fredman
Masterpiece
No akadama either. What do you fertilise with...?
No akadama either. What do you fertilise with...?
You use kanuma which have the right acidity for azalea. Don't it make sense to use a higher sulphur for azalea when its not planted in kanuma?
That is crazy! I JUST repotted a few ground layers in three different mixtures to do a similar experiment! I did one in 100% Kanuma, one in my normal Bonsai mix- Basically a lot like Boone's mix but heavy on Akadama, and one in my "potting soil" mix- a bunch of peat and perlite with a little compost and line bark and a little grit mixed in for weight and "substance". I marked the pots with date, soil description and cultivar (all are Miyuki). I want to record info on how they grow, bloom and their health...I have found that once an azalea is in its final sized(or close) container, it really makes a difference to take the buds off at least 2 out of 3 seasons. If at all possible I try to flick the buds off with a finger rather than cut them or use a tweezer. I think that if your soil mixture works well for you, stick with it. You seem to use a lot of non-organics which really helps root development in a Satsuki. I am in the middle of two year test project which will compare azalea growth habits with different soil mixtures. It will interesting to see if it validates what I have learned over the years or maybe I will learn something new.
I've noticed a lot of bad azalea information on this forum. Let me say this:
YES, you can grow an azalea in just about any growing medium, and it will still grow. HOWEVER, Kanuma is best. Why? Because the trees grow the best in it. Do what you want, but Kobiashi wouldn't be potting his $30,000+ trees in kanuma if it didn't make a difference.
YES, you can still develop an azalea if you let if flower every year, but it will take more time to develop than when you twist the buds off.
I don't understand why certain people refuse to accept valuable and time-saving information from bonsai professionals. It makes no sense. Want to do bonsai well? Then look at what the professionals are doing, and copy them! I'm not aware of any respected bonsai professional in America still using turface for example. Gary Wood knows just about everything about growing Black Pines well, and has years of experience doing it, so listen when he says something!
Ok, my rant is over, but you get the point. People have made these mistakes before, so listen to what the current trends are and listen to the bonsai professionals you trust!
Yeah I second that Mike. It will take a few lifetimes I 'm sure...
I'm doing something terribly wrong. Look at this poor soul...I'm almost to ashamed to put up this pics (very bad azalea parenting)....Sorry for the bad last pic, but its badly under developed. Doesn't open fully and the edges of the flower is browned.
Before
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Now
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Hi Fredman,Interesting. I use Foliage Pro 9.3.6 on them. Won't a higher sulphur content liquid fertiliser be better for them?
I got quite a few from a friend 3 years ago. The first year they flowered beautifully. Very bright colours. I grow them in bonsai soil 1.1.1. composted bark, pumice and gravel (all same size...1/4inch). The last 2 years the flowers are "different".
Here is a pic from one (not satsuki but it illustrates the problem best) Its still in it original pot the last 3 years.The first pic its red (last 2 years). Second pic (this year) its pink... This one is still in its original organic soil as I got it....
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Any theories as to why it happens? What am I not doing right?
Fredman,Yeah I second that Mike. It will take a few lifetimes I 'm sure...
I'm doing something terribly wrong. Look at this poor soul...I'm almost to ashamed to put up this pics (very bad azalea parenting)....Sorry for the bad last pic, but its badly under developed. Doesn't open fully and the edges of the flower is browned.
Before
View attachment 84905
Now
View attachment 84906
There are lots of soils that would have the right acidity. Peat moss works great for azaleas, and it just happens to be one of the primary ingredients in almost every high quality potting soil known to man.You use kanuma which have the right acidity for azalea. Don't it make sense to use a higher sulphur for azalea when its not planted in kanuma?
Here is another. I have it planted in a hollowed out pumice block....
The first 2 years...
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This year
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This year the colour is paler and even the shape is different...?
The stamen seems under developed to...?
Ohh, and Turface is just fine as a COMPONENT of a mix Andrew... Just saying. I know too many people (myself included) who have grown super healthy trees for YEARS in the stuff without problems. Turface, pumice, pine bark is a super mix for Maples- had one in it for three years or so now, and it is still one of my fastest growing, happiest Maples in a Bonsai pot. I am not going to recommend it OVER Akadama, but it is cheap and works just fine... If people don't want to pay for or have trouble getting other components, turface is totally fine.
Turface = Bad for everything (tridents seem to do okay in it, but will do better in a better mix)
You will still find people debate this to their death though
The myth of kanuma being the best is just a load of crap.
Removing buds is a load of crap, too.
Maybe think for your self once and see what happens, you might be surprised.
Yep!
And that's because many people have used and are still using turface-based mixes and growing healthy trees. Andrew, did you know that some of the trees that have won awards at the National Exhibitions have been grown in turface-based mixes?