When To Repot An Azalea After Flowering

[backroadstraveler]

I originally posed this question to @Giga. He gave me great information, but then suggested that I start a thread. So here is my question I posed to him.

The red azalea I bought from you is really doing well. It had beautiful red flowers all over it. The last flower is about to fade away, which brings me to my question. How long after the last flower do I need to wait before repotting and trimming the tree? I was going to repot it into straight kanuma soil. Or should I mix the kanuma with some other component? Thanks for the great azalea, and for all of your help!

 

[Giga]

Here's a good guide on prune if your unsure
http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/AT Azalea Bonsai Pruning.html

- I honestly wouldn't re-pot it right now. Generally you re-pot as soon as flowers start to fade or before they pop. But if the tree is still growing strong then there is no reason to re-pot. The thing about re-potting, is that you should only re-pot if you see signs that the tree really needs it not just bases on a time table. It's just something that comes with time you can see when a tree really needs it or it can wait. A soil with kanuma or a mix is both fine - whatever works for you. I honestly don't use it much and use fertilizer to give it a acid feed. I honestly don't remember how long that tree has been in that pot but you can gently pull it out, lightly scrape the outside of the root ball, top and bottom, then refill the soil with a kanuma mix and the tree will be happy and not really stress of a full bareroot.


my original response, feel free to add to this but pictures would do wonders!

 

[Adair M]

Immediately.

The question is, why are you repotting?

Pictures would help.

And it IS a good time to cut back, too.

 

[backroadstraveler]

Immediately.

The question is, why are you repotting?

Pictures would help.

And it IS a good time to cut back, too.

Thanks for the advice! I did repot it a few days ago, and cut it back. @Giga had basically the same advice, with the emphasis on to think about why I was repotting it. I wanted to repot it now, so it would have better drainage. I wasn't sure when it was last repotted, and it wasn't draining well, so I thought it may have been pot bound. It really wasn't that pot bound, the soil had just compacted.

On a side note: I was thinking of changing from osemocote to Miracid for my azalea fertilizer. Any thoughts? Thanks again for your help @Adair M

 

[backroadstraveler]

@Giga @Adair M Here are those pics of before the flowers begin to fade.

 

[Adair M]

Both ferts are good. The time to cut back is now.

 

[backroadstraveler]

@Adair M @Giga here are a couple of pics after the repot and cut back. Thanks for your help!

 

[Adair M]

Now cut off the leaves than hang down from the bottom of the branches.

 

[backroadstraveler]

Now cut off the leaves than hang down from the bottom of the branches.

Will do! Wow you actually learn things when you participate in the forums! . Thanks again!

 

[backroadstraveler]

Oh yeah, as far as fertilizer goes, I decided to go with Sumo Cakes acidic blend.

 

[Giga]

Now cut off the leaves than hang down from the bottom of the branches.

I was developing a few pads there - do this on the pads and it will really stand out

 

[GrimLore]

Oh yeah, as far as fertilizer goes, I decided to go with Sumo Cakes acidic blend.

Here in Organic Mix I use the Jack's 20-20-20 with Micronutrients and buff the soil with a water through of 2 tablespoons of Sulfur to 1 gallon of water every couple of weeks during growing season. I find that they do not need a lot of fertilizer and give them far less then trees.

Grimmy

 

[backroadstraveler]

Here in Organic Mix I use the Jack's 20-20-20 with Micronutrients and buff the soil with a water through of 2 tablespoons of Sulfur to 1 gallon of water every couple of weeks during growing season. I find that they do not need a lot of fertilizer and give them far less then trees.

Grimmy

Thanks Grimmy! I'll look into that.