PBA azalea

[rockm]

So I visited David Kreutz at the PBA show, and that's the reason I ran out of cash...

The money pit is below It's a Shiroebisu satsuki imported from Japan in January.

Although David was very helpful with care and other instructions, since this is my first import azalea, I was wondering if others can help with care, pruning, ect. I have particular concerns about overwintering it here in Virginia. Any tips from folks who have similar satsukis in similar climates? Shelter from hard freezes, etc.?

 

[Redwood Ryan]

I don't have any protection tips, but I just wanted to mention just how many azaleas there were at the show. Tons of them, really nice $600 ones too. This one looks just as nice as some of the others that were there, too.

 

[rockm]

I was there early Friday morning at the opening. I can say David's table was among the busiest with SERIOUS buyers. Saw a few $600 plants go in the first hour...

 

[Redwood Ryan]

I was there early Friday morning at the opening. I can say David's table was among the busiest with SERIOUS buyers. Saw a few $600 plants go in the first hour...

Was his table the one with the exposed root azaleas? Those were incredible.

 

[rockm]

Yeah, that was him.

 

[Harunobu]

Unheated greenhouse is best. They take frost but how they take hard frost is hard to predict in individual cases.
Make sure to water a lot in summer. They like their roots moist and cool. This one is almost surely in kanuma substrate making it basically impossible to overwater. In Japan they get the crazy rains in June and they don't get root rot in kanuma soil.

The basic maintenance pruning is to prune back to 2 shoots with 2 leaves each.

 

[Dav4]

Nice azalea, Mark. Was this tree imported this past winter, and bare rooted as well? If so, it looks like it came through without a hitch. If this tree was bare rooted this past winter, I wouldn't prune it at all this season. I'd rather let it grow wild and recover from the bare rooting. Overwintering may be a bit problematic. My azaleas have seen single digits F, freeze solid every winter, and don't mind, but they will likely never see the sustained cold your tree may experience in VA. Even here in GA, I've had winter wind burn on the foliage, so keeping them out of any wind is essential when the soil is frozen. I would guess an outbuilding or garage would work, but I have no experience doing this with azaleas. I believe Bill S, a member here, has kept them in zone 5 MA for years...I think he overwinters his in a breezeway. Good luck, and let's see a pic if it flowers.

 

[Poink88]

Nice Azalea...congrats!!!

 

[misfit11]

Nice acquisition, rockm! I don't have any azaleas but I'm thinking more and more that I want one. Darren Wong did a demo on one at REBS recently that he'd imported from Japan. He apparently goes over there a couple times a year to work with his teacher. He talked about the quarantine process and everything they go through before they can be shipped to the U.S. Pretty interesting stuff. The tree was pretty nice, too! I wish I'd won the raffle...

Here is the newsletter write-up of the demo if you're interested:

http://www.rebsbonsai.org/April 2013 newsletter.pdf

BTW, do you happen to know the variety of your satsuki? I know some of them have smaller flowers that seem to be nice for shohin. Also, how big is this guy?

Cory

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Nice pick up. I'd add to Dave's comments to keep a close eye for lace bugs; check the undersides of leaves, and most often when the tree is dry and in sun. Some shade and regular misting helps keep them off my kurume.

I've seen a few satsukis here rot from too much water...they seem to be a little pickier than kurumes and indicas. I do not have one in a pot, but some of our seasoned members here tend to avoid them because of their fickleness.

 

[rockm]

The shohin-sized tree (about 8 inches tall and as many wide) is in pure kanuma. It was barerooted upon import last January. Dave Kreutz also said to leave it be this year (no pruning, etc) to let it recover. It has a ton of new growth, so it seems to have at least a little momentum.

I have a semi-covered cold pit in the backyard that I've overwintered other azaleas in, including a dwarf azalea I got from Julian Adams. It came through the winter OK.

The variety is Shiro Ebisu, a doubleish flowered white variety.
http://bonsaispecials.nl/mob/Shiro-Ebisu.html
http://www.herons.co.uk/Product-10773

 

[mcpesq817]

I've seen a few satsukis here rot from too much water...they seem to be a little pickier than kurumes and indicas. I do not have one in a pot, but some of our seasoned members here tend to avoid them because of their fickleness.

Funny you say that Brian. I had two nice azaleas smaller than what rockm just bought, and each one did well until the second winter in my garage. Even planted in pure kanuma, they started getting black leaves and just died before spring came. I'm very hesitant to start buying any until I am a little more confident in overwintering them. It's interesting because they are the only plants that I have problems overwintering (using a detached insulated garage).

 

[Beng]

If satsukis leaves get wet on a regular basis and stay wet for considerable periods they will die. If the roots are in pure kanuma you'll have no problems as long as the foliage stays dry. A little water on the foliage won't hurt it in the morning of a sunny day though.

It's some kind of fungus that attacks the leaves. A drenching of the leaves and roots with 2 tbsp of Epsom salt and 2 tbsp of chelated iron and zink will help most sick azaleas ESP if they're cloratic , or if its a root problem. It also helps acidify bad soil.

 

[october]

Beautiful tree. I have also noticed about the too much water. Mine seems to get a little stressed every now and then, but it usually pulls out of it. Usually, a repot to ensure drainage and only watering when necessary puts the tree on the road back to health.

As far as winter, I don't think extreme cold for long periods of time are good. I would watch out for teens or lower temps. As Harunobo points out, it might depend on the tree.

Rob

 

[Harunobu]

'Shiroebisu' is a white sport of 'Wakaebisu'. You have that one a lot in the nursery industry in the US, I hear. So it's the same plant otherwise.

 

[rockm]

Update: this satsuki spent the winter only under a few inches of mulch in the backyard. Got down below zero more than a few times in Jan. and Feb. I covered the top with snow when it was available. Fully expected a dead azalea this spring, but it has put on the best show of flowers since I've had it and is pushing new growth. Didn't think satsuki were supposed to be that winter hardy.

 

[j evans]

Wow......no WOW what a great plant. I'd drop the temperature in my house and stand guard over it. Guess I need to get better stuff. Congratulations on a great tree

Jamie

 

[GrimLore]

Didn't think satsuki were supposed to be that winter hardy.

Very nice! For the record I am pretty certain no matter where you are in Fairfax that should Winter well unless you are in the coldest of Zones. Thank you for sharing!

Grimmy

 

[lordy]

Sweet little tree Rock. I signed up for a satsuki workshop at the ABS Symposium with David Knittle in June. I hope I come home with something even CLOSE to yours.

 

[Eric Group]

Wow... A chunky little trunk on an Azalea with movement that exaggerated and well balanced is rare- You got a good one there! This tree is ready for prime time man. Get that sucker in a proper bonsai pot ASAP please!