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2000 - Large Satsuki azalea (4" caliper): Kept exhibiting signs of root root. Even after tilting the pot and cutting back watering to only when it really needed it (as determined by monitoring moisture level continuously with a chop stick), it finally passed on in 2001. Since then, several other satsuki have languished and continue to exhibit root zone problems. This tree, and the 3 others, came to me planted in medium grade Kanuma. My other satsuki in my standard mix have done fine for years. DISCOVERY -Kanuma is not what its cracked up to be, even medium and course grade Kanuma. Kanuma holds way too much water in my high temperature and high humidity environment (USDA zone 9a). Next year I'm going to do a soil change to get rid of the Kanuma entirely in all my satsuki planted in it. I'll have to cut them back strongly to balance the removal of so much root, with the consequential loss of 3 years work. Lesson learned is that you keep with what works. Any future satsuki I buy that are planted in Kanuma will be changed out of Kanuma as soon as the season allows.

25-Nov-2002	#19
matsu bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Feb-2002 Country: USA USDA Zone: 9A AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 46	2000 - Large Satsuki azalea (4" caliper): Kept exhibiting signs of root root. Even after tilting the pot and cutting back watering to only when it really needed it (as determined by monitoring moisture level continuously with a chop stick), it finally passed on in 2001. Since then, several other satsuki have languished and continue to exhibit root zone problems. This tree, and the 3 others, came to me planted in medium grade Kanuma. My other satsuki in my standard mix have done fine for years. DISCOVERY -Kanuma is not what its cracked up to be, even medium and course grade Kanuma. Kanuma holds way too much water in my high temperature and high humidity environment (USDA zone 9a). Next year I'm going to do a soil change to get rid of the Kanuma entirely in all my satsuki planted in it. I'll have to cut them back strongly to balance the removal of so much root, with the consequential loss of 3 years work. Lesson learned is that you keep with what works. Any future satsuki I buy that are planted in Kanuma will be changed out of Kanuma as soon as the season allows.