[IBC] Satsuki problem - bark splitting

zube100@hotmail.com

I thought I'd post this and see if I can get some help. I have perhaps
12-15 Satsuki ranging in size from 4" starter pots up to a gallon size
or a bit bigger. I have bought all of these in the last two years, so
I don't have a lot of experience with them. Two months ago or so I
started seeing bark splitting in 7-8 of the plants, some very severe.
I have tried to seal them up as well as possible with Lac Balsam, but
I assume the condition is irreversible. What caused it?? From what I
have found, freezing can do this, but I think we only had 5-6 days
below 32F last winter here. Maybe 28F. was the lowest temperature.
I've also read that fertilizing too late in the summer can cause this
(which I probably did). The plants were also pruned late in the year,
around August. Most of the information I've found has been vague, and
I'm hoping to find someone with some experience to confirm this or
perhaps add to it. I obviously don't intend to fertilize or prune this
late again. But I'm afraid to do much of anything at this point,
although I have a couple new plants that I feel need pruned back. Any
help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Lauren
NW Oregon, zone 8

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Theo

zube100@hotmail.com wrote:

HI
I have 3 azaleas as bonsai since 12 years

-I use acidic soil
-I cut off ovaries as soon as each flower fall
-after flowering period I giv a tea spoon of rhododendrons fertilizer
& I wait 10- 15 days before repotting or pruning branches.. ( this
happens in april may..
- nex't season's flower starts coming out in july .. so do not prune ,
but you can cut back too long shots to 2 leaves and just leave 2 new
shots on each branch
-I give some more fertilizer in september
I keep them all the time in sunshine ( beside of teh flowering period
that I take them inside or mid shadow
-I never put them inside a basin of water and if so no more than 2
minutes .. azaleas roots choke very esily
-even if azaleas bud esily form old wood is always better to leave fone
pair of leaves on a pruned branch
-never leave her soil dry out nor stay soggy
wiring is difficult use wrapped wire as they snap easily , it is
better shaping by cutting
-they love sweet and not calcar water
- when chlorosis sets in ( leaves get clearer and see veins give some
irontone or similar
- for repotting they are very slow growing can stay in the same pot for
4-5 or more years easily

> perhaps add to it. I obviously don't intend to fertilize or prune this
> late again. But I'm afraid to do much of anything at this point,
> although I have a couple new plants that I feel need pruned back. Any
> help is appreciated.
> Thanks,
> Lauren
> NW Oregon, zone 8

--
Theo_694@hotmail.com MSN messanger / or ICQ 25 666 169 4

L'Umiltà è la Peggiore delle Presunzioni
(la Rochefocault)

«»«»«» Just for today...be happy «»«»«»

kevin bailey

I've got a coupla hundred satsuki, from eight years old to last years
cuttings. The only time I've had bark splitting is when I've
accidentally left a small one outside and it has frozen. Even a light
ground frost will do this. Once they are a few years old they seem to be
able to take a light frost without splitting.

I had some very bad damage on a couple earlier this year and took
photo's. I was really surprised that the trees survived and it appears
that they will, eventually, heal up and perhaps generate new bark. The
cambium layer was unaffected. Alex Kennedy's book says that this will
slow them right down for a long time though. I'll try to take shots of
them now and post to the gallery.

Cheers

Kev Bailey
Vale Of Clwyd, North Wales


Subject: [IBC] Satsuki problem - bark splitting

I thought I'd post this and see if I can get some help. I have perhaps
12-15 Satsuki ranging in size from 4" starter pots up to a gallon size
or a bit bigger. I have bought all of these in the last two years, so
I don't have a lot of experience with them. Two months ago or so I
started seeing bark splitting in 7-8 of the plants, some very severe.
I have tried to seal them up as well as possible with Lac Balsam, but
I assume the condition is irreversible. What caused it?? From what I
have found, freezing can do this, but I think we only had 5-6 days
below 32F last winter here. Maybe 28F. was the lowest temperature.
I've also read that fertilizing too late in the summer can cause this
(which I probably did). The plants were also pruned late in the year,
around August. Most of the information I've found has been vague, and
I'm hoping to find someone with some experience to confirm this or
perhaps add to it. I obviously don't intend to fertilize or prune this
late again. But I'm afraid to do much of anything at this point,
although I have a couple new plants that I feel need pruned back. Any
help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Lauren
NW Oregon, zone 8



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Michael Persiano

In a message dated 5/18/2004 11:05:36 PM Eastern Standard Time,
zube100@HOTMAIL.COM writes:
What caused it?? From what I
have found, freezing can do this, but I think we only had 5-6 days
below 32F last winter here. Maybe 28F. was the lowest temperature.
I've also read that fertilizing too late in the summer can cause this
(which I probably did). The plants were also pruned late in the year,
around August. Most of the information I've found has been vague, and
I'm hoping to find someone with some experience to confirm this or
perhaps add to it. I obviously don't intend to fertilize or prune this
late again. But I'm afraid to do much of anything at this point,
although I have a couple new plants that I feel need pruned back. Any
help is appreciated.
Lauren:

Satsuki do not like to be frozen. The superficial damage to your trees is
most likely the result of a hard freeze.

Remedy: The best thing that you can do at this time is to aggressively feed
or Superfeed the specimens and to allow them to grow unchecked (no pruning or
wiring) for at least one growing season.

Minimize late season pruning, and stop the aggressive feeding in early
August. All should be well with your trees.

Cordially,

Michael Persiano
members.aol.com/iasnob

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++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
************************************************** ******************************
>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

zube100@hotmail.com

Thanks for your help guys. I appreciate it.
Lauren

Jim Lewis

> Thanks for your help guys. I appreciate it.
> Lauren

Since you are accumulating a good number of Satsuki potensai, you
probably should get Alexander Kennedy's "Floral Treasures of
Japan: The Satsuki Azaleas." It's self published (Splatt Press
(!) in England) and the only place _I_ know of that carries it
here (USA) is Stone Lantern -- www.stonelantern.com.

Kennedy has another, shorter and cheaper book, "Satsuki" but it
lacks the detail and is VERY hard to find. Splatt Press again.
Our best local plant nursery occasionally has a copy.
(www.tallahasseenurseries.com)

Peter Adams' "The Art of Flowering Bonsai" also has a nice
section on Satsuki.

Odd that the best of the available (in print) Satsuki books are
all by Englishmen.

Jim Lewis - jklewis@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.

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++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

zube100@hotmail.com

Thank you Jim. I have both of those books, and have about worn out my
copy of Floral Treasures of Japan. John Naka also co-authored a book
on Satsuki, which I have been on the lookout for. I was saddened today
to hear of his passing.
Lauren

On 19 May 2004 06:35:54 -0700, jklewis@NETTALLY.COM (Jim Lewis) wrote:

>> Thanks for your help guys. I appreciate it.
>> Lauren
>
>Since you are accumulating a good number of Satsuki potensai, you
>probably should get Alexander Kennedy's "Floral Treasures of
>Japan: The Satsuki Azaleas." It's self published (Splatt Press
!) in England) and the only place _I_ know of that carries it
>here (USA) is Stone Lantern -- www.stonelantern.com.
>
>Kennedy has another, shorter and cheaper book, "Satsuki" but it
>lacks the detail and is VERY hard to find. Splatt Press again.
>Our best local plant nursery occasionally has a copy.
www.tallahasseenurseries.com)
>
>Peter Adams' "The Art of Flowering Bonsai" also has a nice
>section on Satsuki.
>
>Odd that the best of the available (in print) Satsuki books are
>all by Englishmen.
>
>Jim Lewis - jklewis@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
>people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
>its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
>should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.
>
>************************************************** ******************************
> ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
>************************************************** ******************************
>>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
> +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

Theo

Michael Persiano wrote:
HI
> Remedy: The best thing that you can do at this time is to aggressively feed
> or Superfeed

what do you mean by *aggressive*?
wich values of NPK?

> Minimize late season pruning, and stop the aggressive feeding in early
> August.
ok

Theo_694@hotmail.com MSN messanger / or ICQ 25 666 169 4

L'Umiltà è la Peggiore delle Presunzioni
(la Rochefocault)

«»«»«» Just for today...be happy «»«»«»

Michael Persiano

In a message dated 5/20/2004 2:03:30 AM Eastern Standard Time,
byjoke@CH.INTER.NET writes:
Michael Persiano wrote:
HI
> Remedy: The best thing that you can do at this time is to aggressively feed
> or Superfeed

what do you mean by *aggressive*?
wich values of NPK?
It is not so much the value of the NPK as it is the frequency of the feeding.
I use a 20-20-20 with a fast-draining soil. All chemical feedings are
supplemented with fish emulsion, etc.

Some are concerned about residual fertilizer in the soil from frequent
feedings. I have yet to experience this problem with fast-draining soils.

Cordially,

Michael Persiano
hometown.aol.com/iasnob

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
************************************************** ******************************
>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++