Azalea Questions

[tmpgh]

Hello all. I purchased this little azalea from the local club auction last August. I did nothing with it but feed it and water it, basically. This photo is from the day I brought it home. I am unsure of the variety, as it wasn't labeled, the blooms were well gone by then and I just don't know a ton about Azaleas.

Clearly, there is a huge straight portion of trunk there which just won't do as is. I've marked the trunk in two places. In one plan, I will air layer at the top red line then chop it off at the lower one and work with just that lower portion.

Another option may be to try to bend that portion somehow with a branch bender. That won't fix the lack of taper, however.

Would it be wise to cut the buds off of this tree to prevent blooming and start the layer right away in spring?

Also, I'd welcome some critique of my plans and any offers of other plans.

Thanks.

 

[Poink88]

Between the two, I'd cut it at the lower red mark. That said...post pics from other angles, your tree might have more to offer but we won't know until we see it. The back branch may offer other options and might exploit that deadwood at right also as a "feature".

BTW, do not expand that deadwood...you can carve it but stay within the dead portion.

 

[tmpgh]

Sorry if I confused! I am planning to chop at the lower mark. However, i plan to first air layer the top off to develop as a second tree.

I'll try to see if i have pics from other angles, but don't think I do. The tree is in storage now and i don't want to break it out now yo take new pics, as we are due to fall back into the teens this week.

 

[Poink88]

Sorry if I confused! I am planning to chop at the lower mark. However, i plan to first air layer the top off to develop as a second tree.

No apologies necessary. It is MY fault for not reading and jumping on the pic right away. LOL

Don't hurry but w/o proper pics, you might not get the best advise. Let this thread rest for now and re-activate when you have more pics.

 

[GrimLore]

Not sure where you are in PA but in Bucks County South East PA Spring for the air layer should be just fine. Curious if it is Deciduous or Evergreen I am also pretty certain you will have better success with the further chop after the layer rather then a bend. Some varieties take a bit of abuse but many do not. One of the consultants at the American Bonsai Organization as well as others here have told me some I have had for three years would not last one season for example. Make sure you get the original owners growing schedule and enjoy! Looks to me that could be very nice.

Grimmy

 

[tmpgh]

I overwintered it in my plastic greenhouse in the yard. The leaves darkened but did not drop. No new growth or other signs of activity were evident over the winter so far. Not sure if that makes it evergreen or deciduous. As for the original owner's schedule, I'm afraid I don't know who it even was. I will inquire at the next meeting. I'll be interested to know why that branch was allowed to grow in that fashion.

This is a nice little tree that i see turning into something maybe even good. I got it for a song, so it's looking like one of my best bang for the buck trees yet.

 

[tmpgh]

Sorry for the photo quality. I tried to do what I could to avoid shadows, but I'm just not set up for photography right now. The garage is a mess of building projects currently, so I had to take the pics outside.

One pic is the back, which I see as being a nice front in many ways, actually. I also have an over head view of the tree.

I welcome any and all thoughts.

Thank you

 

[Harunobu]

Pretty sure it is some kurume type, heavy on kiusianum with a bit of kaempferi. This based on leaf shape, number of leaves and the dark leaf colour.

I'd move it in a training pot or full ground, let it grow for a season or two. This with or without the proposed heavy prune. It obviously already was pruned hard.

If he prunes it at the lower red line, wouldn't his lowest branch be pretty high up the tree?

 

[tmpgh]

If he prunes it at the lower red line, wouldn't his lowest branch be pretty high up the tree?

Not exactly. The hope is to grow the branch just below the cut as the new top/apex. Of course, this will take time, but so does everything in Bonsai, right? Also, a move to a grow box might be worth considering. The ground is not an option for me.

 

[tmpgh]

Here is one of the first flowers to bloom on this little tree. Lovely pink color.

So, the blooms are pink and the shrub is evergreen. Anyone with ID tips?

 

[tmpgh]

Forgot to add the photo!

 

[Lazylightningny]

This could be a kurume, looks similar to mine, although my flowers are crimson. It was very leggy, so I pruned it back to the nubbins a month or two ago, and it's back budding very nicely now. You should be fine with a heavy prune.

 

[tmpgh]

I'm going to prune it hard and apply an air layer to it in the first week of June.