Azaleas / copper

paul11390

Hi all

During the past ten years or so I have killed about three Azaleas, nope, I can't say for sure the exact number as I don't keep track of "kills". I never had a clue what had caused the death in any of the cases. Recently a more experenced Bonsai person told me that the reason was that I was using copper wire! Has anyone out there had any experence on this subject? If I can't use copper will aluminum w...ork or must I resort to clip and grow entirely?

Thanks in advance
Paul

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dragonprincess

No copper wire does not kill azalea's. I have used copper wire for years on mine with out 'killing' them. (Broken a banch from time to time). I also know alot of people who use aluminum wire to. Use what you feel most comfotable with .

Dragonprincess

tuckerg

paul,wire dosent kill tress,their owners do.you say youve killed "some"in the last 10 years,why?did they all die from the same thing?over-watering,excessive root prunning,to much fertilizer?azeleas are B-R-I-T-T-L-E ,so wiring needs to done carefully,but its very unlikely you killed them all with heavy wiring techniques.did u lose any other trees at the same time or has it been all azeleas?

paul11390

Dragonprincess
So that ties it copper is OK. It sounded like a odd story to me, but I was told this and so needed to check it out.

Thanks
Paul

paul11390

Tuckerg
Oh for sure I did kill them! My problem is I can't decide how/Why.Yes I feel that they did die from the same thing because they all just "faded away" Too much water, don't think so because after the first I lifted it out of the pot and no root rot. I also checked the others and they looked good. Fertilizer- could be but I use the same little balls (Sta-Green) on everything. Yes I have lost other trees, but the thing that bothers me is I lose all Azaleas! I am fairly sure that it is not from "Heavy wireing" as I did very little wireing at a time back then was trying to learn.
I just bought a nice one from a local nercery this past week and layed it down in a training pot will start wireing and triming in a week or three. I thank you for your help so far and do you have any other ideas to help me? By the way the soil that I am now using is somewat faster draining than my old soil. Wish me luck I would like to beat this thing and also while some look down on Azaleas I want at least one for the color if nothing else.
Thanks
Paul

Joanie

Don't Azaleas need a rather special soil and fertilizer? More acidic? If you are using the same fertilizer on everything, perhaps that is the problem.

Seems like people recommend using a shot of Miracid now and again, and special soil....

Joanie

paul11390

Joanie
Thanks for the jolt! My wife puts special food on hers in the yard Ill try that.

Thanks
Paul

titusblm

Paul,

Just keep a good eye on ph levels and use organic feed. Try to water only with rain water if possible.(if you need to water with something else add one tablespoon viniger to one gallon water, to keep the soil acidic). An everything should go your way Keep them out of frost unless you know the azalea you have is full hardy. Very few seem to be. But R. leutem will live though most low temps to -10C and makes as good a bonsai as the japanese azaleas if you ask me.

paul11390

titusblm
Thanks for the input I'll try your ideas on the one that I just put in a training pot
Thanks
Paul