I NEED HELP WITH MY AZALEA

[Dav4]

This tree looks extremely weak and I'm not feeling good about it's prognosis. In my experience with potted azaleas, and specifically satsuki, once a tree looks and behaves like this, it's already fallen off the cliff. Personally, I suspect a root issue. A fungicide root drench may be your only option, along with very careful siting and watering. Good luck, but I wouldn't expect this one to make it.

 

[steve27]

That's what we all say.

That's what we all say.

No you really are a asshole!!

 

[steve27]

This tree looks extremely weak and I'm not feeling good about it's prognosis. In my experience with potted azaleas, and specifically satsuki, once a tree looks and behaves like this, it's already fallen off the cliff. Personally, I suspect a root issue. A fungicide root drench may be your only option, along with very careful siting and watering. Good luck, but I wouldn't expect this one to make it.

Thank you! I kind of thought that was hoping I could save it. What do you suggest I use as a root drench

 

[0soyoung]

If you have nothing constructive to add, mind your own damn buisness instead of being as asshole.

Steve couldn't post pics for some reason. He emailed them to me. I'll post them later when I get back to my computer at home

Max photo size is 1 Meg. Lacking a photo editing app. or ability to lower the resolution of photos the phone takes, people have emailed photos to themselves to reduce the photo file size.

 

[Dav4]

Thank you! I kind of thought that was hoping I could save it. What do you suggest I use as a root drench

Well, if osoyoung comes up from cover, he might be able to tell you about using a hydrogen peroxide drench, or you could search for info here or elsewhere. I've honestly never had a chance to use a fungicide drench as the azaleas kicked the bucket so quickly, it wouldn't have helped.

 

[Eric Group]

This looks like a tree that was weak and then pushed to the edge by a repot when it was not at peak health. I don't know that any drastic treatments are going to help at this point. When even the old leaves whither on these guys, and the new buds fade before opening... they are likely going to either die, or completely defoliate, make you THINK they are dead and then suddenly start growing again a few months later... I have had that happen more than once with azaleas- so don't throw it away! The roots are not supporting the growth for whatever reason right now, but if there is any life left, it may well push some new roots this year and late in the summer/ early fall or next Spring it may surprise you! MAYBE...

I try to cut mine back in stages now Avoid the "SADS"= sudden azalea death syndrome. If you leave a decent amount of growth LEFT HIGH ON THE TREE when you cut back they seem to bounce back faster and more reliably in my experience.. When you cut them down to almost no or absolutely no foliage at all, SOMETIMES they just punk out and die... It has to do more with the original health of the plant and the after care than anything IMO.

Just looking at the aged signs of distress on this tree I suspect it was not in supreme health prior to the pruning and repot.

 

[Eric Group]

I post on this forum on my iPhone. I tend to write rather terse. Damn phone auto misspells half what I type, so I "speak" rather bluntly.

I'm usually a pretty nice guy!

I am sure you are a great guy Adair, I was just giving you a little good natured ribbing! Please don't take it the wrong way. I look forward to meeting you in person one day and I am sure we will get along royally!

 

[Paradox]

No you really are a asshole!!

Wrong guy Steve...lol

 

[Paradox]

This tree looks extremely weak and I'm not feeling good about it's prognosis. In my experience with potted azaleas, and specifically satsuki, once a tree looks and behaves like this, it's already fallen off the cliff. Personally, I suspect a root issue. A fungicide root drench may be your only option, along with very careful siting and watering. Good luck, but I wouldn't expect this one to make it.

So do you think this is a fungus or root rot or ?

 

[Dav4]

So do you think this is a fungus or root rot or ?

Well, it could be, and it's really the only thing that can be addressed in any way at the moment.

 

[barrosinc]

So do you think this is a fungus or root rot or ?

With azaleas I usually get black tips from root rot. I have had some bounce back from a state like that, but most of my azaleas didn't get a second chance.

 

[M. Frary]

No you really are a asshole!!

It's my gift.

 

[steve27]

This looks like a tree that was weak and then pushed to the edge by a repot when it was not at peak health. I don't know that any drastic treatments are going to help at this point. When even the old leaves whither on these guys, and the new buds fade before opening... they are likely going to either die, or completely defoliate, make you THINK they are dead and then suddenly start growing again a few months later... I have had that happen more than once with azaleas- so don't throw it away! The roots are not supporting the growth for whatever reason right now, but if there is any life left, it may well push some new roots this year and late in the summer/ early fall or next Spring it may surprise you! MAYBE...

I try to cut mine back in stages now Avoid the "SADS"= sudden azalea death syndrome. If you leave a decent amount of growth LEFT HIGH ON THE TREE when you cut back they seem to bounce back faster and more reliably in my experience.. When you cut them down to almost no or absolutely no foliage at all, SOMETIMES they just punk out and die... It has to do more with the original health of the plant and the after care than anything IMO.

Just looking at the aged signs of distress on this tree I suspect it was not in supreme health prior to the pruning and repot.

I actually repotting it 2 season ago and it did fine. All I did was cut a big branch off before it bloom this spring. Waited for it to finish blooming and cut back some more . And this is the result of what's happening with the new growth

 

[Eric Group]

I actually repotting it 2 season ago and it did fine. All I did was cut a big branch off before it bloom this spring. Waited for it to finish blooming and cut back some more . And this is the result of what's happening with the new growth

Right, going back to my first post... It can take some time for weakness to build up if the roots were not properly integrated into the new soil! Only a very healthy vigorous azalea will respond to a big cut back with lots of new growth...