Azalea repot or prune

[Hielonite34]

So, I’m hoping someone can help me get a definitive answer on this.

I bought a hybrid azalea from the local nursery. It’s definitely in need of a repot, even though the water seems to pass through decent enough. I know it’s been awhile and it’s pretty much root bound.

However, every branch on it is old and lignified. So the question I have is do I repot it now (it’s done flowering), or should I try to rejuvenate the live veins first by doing a little pruning, thus saving the repot till next spring?

I’m torn on which one I should do first. My gut says repot now and rejuvenate later. But given the fact that it still pushed some flowers and a little new growth, and the water doesn’t drain too bad, I’m very torn. It definitely still needs a new pot. Plus, it’s pretty dang old and has a good 3 inch plus trunk.

Thanks!

 

[Forsoothe!]

3" trunk? Do it in baby steps. Remove all seed pods now. If you can slip it into the garden someplace to grow a full head of new foliage and then trim the roots and repot and trim the top for next year mid-way in your growing season, that's one option which gets everything done in one season, but sacrifices next year's blooms. Or, you can trim the top hard now and remove all seed pods (remove seed pods after flowing every year anyway), repot before mid-season, and have good flowers next year. The choice depends on how healthy you think it is right now.

 

[Hielonite34]

Ya I’m not at all in a hurry to see any flowers. But you think it’s more important to the health of the azalea that it has new growth versus a new root environment?

 

[Pitoon]

Pics?

 

[0soyoung]

If it is healthy, both can be done right after it has bloomed. IOW, if you want to 'rejuvinate and/or repot', do it right after blooming.

byw, why do you say that

It’s definitely in need of a repot, even though the water seems to pass through decent enough. I know it’s been awhile and it’s pretty much root bound.

?
This is part of how we maintain bonsai. Bonsai are root bound.

 

[Hielonite34]

If it is healthy, both can be done right after it has bloomed. IOW, if you want to 'rejuvinate and/or repot', do it right after blooming.

byw, why do you say that
?
This is part of how we maintain bonsai. Bonsai are root bound.

I say that because I’m not putting it into a bonsai with the intention of slowing down it’s growth. It’s too unhealthy and I haven’t even shaped it into a silhouette of anything in terms of styles. At this point I need to elicit some healthy vigorous growth.

 

[Hielonite34]

Alright so here are the photos. I have two of them. You’ll see for one. There is actually some decent back budding popping up along the trunk and branches. I think that’s mainly due to it being younger. But you’ll see the other, older one, has no back budding whatsoever.

I also removed a decent amount of the potting soil I added to them once I got home from the nursery. The soil level was very low and much of the surface roots were sticking out.

But upon removing the soil to show you guys the base, I started getting into its original soil and felt that it’s was very muddy (I watered them just the other day).

So I think I may have answered my own question as to if I should invigorate new growth, or repot. And the answer is repot. Can’t be having muddy soil.

But I’m open to any suggestions.

 

[Hielonite34]

More photos.

 

[Forsoothe!]

If it is healthy, both can be done right after it has bloomed. IOW, if you want to 'rejuvinate and/or repot', do it right after blooming.

byw, why do you say that
?
This is part of how we maintain bonsai. Bonsai are root bound.

I categorically disagree. Root bound is asking for big troubles. I strive to always have some room for continuing growth of the roots as well as having some young twigs in the canopy.

I agree with my earlier speculation: The one with lots of low buds, chop to low buds now. The scrawny one, slip it into the garden and feed it heavily until it shows vigor, then chop it and pot into initial bonsai pot in the year following. There are other schedules for both.

 

[Hielonite34]

Ya, I’m really surprised Osoyoung responded with what he said. While I’m new to actually joining the forum, I’ve been reading it for awhile. And I always thought Osoyoung advice was usually spot on.

I know that azaleas need consistent pruning to maintain the health of the tree with its live vein feed from the younger shoots. And that once the branches become too lignified they essentially become very inefficient at pumping nutrients to the point where they will cease to do so. But I also know that it’s root system is a huge priority, as it it with any of our trees.

So, I was stuck in this catch-22 of a situation where I wasn’t sure which of the two I should do first. Honestly I was hoping to get NEleo or John G. Or any of the other azalea/horticulture guys to help me untangle this one.

 

[Hielonite34]

Is there a way to tag any of those guys into this thread?

 

[Paradox]

For the most part, I agree with @Forsoothe! Either of his suggestions would be a good course of action

The first thing I do to any tree is repot it.
My reasoning is that if it cant handle the repot, it will never be a bonsai so lets get it out of the way as fast as possible.
I always do it at the right time of course.

Ive repotted all my azaleas in early spring before blooming with no problems. Ive heard of people losing trees doing it afterwards.
You can do some pruning at the same time because you are reducing the root system but dont go hog wild on it.
I would cut all the blooms off though this year just so it isnt putting strength into flowering but recovering and growing instead.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Seems pretty straightforward. But, can you tell us where you are located? (or did I miss it?) It helps everyone who is replying if you post this data in your “icon data....”
Also you should be able to search for those members, click on their icon and then PM each by choosing “start a conversation”
Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Hielonite34]

I put in my profile 9B. But specifically, central Florida.

I wholly agree that repotting nursery stock (of course in the right time) is the thing to do. And the thing I’ve always done when transitioning stock.

The thing I’ve understood, is that, while azaleas can be very forgiving, they also have some very specific horticultural requirements that most species don’t have. And what I mean by that, is the need for the old, lignified growth to always be replaced with new, tender growth. I was just going off of what Peter Warren has said countless times in his videos.

Now, maybe I’m just blowing this whole thing out of proportion. And even if one of them has nothing but old branches, repotting it will still be ok.

Plus, this isn’t my first rodeo, or my first tree. And I’ve definitely killed one or two azaleas in the past by not doing the necessary species specific research and just going to town on the roots and cut backs as I do to all of my other trees.

Now, armed with a little more horticultural knowledge of the species, I honestly just wanted to come here and see if there were any “azalea experts” on here who maybe could tell me which one of the issues is most compromising to it’s health. I figured doing both at first, but opted against that seeing as it most likely has very poor sap due to the ages of the branches.

But, screw it, it won’t set me back all that much. And now I’ll know what seems to be the best for any future endeavors.

I’ll repot the one that at least is showing some new growth through the backbudding. And I’ll probably slip pot the other one that has terribly old branches and do some light pruning and removal of flowers pods, and hopefully induce some budding that way too.

Thanks for ya’lls help.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Good going... I think your azaleas will do just fine. You’ve done your due diligence and fill be excited to see House things turn out.
Cheers
DSD sends
(For some reason your location isn’t showing when I press your icon.)

 

[0soyoung]

I’m really surprised Osoyoung responded with what he said.

What is it that you find really surprising.

 

[Forsoothe!]

Is there a way to tag any of those guys into this thread?

@Leo in N E Illinois will notice. I don't know who John G is.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

John G is John Geanangel, he was a very active member, but got fatigued of certain "blow hards" who would constantly give out mediocre to bad advice to beginners who could not discriminate between good and bad advice. He gave up trying to help against a hurricane of bad advice. He did a series of You Tube videos, many on azalea. The videos are excellent, and last I checked are still available. John is a good guy, really nice and pleasant, and very active these days in his local bonsai club. He has not "dialed back" on bonsai at all, if anything has become even better at it. But he just doesn't have time for on-line chat forums. He is expert in azaleas, and has some great mixed deciduous forest plantings, and pretty darn good with bald cypress. And his pines are just fine. All around a good well balanced upper level bonsai practitioner. He has occasionally been a mentor to me.

John Geanangel

www.youtube.com

Also tag @Mellow Mullet , and @Brian Van Fleet as they have great azalea.

I have a few over 10 years old.

I need to go back to the beginning of this thread, to re-read what has been already said. I have a busy day today, I may, or may not get back here today.

But @Hielonite34 - welcome to the forum.

 

[Hielonite34]

Hey Leo! Figured you might enjoy this little snippet. Not too sure how the principles apply to any other species, but that’s the nature of research.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Interesting and I appreciate you posting this snippet.
Can you please provide the article’s citation?
Cheers
DSD sends