Satsuki azalea.

[jkd2572]

What zones will they live in given proper protection from cold and sun. I live in zone 7 and have been wanting one for a long time. Does anyone else in the same zone grown them for many years with success? I have been told by a few that they will die eventually. People tell me a lot of things I find untrue. Anyone with experience.

 

[Beng]

Satsuki's do fine here in Brooklyn, NY zone 7b. Try to give them some cover during the coldest parts of winter. I bring mine into a cold house when we start to drop below 25. You could use a small cold frame to do the same thing if you only have one or two.

 

[jk_lewis]

I have half a dozen mame to shohin size Satsuki. They are out all year long (it is 28 outside this morning and they've survived single digits).

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Seems like our club members struggle with them here; the roots are fickle, and I've seen them drop big branches and apices as a result of any root condition. I haven't figured out why yet, but even the most experienced members have abandoned them. They grow great in the ground, I have quite a few, so it could be the pots heating the roots. Climate-wise, they should work where you live.

 

[chris38383838]

I live in zone 4b and I've had 5 satsuki azaleas for 3 years and they do real fine. They do not like frosts much... so I keep them in a heated box at 39°F for the winter. At that temperature they seem to stay dormant until I take them into my greenhouse at warmer temperatures.

Satsukis do better in slightly acidic soil (around pH 6.0). If you can't get your hands on some kanuma for a reasonable price, the mix I use is 1:1 peat moss (pH 5) and perlite (pH 7) and it has worked well for me up to now.

 

[Poink88]

Jeremy,

Every living thing dies eventually.

I collected a huge Azalea (not Satsuki and most likely an Indica) locally so I assume they can take the worst zone 8b weather can throw at them. I've left it out at 28*F and though it show/suffered a few leaf burn on the youngest buds, it looks okay (and it was collected just 6 months ago).

If I've read right, Satsuki is more cold hardy than Indica as well.

Satsuki should do well where you are...provided you give it lots of shade during summer.

 

[Dav4]

Seems like our club members struggle with them here; the roots are fickle, and I've seen them drop big branches and apices as a result of any root condition. I haven't figured out why yet, but even the most experienced members have abandoned them. They grow great in the ground, I have quite a few, so it could be the pots heating the roots. Climate-wise, they should work where you live.

I suspect water quality/alkalinity has much to do with it. I came to GA with 6 imported satsukis...I have 2 left (all were planted in straight kanuma). My water is fairly hard coming out of the tap, I suspect ph of 8+. I'm going to try using rain water or water treated with vinegar as a rule this coming growing season. We'll see...I'm hoping my last two are around for a while longer, and until I'm sure I've got the horticulture down, I won't spend more then a little money on any more.

 

[Ris]

Hi,
I have currently 4 azaleas, 3 satsuki's and 1 rhododendron.
Their potted in pure Kunama and for now only water with collected rain water.
Testing your soil ensuring more acidic then alkaline is vital for the health of it, over or under
watering is very bad also. My rhodendron has peetmoss mixed about 10% but next repotting
I will reduce to 5% because the leaves have grown much larger than when I bought it 2 years ago.

Happy New year all...
Rishi.