Update... A Few Small Azaleas...fall 2015

[johng]

As many of you are aware, I have spent much of my time over the last 6-7 years developing small azaleas from old nursery stock. I did a reasonable job documenting the early steps via my YouTube channel but then failed to share much after that point. My original intent was more about creating material for rock and landscape plantings but alas, I ended up with a few in containers as well.

Here are a few pics of some of the azaleas from my collection....all of these began their journey with me through drastic pruning. I have been working on most of these trees for about 5 years...working at this stage pretty much just means hedge pruning and selective pruning. All of these trees are ready for another drastic cutback...not as drastic as before but enough to do some very selective pruning to further nice branch taper and ramification.

Satsuki...variety unknown

No zo minikari....started in a demo for the Bonsai Society of the Carolinas in 09'

Chinzan

Chinzan from the first large group of azaleas I started in 09'

Gumpo

Christmas Cheer

Gumpo

And a shot of the azalea bench....

 

[Nwaite]

Wow! Very nice. Thanks for sharing!

I love that trunk on the cheer.

 

[barrosinc]

nice ones!!
I really like that Chinzan from 09.

 

[johng]

nice ones!!
I really like that Chinzan from 09.

These were just for you Max! Its hard to tell from the photo but that one has had the most serious work and is a little further along than the others....hard to believe that it looked like this before...

 

[coh]

Nice work John. Have you found any of the varieties to be particularly good to work with, in terms of growth rate, response to pruning, etc? Or do they all respond well?

 

[LanceMac10]

but alas, I ended up with a few in containers as well.



















And a shot of the azalea bench....

I think I may have to think about using this term to describe my trees.
'Cuz they don't look like this!!
Amazing, John, thanks for letting us take a look!!

 

[barrosinc]

Don't forget to take a pick in bloom next year!

 

[vaibatron]

John,

If I recall from your videos, you put all of them in Fafard after the chop?

Are they in a more inorganic mix now?

 

[sorce]

Nice. I just watched the video of the bench. Nice to see em again.

Love those fatty bases!

Sorce

 

[johng]

John,

If I recall from your videos, you put all of them in Fafard after the chop?

Are they in a more inorganic mix now?

Nope....still in fafard...they just do too well in my garden to even think about anything else.

 

[johng]

Nice work John. Have you found any of the varieties to be particularly good to work with, in terms of growth rate, response to pruning, etc? Or do they all respond well?

Hey Chris.... Most respond well, but chinzan is by far my favorite for its consistent response to pruning, shiny dark green leaf and willingness to trunk up. In general, satsuki respond better than kurume...although I love the smaller flower on some kurume. Gumpo responds to pruning well but doesnt like to trunk up...blooms are huge as well. Keep in mind that I grow maybe 10 vatieties of azaleas out of the 1000s available.

 

[Cadillactaste]

WOW! I'm in amazement...to say the least. Your tree/pot combo of "Chinzan from the first large group of azaleas I started in 09'" Just stunning...from nebari to pot...is fabulous...one of my favs. Though Christmas Cheer is nothing to sneeze at. Love that ROR nicely done as well.

But...that Neagari on the bench...WOWSER!

 

[vaibatron]

John, you do awesome work. Thank you for your time and willingness to show us how you get down! Always a treat to open a thread and see your trees.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Great job on all of those John, they are awesome. What is fafard? I,too, find Chinzan easy to work with.

John

 

[johng]

Thanks, John! Fafard is just a brand of high quality potting soil....

 

[GrimLore]

Thanks, John! Fafard is just a brand of high quality potting soil....

Thanks for the tour! Always nice to see the fruits of your labor! I was not pleased with the amount of clay and "odd" items in the cheaper top soils and went with the Fafard they have at Agway last year - huge difference and if I decide to start all over again in Spring there is two bags on the back deck unopened. I also used a 1/2 inch or so of PermaTill in the bottom of the containers(I call it a drainage layer) and was curious if you do similar.

Grimmy

 

[barrosinc]

Thanks again John! As importing of trees is prohibited and punished by jail down here... you give me hopes to get a good azalea... or maybe just decent because of my skills hahahha.
But I think I will keep on getting new nursery azaleas until I get it right. The three bonsai nurseries down here don't really have any because they have had bad experience with them. Mine seem to be doing fine up to now.

 

[johng]

Thanks again John! As importing of trees is prohibited and punished by jail down here...

What was that address Max? I can get a couple boxed up and sent right down to you. Just kidding

 

[barrosinc]

If you could send it to the chilean president, that would be ace!

 

[johng]

Thanks for the tour! Always nice to see the fruits of your labor! I was not pleased with the amount of clay and "odd" items in the cheaper top soils and went with the Fafard they have at Agway last year - huge difference and if I decide to start all over again in Spring there is two bags on the back deck unopened. I also used a 1/2 inch or so of PermaTill in the bottom of the containers(I call it a drainage layer) and was curious if you do similar.

Grimmy

Hey Grimmy...no drainage layers for me. I used them years ago but then got lazy and the trees haven't missed it in my garden....your mileage may vary.