buds now). Save all the energy for leaves/growth and not on flower.
- NOT re-pot until the airlayer is done.

Basically, just airlayer this coming season. Good luck!

Lol...the main reason I got the tree was because my wife wants more flowers.
Should I wait on the air layer and start the process of getting the tree in better soil and out of this deep nursery pot? Although the tree does look very healthy...
Thanks.

 

[MidMichBonsai]

My wife likes to try to control my bonsai too. If she wants flowers, I will buy her flowers but she usually understands when I tell her that, after my work, the flowers will be bigger and more beautiful than if I didn't.

The tree looks healthy to me too. I would wait to repot until the spring and then airlayer the following year or vice versa. By doing this you will greatly improve the chances that both will make it out alive and well.

Happy bonsaing!

 

[fraser67]

My wife likes to try to control my bonsai too. If she wants flowers, I will buy her flowers but she usually understands when I tell her that, after my work, the flowers will be bigger and more beautiful than if I didn't.

The tree looks healthy to me too. I would wait to repot until the spring and then airlayer the following year or vice versa. By doing this you will greatly improve the chances that both will make it out alive and well.

Happy bonsaing!

Thanks...Whichever I do...it will be in spring.