My 'Ben Oki' azalea

[cmeg1]

That is one nice photo

 

[Steve C]

Gorgeous!!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Vance...you inspired me to try this...let's see if it worked...


[video=youtube_share;no3lls9TkkQ]http://youtu.be/no3lls9TkkQ[/video]

 

[fraser67]

Nice frame Brian...when you get tired of this tree, I'd be happy to take it off your hands. Love the pot too.
Best,
Jonathan

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Growing out, slowly, but healthy.

 

[Lazylightningny]

Magnificent progression, Brian. This is the stuff that keeps me coming back. I Learned a lot.

 

[GrimLore]

Brian - I am guessing that is Ben Oki the same gentlemen that does some very nice landscape. If so does he still do personal workshops as well? Have my gears spinning here as I thought he was not anymore.

Grimmy

 

[larlamonde]

Brian I am relatively new to the site. My jaw is on the table! Fantastic job! You must be so proud.

 

[Kodama16]

Man Brian you have some nice trees! Jealous. One day I have to come give you a visit: )

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Grimmy,

I don't know if he does personal, one on one workshops, but he did a workshop for our club this January.

John

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Brian - I am guessing that is Ben Oki the same gentlemen that does some very nice landscape. If so does he still do personal workshops as well? Have my gears spinning here as I thought he was not anymore.

Grimmy

Yes, probably the same guy...his card included Japanese landscape if I recall. The website isn't maintained, but is here.
The workshop I did with him was 10 years ago, but I do think he's still around and working.

 

[Kodama16]

He's retired after this last bonsai run. I was lucky enough to get to see him on his last go around. He still working in California but he's not doing any more tours.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

This one is usually good for some nice fall color.

 

[JudyB]

So amazing with that pot! It just sings!

 

[discusmike]

Awesome progression,cant get enough of the massive blooms,are you just useing organic ferts?

 

[bdwarner]

This tree is fantastic and thanks for sharing the developement. Brian, I'm wondering if this azalea needs a winter dormancy? I think I read that this is a satsuki earlier in the thread... I'm not familiar with azaleas or the different varieties but I have been entertaining the idea of growing one for some reason I was under the impression these trees are evergreens or tropicals? It looks like yours is decidious. It would be nice to know if there was a variety that could take a good freezing.

Edit: I see now you said its a kurume.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Awesome progression,cant get enough of the massive blooms,are you just useing organic ferts?

Thanks, yes, it's on the same organic feeding regimen as the other trees.

This tree is fantastic and thanks for sharing the developement. Brian, I'm wondering if this azalea needs a winter dormancy? I think I read that this is a satsuki earlier in the thread... I'm not familiar with azaleas or the different varieties but I have been entertaining the idea of growing one for some reason I was under the impression these trees are evergreens or tropicals? It looks like yours is decidious. It would be nice to know if there was a variety that could take a good freezing.

Thanks, it is a Kurume and has taken temps down into the teens, but my Iowa buddy who has collected some from my neighborhood over winters them in his garage at 38f. They do need a dormant period, and they're semi-evergreen; meaning they lose around 70% of their leaves in the winter. Usually it hangs onto only the outer-most leaves surrounding the flower buds.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Awesome tree BVF. How can one determine if an azalea is semi-evergreen or not aside from waiting til winter?

Also, you stated you repot in spring, what time of year is best for heavier pruning and what time for wiring?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Awesome tree BVF. How can one determine if an azalea is semi-evergreen or not aside from waiting til winter?

Also, you stated you repot in spring, what time of year is best for heavier pruning and what time for wiring?

Waiting until winter is really the only way to tell, but all azaleas will lose some, to all, of their leaves in winter. We have some native "pinks" that drop all their leaves in the winter. Most azaleas retain at least some leaves for a full year, before shedding the last year's leaves in the 2nd fall.

Heavy pruning should be done just before flowering (be sure to remove all flower buds), or after the first flush has hardened off in early summer. They tend to constrict at the tips, making old branch tips thin and weak, so it's important to prune them hard every few years and start over to keep them "young", similar to how we renew roots when root-pruning at repotting.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Nice Crimson color in the winter; plays nicely with the green moss.