Root-over-rock Yama no Hikari Satsuki

[SgtPilko]

Hey all, here is a new satsuki with root over rock nebari that I really love despite some flaws. Part of the rock looks like it might have been "added" later to plug a hole - any thoughts on how you would deal with it? Does it look totally obvious?

Coloration is a bit different and there is a gap - thinking of filling that with some 2-part epoxy?

What are the chances of an azalea in a pot expanding that nebari to hug the rock better and therefore look more natural?

Cheers!

 

[Srt8madness]

Top notch azalea!! Love the branch structure, pads, movement, gorgeous. I also HATE the rock coming out the front. Looks like a growth I have the urge to cut off.

 

[SgtPilko]

No more advice or thoughts on the above satsuki nutters?

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Nice Satsuki, it’s certainly of an age, however it has indeed overgrown its rock base, something that occurs more often than not.

A couple thoughts.

The tree looks very healthy, whoever previously owned the tree knew their horticulture. Yama no Hikari is a beloved cultivar by the Japanese, flowers best for big trees.

Do not epoxy the crack! If you want it to fuse, pack with a combination of chopped sphagnum/yamagoke and small akadama. It will take some time to fuse… years, but it will look natural and

Also please take the tie down wire off the trunk and fashion a proper stake into shin tie down off the trunk. The longer it remains the more chance there will be to damage the trunk.

Styling wise there likely is some work to do.

Needs a proper wiring job to lay out the pads, work down to twos, straighten out the branches, flatten the bottoms and spreading out the foliage.

Also, its nebari wasn’t properly curated, so the base lost whatever definition it had. There is a way to remedy this this but is slow and a bit unconventional….

If there is a rock underneath the tree it should be seen, but the nebari needs to be developed to do this.

Just a few thoughts.

Cheers
DSD sends