New Azalea

[Carol 83]

I just got this azalea last week from Brussel's via Amazon. The soil is unusually hard, like rock hard. I have been watering twice a day, and have even considered soaking it, to make sure the root ball doesn't dry out. The flowers are fading, so I have been pinching them off, and the tree itself doesn't seem to be showing any distress. I received a BRT from them at the same time, and the soil is very different. I have e-mailed Brussel's to get their take on the soil, but have not received a reply. I had no intention of repotting, nor I do I want to. It is really wired into the pot. Maybe, I am being over cautious, but that soil does not seem right, it is not free draining, takes a while to soak in. Any thoughts?

 

[GrimLore]

Put it in the sink and let it soak in a few inches of water slightly deep then the top of the rim for 3 - 4 hours.
Take it out and observe if it is draining at all.
Take a skewer and run it trough the wet soil to the base(aerate)
Use the same skewer to make certain the drain hole(s) are not plugged.
Put it outside and water it - should flow...

Grimmy

 

[Carol 83]

Put it in the sink and let it soak in a few inches of water slightly deep then the top of the rim for 3 - 4 hours.
Take it out and observe if it is draining at all.
Take a skewer and run it trough the wet soil to the base(aerate)
Use the same skewer to make certain the drain hole(s) are not plugged.
Put it outside and water it - should flow...

Grimmy

Will do, as soon as I get home from work. Thanks Grimmy!

 

[my nellie]

Some days ago I bought an azalea, too. Ordinary nursery plant from the annual flower show. In reality consists of three individual plants into the same pot I suspect....
I had the same problem with the soil. I watered twice daily and the hard soil didn't seem to keep any moisture.
First thing I did was to remove all the flowers and they were numerous!
Even if the time is not at all appropriate, after some days I took it out of the pot and immersed it into a bucket full of water and I started untangling the fine roots and removing as gently as possible that awful compacted material off the roots.
It took me 1,5 hours to finish and all the work was done by hands and into the water. Potted in suitable bonsai mix and wrapped into clear plastic bag. Most probably the plant is gone but it would die somehow or other during the hot summer here if left in that hard medium....

 

[GrimLore]

Will do, as soon as I get home from work. Thanks Grimmy!

Go slow and gentle with the skewer and do a bunch of holes - I figure 50 for that pot... The roots are like a hair ball, fine and such but do handle gentle work nicely. I read you are pinching off the dead flowers and that is ok but many varieties will throw a lot of new growth if you just remove the petals and wait for the buds to dry out before gentle removal - once dry they come off easily by hand. I have had more then one start putting out a whole new flush of growth at that removal point within days.
If that soil is "bricked" the plant needs to be removed by soaking and repotted but do not do that without calling me as it is a bit tricky off season. There is also the option at that point of requesting a replacement but I am pretty certain you can work it out as I stated earlier.

Grimmy

 

[Cadillactaste]

@GrimLore my Satsuki book states to deadhead...when the bloom wilts. To leave on can steal next year's blooms it says. Could Satsuki be different than regular azalea then?

 

[my nellie]

... ... I have had more then one start putting out a whole new flush of growth at that removal point within days... ...

Yes, of course you're correct Grimmy.
I will add that in addition to all the above I also gave a pruning to mine. I really did cracked it

IF it ever lives I will call it "Lazarus"

 

[Cadillactaste]

Well, the one I got from Don Blackmond I know doesn't send out more blooms. Scott told me I left it go way to long and could jeopardize next year's blooms. That was when I bought the book.

 

[GrimLore]

Well, the one I got from Don Blackmond I know doesn't send out more blooms. Scott told me I left it go way to long and could jeopardize next year's blooms. That was when I bought the book.

Not a second flush of blooms - a flush of new foliage and branch that will set even more buds for next Spring/Summer.
When the camera battery charges I will show two photos of a Rhode to show what I mean. I have noticed over the years that many Azalea(pretty much the same damn plant) do the same and I will test it this year on a Satsuki as I don't have pictures of any old ones to show the growth.

Grimmy

 

[Cadillactaste]

Not a second flush of blooms - a flush of new foliage and branch that will set even more buds for next Spring/Summer.
When the camera battery charges I will show two photos of a Rhode to show what I mean. I have noticed over the years that many Azalea(pretty much the same damn plant) do the same and I will test it this year on a Satsuki as I don't have pictures of any old ones to show the growth.

Grimmy

Ahhhh my mind must be shutting down. I've not grasp two things since I got done with errands in town. Thought Stacy was back...and this.

 

[Carol 83]

@GrimLore I didn't actually pinch off all of the whole buds, more like just pulled the petals, off so perhaps I will see that flush of growth? I will report back after the soaking and skewering, hopefully that will work. I haven't had the best of luck with azaleas, only got this one because it was on sale, I had a credit, and I am a sucker for flowers! I really don't want to attempt a repot at this time. Fingers crossed, and thanks again!

 

[GrimLore]

I didn't actually pinch off all of the whole buds, more like just pulled the petals, off so perhaps I will see that flush of growth?

When the remaining buds dry off(it only takes a few days) they will be very easy to pull off, if not let them go a few more days. I do exactly what you did with petals and follow up with the dried bud removal

Grimmy

 

[petegreg]

When the remaining buds dry off(it only takes a few days) they will be very easy to pull off...

...and that's the best or second best time to repot satsuki azaleas. If the soil can't take water, what will happen till next spring? Bonsai soil with addition of kanuma or 100% kanuma works well.

I just got this azalea last week from Brussel's via Amazon. The soil is unusually hard, like rock hard. I have been watering twice a day, and have even considered soaking it, to make sure the root ball doesn't dry out. The flowers are fading, so I have been pinching them off, and the tree itself doesn't seem to be showing any distress. I received a BRT from them at the same time, and the soil is very different. I have e-mailed Brussel's to get their take on the soil, but have not received a reply. I had no intention of repotting, nor I do I want to. It is really wired into the pot. Maybe, I am being over cautious, but that soil does not seem right, it is not free draining, takes a while to soak in. Any thoughts?View attachment 146013

That moss can be the issue. I would remove it from the top of soil. If you want to keep it, try misting the top of moss right before watering.

 

[Carol 83]

I soaked for three hours, so you would think the skewer would slide right through, but it was very difficult in some places. On the bright side, when I watered outside, water did flow freely through the drain holes.

 

[augustine]

You can remove from pot and use garden hose to gently remove some of the soil. The roots can be GENTLY teased on the bottom and sides.
Repot and fill in the space with good bonsai soil. This will help but you'll still probably have to be careful that the rootball gets enough water. this is called slip potting. You are not cutting roots. Rewire the plant into the container.

Remove the wilted flowers and the ovaries so seed is not produced. You can prune after flowering but just lightly because you may have caused a bit of stress from removal and repotting process.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

@GrimLore I didn't actually pinch off all of the whole buds, more like just pulled the petals, off so perhaps I will see that flush of growth? I will report back after the soaking and skewering, hopefully that will work. I haven't had the best of luck with azaleas, only got this one because it was on sale, I had a credit, and I am a sucker for flowers! I really don't want to attempt a repot at this time. Fingers crossed, and thanks again!

Satsukis put out a flush of growth around the bud before it opens, usually three to five (I have seen 6 on some) "stems" with two or three pairs of leaves. If you look closely at the picture in the OP you can see this. That flush is done, other that the growth further extending. What is usually done is, after the flowers are removed, two of the stems are selected and trimmed to one or two pairs of leaves, the other stems are cut off. I sometimes do this before the buds open to show the flowers better. Wire the ones you kept if needed. The trimming of that growth will stimulate a second flush of growth. Rub off any buds that appear where you don't want/need them, there should be many. Let that grow out and cut back to 2 sets of leaves and it will flush again. Don't trim any more after the middle of july it you want flowers. The next seasons flowers will form on the ends of the new growth.

If you don't trim those first stems or branchlets, they will continue to elongate and the azalea will get leggy.

You can use the skewer that Grimmy mentioned and after you stick it through to the bottom of the pot, work it in (gently) in a circular motion and enlarge the hole to dime or nickel size and then fill the hole with new substrate. I have done this on a few that I did not have time to repot and it worked fine.

 

[Carol 83]

Satsukis put out a flush of growth around the bud before it opens, usually three to five (I have seen 6 on some) "stems" with two or three pairs of leaves. If you look closely at the picture in the OP you can see this. That flush is done, other that the growth further extending. What is usually done is, after the flowers are removed, two of the stems are selected and trimmed to one or two pairs of leaves, the other stems are cut off. I sometimes do this before the buds open to show the flowers better. Wire the ones you kept if needed. The trimming of that growth will stimulate a second flush of growth. Rub off any buds that appear where you don't want/need them, there should be many. Let that grow out and cut back to 2 sets of leaves and it will flush again. Don't trim any more after the middle of july it you want flowers. The next seasons flowers will form on the ends of the new growth.

If you don't trim those first stems or branchlets, they will continue to elongate and the azalea will get leggy.

You can use the skewer that Grimmy mentioned and after you stick it through to the bottom of the pot, work it in (gently) in a circular motion and enlarge the hole to dime or nickel size and then fill the hole with new substrate. I have done this on a few that I did not have time to repot and it worked fine.

Thank you very much for taking the time to explain all of that. I have printed it off to use as reference when I attempt your instructions. My little stick could never hold a candle to any of your beautiful azaleas, but I would like to keep it alive.

 

[PeaceLoveBonsai]

Hey @Carol 83 , I have one of those from Brussels! I got it as a Xmas present 12/15. The soil was hard as a rock, but I didn't do much but water it on a regular basis. It bloomed for me in the spring of 2016, I cut it back and it responded well. Then I repotted this spring. It bloomed for me again, and I've since cut it back. FWIW, I have two trees from Brussels (this azeala and a small trident), both came in super hard soil, but both are still alive and I really didn't do much but water and overwinter in my garage. I think you and I are pretty close as far as zones, so it should do well for you on the other side of the STL. Hope that helps!

Here's some pix, not much to look at it, I know, But it's still alive...so I'm happy about that!


Pic are as follows: as i received it, first blooms, cut back in spring of 16, blooms this year, cut back this year

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Thank you very much for taking the time to explain all of that. I have printed it off to use as reference when I attempt your instructions. My little stick could never hold a candle to any of your beautiful azaleas, but I would like to keep it alive.

Your welcome, and, your azalea is beautiful also. Many of mine started the size of yours; it just takes some wire, pruning, oh, and a little time.

 

[Carol 83]

Hey @Carol 83 , I have one of those from Brussels! I got it as a Xmas present 12/15. The soil was hard as a rock, but I didn't do much but water it on a regular basis. It bloomed for me in the spring of 2016, I cut it back and it responded well. Then I repotted this spring. It bloomed for me again, and I've since cut it back. FWIW, I have two trees from Brussels (this azeala and a small trident), both came in super hard soil, but both are still alive and I really didn't do much but water and overwinter in my garage. I think you and I are pretty close as far as zones, so it should do well for you on the other side of the STL. Hope that helps!

Here's some pix, not much to look at it, I know, But it's still alive...so I'm happy about that!


Pic are as follows: as i received it, first blooms, cut back in spring of 16, blooms this year, cut back this year


View attachment 146136 View attachment 146137 View attachment 146138 View attachment 146139 View attachment 146140

Great, thanks and good to know. I'm basically only a half hour or so from St Louis. Glad you mentioned the garage thing, saved me having to ask what to do with it in the winter! I brought a small unknown variety of azalea in under the lights last winter. That didn't work out so well.... Yours is looking good, glad to hear the hard soil wasn't a death sentence. The soaking and skewering suggested by Grimmy, seemed to really increase the drainage.