What kind of azalea?
- Thread starter junmilo
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JoeR
Masterpiece
Leaves are generally better indicators. The flower doesnt say much as there are thousands of azalea cultivars and such.
Cypress187
Masterpiece
I think it's a blooming Azalea.
GrimLore
Bonsai Nut alumnus... we miss you
Need to know if that is a deciduous azalea or not. Also a picture of the plant will help a lot.
Grimmy
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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Your in Toronto, Canada. Whether it is a Satsuki azalea, or a "Florist's azalea" care in your climate would be nearly identical, neither would be hardy in your climate. Florist's azalea tend to be less cold tolerant than Satsuki, because they are bred for easy bloom induction. (easy to force to bloom off season). Basically, treat it like a Satsuki, or more generally, an evergreen azalea. I have kept a few florist's types going for a number of years. I summer them outdoors, bring them in before temperatures go much below freezing. I winter them in my cold well house, it stays between 32 to 40 F or 0 to 4 C. Bring them out in spring, do the "inside and outside" dance to avoid late frosts. They really respond well to Satsuki techniques. Pretty, regardless which variety it is.
Biggest difference between florist's azalea hybrids and Satsuki hybrids is flower size. The larger flower size means that when you place branches, you need to allow room for the large flowers to display well. When you get to the stage where you have many flowers, you might have to remove some, just so others have room to open. You may find yourself removing more than half the flower buds just to get better spacing of the flowers.
While training and growing it for bonsai, many growers remove flower buds as soon as they form, in order to keep the plant putting energy into growth, rather than bloom. Myself I tend to let them flower regardless of stage. It is the flowers that endear them to me, so I like the reward, even if doing so slows development.
Biggest difference between florist's azalea hybrids and Satsuki hybrids is flower size. The larger flower size means that when you place branches, you need to allow room for the large flowers to display well. When you get to the stage where you have many flowers, you might have to remove some, just so others have room to open. You may find yourself removing more than half the flower buds just to get better spacing of the flowers.
While training and growing it for bonsai, many growers remove flower buds as soon as they form, in order to keep the plant putting energy into growth, rather than bloom. Myself I tend to let them flower regardless of stage. It is the flowers that endear them to me, so I like the reward, even if doing so slows development.
Leo in N E Illinois
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Given that you posted today, 12/30/2015, and you are in Toronto, I am assuming this photo was from sometime this week, given these thoughts, I am assuming florist's azalea. A deciduous azalea would not be likely to be in bloom this time of year, outdoors in Canada, even though this has been a very weird warm winter so far.
Ironbeaver
Chumono
Where did you get it? I'm interested in picking one up myself.
junmilo
Shohin
Thank you all for replying to my question. I have taken additional photos of the plant where the above flower came from. I have also taken another few photos of another azalea that I was told (when I bought it that it was a satsuki azalea). I used my very old University Student card for size comparison of the leaf..
My student card is the like the size of a regular credit card.
My student card is the like the size of a regular credit card.
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junmilo
Shohin
junmilo
Shohin
junmilo
Shohin
Possible satsuki azalea? This plant never flowers...
Eric Group
Masterpiece
Looks like a Satsuki to me. Where do you keep it?
The leaves look very similar to Gumpo to me... But it is very... "Wilty".. Not sure if it is unhealthy, under watered or... Has it been kept indoors?
junmilo
Shohin
Thank you, are you saying both are satsuki azalea? Both are kept indoors. First one (where the flower) came from was in an indoor green house...the other one that never flowered was kept indoors this year, the previous year, it was kept out doors during the spring, summer and part of Fall.. Wintered inside my living room beside a window.
Eric Group
Masterpiece
That is what I suspected. It will probably not ever flower well if kept indoors... It probably won't keep living much longer to be honest. Azaleas are ... Not "tropical" but they ar eking of semi- deciduous. They lose their leaves in some climates during winter, only lose some of the leaves in milder climates (like mine). They probably need some protection from the elements in your climate during winter, but zi'd reocmmend an unheated garage maybe, not a living room window.
The changing seasons are what tells the tree when to bloom, and outdoor conditions are generally required for them to be extremely healthy and vigorous enough to to bloom.
Both probably are some variety of Satsuki... I fear for their long term health if kept indoors.
Mine are froze to the bench right now
junmilo
Shohin
Thanks. The one that never flowered was a cutting from another plant from a nursery. The owner of the nursery said that the parent plant is now dead, he left it outside during the early part of winter and the leaf turned red/yellow and it was downhill from there...so that is why I didn't want to keep it out doors.
I will keep an eye out for both...to ensure they get enough nutrients/sun..
Harunobu
Chumono
Rhododendron simsii cultivar, possibly 'Nancy Mary' or something similar.
'Ben Morrison' is a satsuki that looks like this. But that one has different leaves and won't be for sale in bloom in winter.
Any forced azalea is a Rhododendron simsii.
'Ben Morrison' is a satsuki that looks like this. But that one has different leaves and won't be for sale in bloom in winter.
Any forced azalea is a Rhododendron simsii.
junmilo
Shohin
Sorry, which plant are you referring to? Both or the one where the flower came from? Or the one that never flowers?
GrimLore
Bonsai Nut alumnus... we miss you
Any forced azalea is a Rhododendron simsii.
The one without flowers would be almost impossible to identify at this time. Some Azalea can be grown indoors and can do fine with a LOT of natural Sun. Do not place them next to the window but on a snack tray or similar about a foot away. Here is a piece from my notes when I was growing some indoors -
They grow near the windowsill just fine for a few years now. I was winging it with care as I had no idea what the variety was. They seem to do best at temperatures between 68 and 71f and all four of them do well in a mix of crushed granite, cactus mix, and pumice. I fertilize them with 20-20-20 and that also suits them well. They are all in fast draining bulb pots and I toss a small amount of water on the surface and fill the drain tray to 1/2 inch every few days. Prior to water I rotate them 180 degrees.
Lots of sun and NEVER let them completely dry. You can force a bloom when they are healthy but that is a whole other subject.
Grimmy
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junmilo
Shohin
Thank You Grammy. The one that dont flower...I actually accidentally dry it out about 2 month ago...it is now pushing out new leaf a week ago...
I will keep both on top of my salt water aquarium tank that's got lamps that my corals need to grow...
I will keep both on top of my salt water aquarium tank that's got lamps that my corals need to grow...
