Azalea repot question - bonsaiTALK Community

25-Sep-2004	#1
Bone-sigh Always learning Join Date: May-2004 Location: Central Florida, seminole county Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 380	Azalea repot question This summer I purchased a descent sized azalea hybrid bush with a nebari spread of 5'' and a trunk of 3 and 1/2" in a three gallon container. It appeared healthy when I got it, so I reduced it greatly. It back budded like a normal healthy azalea, (from what I hear) LOTS of new branches. But, since this is my first attempt at an azalea I'm not sure if I should mess with the roots this coming winter. I would like to start the process of compacting the root-ball to get it ready for bonsai-pot. Or, is it best to focus on developing the branch structure before I even mess with the roots? I live in central Florida if that helps formulate an answer. Any help would be great! __________________ "If God meant for us to run around naked, we would have been born that way!" ----a Quote from my uncle's fridge

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26-Sep-2004	#2
TreeBay Tips:5¢ Advice:Free *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: Aug-2001 Location: Silicon Valley Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: 4 Posts: 9,742	It's best to repot your azalea right at the end of the blooming period, not in winter. That's typically June or July. In your climate you might be able to get away with winter repotting, but summer is the best time. Regards, Matt __________________ Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today! bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!

26-Sep-2004	#3
Bone-sigh Always learning Join Date: May-2004 Location: Central Florida, seminole county Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 380	Thanks Matt! I'm still wondering though if I will stress the tree out too much by root pruning since I recently reduced it's height drastically just a few months ago? Sorry if this is being redundant, but it is really nice stock and I don't want to lose it to my ignorance. Thanks to everyone in advance for the help! --Ryan __________________ "If God meant for us to run around naked, we would have been born that way!" ----a Quote from my uncle's fridge

26-Sep-2004	#4
tuckerg bonsaiTALK Master Join Date: Jun-2004 Country: Ireland Posts: 490	Matt i have to disagree with you.if youve only purched an azelea your better repotting and bare rooting the tree around feb/mar.(this is european time so youll have to adjust to suit your time off year).why bare root?you dont know how long the tree has been in the pot and soil,so its out with the odl and in with the new.if u can get the hold off bonsai-europe issue 68,alexander kennedy has an excellent article here.last year myself and 4 friends did a repotting workshop with alex and he showed how it should be done.it wasnt for the faint hearted but those azeleas he did are now floushing and growth is excellent.after the bare rooting repot u only have to repot on average about every 4years.hope this helps.good luck

26-Sep-2004	#5
Will_Heath BANNED Join Date: Apr-2004 Location: Clinton Township, MI Country: USA USDA Zone: 6 MI AHS Heat Zone: 4 Posts: 4,227	Everytime I have bare-rooted an azelea it died a slow and horrible death. I have found personally that by taking alternating wedges out of the root ball everytime I repot, the azeleas thrived. I also only repot after flowering with no ill effects. Will

29-Sep-2004	#6
Bone-sigh Always learning Join Date: May-2004 Location: Central Florida, seminole county Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 380	I guess I need to be more specific and to the point to get what I am realy asking answered...because, though I appreciate the input that I have gotten thus far, it hasn't really answered my question. So here goes: I just reduced the azalea's height greatly (no foliage left, had to put out new growth) a few months ago. Will I stress the plant too much if I mess with the roots this coming late winter/early spring considering the previous stress of severe pruning just a few months ago? Thank you in advance to any one who may know the answer to this question! --Ryan __________________ "If God meant for us to run around naked, we would have been born that way!" ----a Quote from my uncle's fridge

29-Sep-2004	#7
jhill He who listens Join Date: Jan-2002 Location: Ohio Country: USA USDA Zone: 6 AHS Heat Zone: 5 Posts: 571	Maybe this will help. ( Here ) John __________________ You can't see where you're going if You don't know where you've been http://www.BonsaiBeginnings.org Last edited by jhill : 29-Sep-2004 at 09:02 PM.

29-Sep-2004	#8
Panamaniac bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Jun-2004 Location: Arlington, VA Country: USA USDA Zone: 7 AHS Heat Zone: 7 Posts: 35	To answer you specifically, Yes. However, if you wait until after it blooms (the plant goes practically dormant which typically happens later in May or even pushing June/July) you should be able to re-pot/bare root with hopefully no ill effects. Good luck. Please post a pic for us to admire.

29-Sep-2004

Panamaniac

bonsaiTALK Journeyman

Join Date: Jun-2004

Location: Arlington, VA

Country: USA

USDA Zone: 7

AHS Heat Zone: 7

Posts: 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panamaniac

To answer you specifically, Yes.

However, if you wait until after it blooms (the plant goes practically dormant which typically happens later in May or even pushing June/July) you should be able to re-pot/bare root with hopefully no ill effects.

Good luck. Please post a pic for us to admire.

Or you can just disregard this post and follow the excellent guide John posted above.

30-Sep-2004	#10
Bone-sigh Always learning Join Date: May-2004 Location: Central Florida, seminole county Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 380	John, Thankyou for that article. It was great! Very informative. But, the article dealt with Satsuki's. Can I apply those same rules for Satsuki's to my hybrid azalea? Panamaniac, It won't be blooming this coming season as far as I know. When I pruned it hard there was no foliage left, just a trunk and a few bare "father" branches. I got it at a large garden center where it was left to grow very "leggy". And, I think that azalea's bloom on second year branches. And about posting a picture...I WISH I COULD! I don't have a computer of my own, much less a digital camera. I'm a college student...need I say more. This is going to make a great tree in what I hope to be a short amount of time(If I do things right). Thanks to the both of you for your help. I hope I can keep asking questions about this tree as they come...I don't want to screw this one up! __________________ "If God meant for us to run around naked, we would have been born that way!" ----a Quote from my uncle's fridge

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