Satsuki Azalea leaves turning brown
- Thread starter steve27
- Start date
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Pics of the soil would help. This could be overwatering. Is the tree in kanuma?
steve27
Mame
ty, its
It's actually in both Kanuma and the root ball is in garden soil when i got it from the nursery 3- years ago wasn't brave enough to bare root it when I got it
first time I notice any issues. Got if from Nuccio's 3- years ago
Last edited:
Glaucus
Omono
The leaf tips died because of lack of water. Why the leaf tips did not get water is harder to conclude.
Probably, the water you are giving drains away mostly through the kanuma past the root ball.
Bonsai or horticulture isn't about following dogmas. There is a reason why kanuma is preferred satsuki substrate for bonsai in Japan.
This is the case for specific horticultural reasons, related the the physical chemistry properties of the substrate, the preference of the species, the climate, and the goal in bonsai.
You are better off following these principles, rather than just adding in kanuma 'because satsuki need to be in kanuma'.
There are guides and comments on this site that in general, you want substrate mixes to be homogenous. And that putting a peat-grown nursery azalea into pure kanuma without sufficiency bare-rooting, is problematic.
I have put a peat-based root ball of an azalea into pure kanuma myself once, and I had no problems. But generally this is a questionable practice and high on my list of causes for your issue.
Probably, the water you are giving drains away mostly through the kanuma past the root ball.
Bonsai or horticulture isn't about following dogmas. There is a reason why kanuma is preferred satsuki substrate for bonsai in Japan.
This is the case for specific horticultural reasons, related the the physical chemistry properties of the substrate, the preference of the species, the climate, and the goal in bonsai.
You are better off following these principles, rather than just adding in kanuma 'because satsuki need to be in kanuma'.
There are guides and comments on this site that in general, you want substrate mixes to be homogenous. And that putting a peat-grown nursery azalea into pure kanuma without sufficiency bare-rooting, is problematic.
I have put a peat-based root ball of an azalea into pure kanuma myself once, and I had no problems. But generally this is a questionable practice and high on my list of causes for your issue.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
Could this be caused by too much water on the foliage? We have had a very rainy/humid summer so far.
I always repot early spring and wash my roots out if they are in peat/loamy soil.
I keep telling Steve he needs to be braver with his trees...lol
I always repot early spring and wash my roots out if they are in peat/loamy soil.
I keep telling Steve he needs to be braver with his trees...lol
steve27
Mame
point well taken, it's due for a repot this coming spring! I will wash out the roots
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
I’ve found kanuma can be an issue here in my area at least. I had satsukis nearly die because the kanuma they were in mostly collapsed structurally after a couple of winters
I repotted the trees in plain old bonsai soil (which has a small bit of composted bark) and they’ve thrived.
You soil may be compacting and shedding water instead of absorbing/releasing it. Or the soil is waterlogged and collapsed. Either one can dry up top growth and leaves since both kill and compromise roots so they can’t transport moisture
