Hino maru

[MadSweatz]

In Japan, kanuma is common dirt in the prefecture of Kanuma. In Japan it is easy to pot azalea in kanuma soil. Just go in the back yard and dig up a couple shovels full. There are a few, fairly rare deposits of kanuma type clay in the Pacific Northwest, Ryan Neil did a video on it. Problem is the value of kanuma does not support the expense of running a quarry to mine it. I have tried many different mixes, and for a small collection with less than 10 azalea, buying imported kanuma is worth the expense. The various peat and bark blends all have their problems. Kanuma is the best I've encountered for azalea.

For blueberries kanuma is not acidic enough, but this thread is about azalea.

Thank you very much. I will go for kanuma for now. Thankfully it’s affordable enough to not totally prevent using it for a few azaleas.

 

[Thomas Mitchell]

In Japan, kanuma is common dirt in the prefecture of Kanuma.

FWIW, Kanuma is a city in Tochigi Prefecture.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

FWIW, Kanuma is a city in Tochigi Prefecture.

I should have looked it up. Still kanuma is a soil type named after the city. It is common in quarries near Kanuma city.

 

[Thomas Mitchell]

I should have looked it up. Still kanuma is a soil type named after the city. It is common in quarries near Kanuma city.

Yes, exactly.

It's been a while since I lived in Japan but at that time you could find it cheaply in most good garden store, same as akadama. However, you can't just go out and dig it anywhere. The soil where I lived in Kyushu was quite different despite also being mostly volcanic in origin. Probably obvious given volcanos are all a little different as we 'ring of fire' residents are very aware.

BTW - Thanks to DSD for the link to Kusa-farm. I had to pick up a few Hino-maru and other cultivars for myself!

 

[MadSweatz]

Yes, exactly.

It's been a while since I lived in Japan but at that time you could find it cheaply in most good garden store, same as akadama. However, you can't just go out and dig it anywhere. The soil where I lived in Kyushu was quite different despite also being mostly volcanic in origin. Probably obvious given volcanos are all a little different as we 'ring of fire' residents are very aware.

BTW - Thanks to DSD for the link to Kusa-farm. I had to pick up a few Hino-maru and other cultivars for myself!

Awesome!! Would you mind updating with photos when you get them? It would be nice to see the different ones that arrive. I’d be really interested to compare how they get along through the different climates.

 

[MadSweatz]

I should have looked it up. Still kanuma is a soil type named after the city. It is common in quarries near Kanuma city.

I’m very thankful for all this info. I’ve learned a lot from this post. Thank you all for sharing so much. Seems like the azalea crowd really has a passion for them.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

btw I forgot to mention that there are many other azaleas that might be much friendlier for your situation….
Here’s a couple:
Kurume = Hino Crimson,
Satsuki = Momo no Haru,
Hybrid = Bixby Dwarf

cheers
DSD sends

 

[MadSweatz]

btw I forgot to mention that there are many other azaleas that might be much friendlier for your situation….
Here’s a couple:
Kurume = Hino Crimson,
Satsuki = Momo no Haru,
Hybrid = Bixby Dwarf

cheers
DSD sends

Thank you very much, I’ll plan on picking those three up in the spring. I’m going to also try a matsunami in the spring.

 

[MadSweatz]

Just came in. I’m pretty happy with this. Thanks a lot for all of your help guys. Hopefully I can manage to keep it looking this good until spring. Definitely ordering more from Kusa.

 

[MadSweatz]

Would it be wise to slip pot this into a bigger pot to help it through the winter?

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

What method(s) are being usEd to over winter this satsuki?

cheers
DSD sends

 

[MadSweatz]

What method(s) are being usEd to over winter this satsuki?

cheers
DSD sends

At the moment the plan is to keep it in the insulated unheated attached garage by the window. So far it’s been staying on average ten degrees warmer then the outside temperatures. Then when it seeps low in February either add a heater or bring it in the house until after the last freeze. Do you think this will work ok?

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Not a fan of bringing azaleas or any outside trees in a house.

If the plan is to get more azaleas, it might be best to do it right and get the gear set up now. The little guy might be lonely this year, but it will be a good trial run for when it’s populated next year.

Just a couple examples to get you thinking. You’ll need a seed tray and high dome or something like, figure you wpuld be able to find this.

Here’s the heat mat I first started out with. 4 years and going.

Hydrofarm Jump Start MT10006, 17 Watt UL Certified Seedling Heat Mat, 8.875"x19.5", Black​

Same with these. reliable units.

Inkbird ITC-306T Pre-Wired Electronic Heating Thermostat Temperature Controller and 24 Hours Digital Day & Night Cycle Timer Controller for Seed Germination Reptiles Hatching​

cheers
DSD sends

 

[Glaucus]

I actually killed a lot of azaleas by bringing them indoors in an unheated attached garage with some light as potted plants during colder nights in zone 7b.
I believe now that it was because they got too dry. I didn't think to water them. How long would they have to stay in the unheated garage?

And in zone 5, you also cannot just heat stuff with a mat, I presume. You probably need some double-walled hoop house to at least insulate it a bit.
I would also spray against fungicide preemptively if you have stale air in winter.

Also make sure they get some chilled nights above freezing before there is an actual freeze. We don't know how winter-acclimated they already are. They look very good, though.

 

[MadSweatz]

Not a fan of bringing azaleas or any outside trees in a house.

If the plan is to get more azaleas, it might be best to do it right and get the gear set up now. The little guy might be lonely this year, but it will be a good trial run for when it’s populated next year.

Just a couple examples to get you thinking. You’ll need a seed tray and high dome or something like, figure you wpuld be able to find this.

Here’s the heat mat I first started out with. 4 years and going.

Hydrofarm Jump Start MT10006, 17 Watt UL Certified Seedling Heat Mat, 8.875"x19.5", Black​

Same with these. reliable units.

Inkbird ITC-306T Pre-Wired Electronic Heating Thermostat Temperature Controller and 24 Hours Digital Day & Night Cycle Timer Controller for Seed Germination Reptiles Hatching​

cheers
DSD sends

I’m on board with this. What do you recommend for the temperature setting on the ink bird?

 

[AnutterBonsai]

Sorry for a quick pop-in on this thread, I've purchased Wayne's materials from riverbend before and almost forgot to buy some; this thread reminded me to get some lol. Purchased Fuji-Zakura Satsuki Azalea & Utamaru Satsuki! Can't wait to get them in.

 

[MadSweatz]

I actually killed a lot of azaleas by bringing them indoors in an unheated attached garage with some light as potted plants during colder nights in zone 7b.
I believe now that it was because they got too dry. I didn't think to water them. How long would they have to stay in the unheated garage?

And in zone 5, you also cannot just heat stuff with a mat, I presume. You probably need some double-walled hoop house to at least insulate it a bit.
I would also spray against fungicide preemptively if you have stale air in winter.

Also make sure they get some chilled nights above freezing before there is an actual freeze. We don't know how winter-acclimated they already are. They look very good, though.

I think watering is usually the culprit in winter more often then the temperature. I’ve been acclimating it slowly. I’ve kept it at the lowest of 55 degrees so far. For the heating mat I believe that will actually be enough. The attached garage is pretty well insulated and doesn’t drastically drop temps like some garages do. I do plan on eventually adding a small green house to the back yard but I believe even green houses can drop temperatures quite a bit with out any heating. That’s been a whole learning curve of reading for me lately.

 

[MadSweatz]

Sorry for a quick pop-in on this thread, I've purchased Wayne's materials from riverbend before and almost forgot to buy some; this thread reminded me to get some lol. Purchased Fuji-Zakura Satsuki Azalea & Utamaru Satsuki! Can't wait to get them in.

Thank you for popping in. I’m guessing Texas has a little bit different set of challenges compared to Nebraska. Would you mind sharing where you ordered from? What temperature do you allow them for a low in the winters there?

 

[AnutterBonsai]

Thank you for popping in. I’m guessing Texas has a little bit different set of challenges compared to Nebraska. Would you mind sharing where you ordered from? What temperature do you allow them for a low in the winters there?

Here you go: https://riverbendgardens.com/product-category/default-category/plant-listings/azaleas/
He's got some great varieties and they change by year. Here is a thread I created earlier this year (https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/satsuki-from-whip-development.53693/), haven't updated it but due to my stupidity I lost two of the three, one was due to wind damage, but live and learn. Hoping the new ones I purchased get to live this time around

In regards to winter.. My azaleas stay out. We have very mild winters. So maybe one or two nights below freezing, and even then it is only for maybe just through the night or for like 7-8 hrs of freezing temps. So I dont really keep them indoors, just my tropicals and citrus tree.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

I’m on board with this. What do you recommend for the temperature setting on the ink bird?

For winter strorage the ink birds are set on 35.

For winter growing you’d also need a light. That setting is 70.

Have you seen this resource?

cheers
DSD sends