Azalea contest 2020-2025

Does the tree have to be started this year? Can I use one started last year from a bush?
 
Well I'll have to see if the nurseries around here have stock, as we've just started coming out of lock down. If I can find something I'm in. I doubt I'll find Satsuki in our climate.... so it'll be something else, which is ok. I have a completed picture of what I want for the end product already, so I guess the next time I venture out, I'll go hunt one up.
 
Well I'll have to see if the nurseries around here have stock, as we've just started coming out of lock down. If I can find something I'm in. I doubt I'll find Satsuki in our climate.... so it'll be something else, which is ok. I have a completed picture of what I want for the end product already, so I guess the next time I venture out, I'll go hunt one up.
I bought 7 more on sale 50% off from HomeDepot….they are hybrids, but still something to tinker with.
 
I have one in real poor shape I picked up from a neighbour a couple weeks back.
She kept it as a houseplant :eek:
I'm just focusing on getting it healthy at the moment.
But would be fun to start as a project.
If that fits the rules, I'm in.
 
I have one in real poor shape I picked up from a neighbour a couple weeks back.
She kept it as a houseplant :eek:
I'm just focusing on getting it healthy at the moment.
But would be fun to start as a project.
If that fits the rules, I'm in.
Is it bonsai or prebonsai? If so then you can't use it. Post a pic for better understanding. The starting plant should be untouched.
 
Is there a way to tell between a rhododendron and azalea without flowers? I may have started my air layer on a small leaf rhodo. Flowers are past, so I can't count stamens.

If it is a rhodo, is it still fair game here (granted the air layer takes)?

I always assumed it was an azalea because the leaves are so much smaller than what I know is a rhododendron in out landscape - but they are still about 2".

I'm taking a very large layer, so scale should still be okayish.
 
Is there a way to tell between a rhododendron and azalea without flowers? I may have started my air layer on a small leaf rhodo. Flowers are past, so I can't count stamens.

If it is a rhodo, is it still fair game here (granted the air layer takes)?

I always assumed it was an azalea because the leaves are so much smaller than what I know is a rhododendron in out landscape - but they are still about 2".

I'm taking a very large layer, so scale should still be okayish.

This contest is dedicated for azaleas only. If you're not sure if it's an azalea post a pic here to help identify it (top of leaf and under leaf).

A couple quick questions:
How thick are the leaves?
How thick is the stem on the new flush of growth?
Are the leaves fuzzy or furry underneath?
Is the new flush of growth tacky or sticky?

Answering those questions could help. I know Encore double bloom azaleas have fairly large leaves, but all azalea leaves are thin and ovate with either a rounded or pointed tip. Rhodi's are elongated ovate and all that I have seen have a rounded tip.
 
Yes. Azaleas always have hairs on their leaves (both decidious and evergreen). Rhododendron never have. It is also more reliable than stamen counting (5 for azalea, 7 to 14 for rhododendron), as there are many azalea hybrids that break that rule.

Dwarf rhododendron actually have the smallest leaves. Rhododendron leaves go from almost a meter for R. sinogrande to about half a cm for for R.keleticum. Sometimes people wrongly assume their small-leafed plant is an azalea because it doesn't look like the ordinary common Rhododendrons.
 
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How thick are the leaves?
- 0.25mm
How thick is the stem on the new flush of growth?
- 1.75-2.0mm
Are the leaves fuzzy or furry underneath?
- Doesn't look like it
Is the new flush of growth tacky or sticky?
- Doesn't feel like it

I found ONE flower left... 10 stamens =(

Photos:

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Sometimes people wrongly assume their small-leafed plant is an azalea because it doesn't look like the ordinary common Rhododendrons.

^ me, but I'm learning (it's right next to a large leaf Rhododendron)!
 
@RJG2
That is a non-azalea type Rhododendron. Most likely PJM or some similar type of hybrid. The fuzziness on the underside of the leaves is called indumentum, and is classic trait for a Rhodie, and is not usually present in azalea. In azalea, they are individual hairs, usually silver white. In some sections of Rhododendron, the indumentum is very fine, short brown hairs that are dense enough that distinguishing individual hairs is difficult. Fuzz, rather than Hair, makes it "Indumentum".

Do the PJM type Rhodies make good bonsai? They can, though PJM itself is somewhat coarse in its branching. Related species, R. dauricum, R. fastigiatum, R. minus and others, have smaller leaves than PJM and do make "pretty okay" bonsai. But they definitely are not azaleas. It is up to @Pitoon to make the determination as to what's in, what's out.
 
Yeah, many rhododendron have indumentum, which is actually also hairs. So my explanation in text could be very confusing. But optically the look is very different. Azalea have parallel individual hairs on the leaves. Rhododendron can have this layer of fuzz underneath their leaves.

And I just found out there is a rhododendron called Rhododendron ciliatum that actually does have hairs all over that are individually visible. So there goes my guideline 'If it has hairs, it is an azalea'.

And it seems that RJG2's rhododendron is actually still fairly largely leafed. I remember I wanted to buy the cultivar 'Ptarmigan' a long long time ago because it was Rhododendron that looked most similar to R.indicum out of everything they had at the nursery.
 
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