Will’s azalea entry 2020-25

[Deep Sea Diver]

But for cuttings, being inside and under lights is very beneficial, of course. Especially with cuttings of deciduous azaleas, if you can trick them that it is not winter, they will not lose leaves and keep growing so they can root better. I have been told that deciduous azeleas are way trickier to root. In part because they lose their leaves. I have my cuttings and seeds inside under lights. But keep your mature bonsai outside or in a greenhouse.

Best time to do deciduous cuttings would be May-June. They are tricky. We are in ground layering for best results.

IMHO Decent LED lights would help definitely help.

best DSD sends

 

[shinmai]

Yeah. Last year I used a cheap ceramic space heater. -A fan style unit with thermostat.
I plan on getting a better one this year as there where a couple times last year when it didn’t keep up and temps dropped to 28*F
In the box. It was like 10 below outside which is common enough here to risk it.

My greenhouse is six feet square and seven feet at the peak. I use a cheap box fan that runs constantly, and two space heaters on a power strip controlled by an Inkbird $35 thermostatic controller. I also have a $15 temperature sensor that transmits wirelessly to a digital display that sits on my kitchen counter. The controller allows you to set a target temperature with a +/- range. Mine is set for 37 Fahrenheit +/- 2. This keeps the trees from freezing but also provides for the requisite number of days of dormancy below 40. By using two heaters, I know that I have the capacity to meet those few nights in the teens below zero. If allowed to run at full capacity constantly they’d keep the space warm enough that I could sleep on the floor if the wife decides to boot my ass out of the house.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

If allowed to run at full capacity constantly they’d keep the space warm enough that I could sleep on the floor if the wife decides to boot my ass out of the house.

Hmm.. hope you have a sleeping bag just in case!
Best
DSD sends

 

[Eckhoffw]

I’m reakin’ the last shots before leaf drop.

 

[Eckhoffw]

reakin’

Thinking.

 

[Pitoon]

Little update.
Nice low budding occurring. I would rate the extent of pruning I’ve done on this since View attachment 328593purchasing this spring =moderate.
View attachment 328592
getting fuller and buds forming.
View attachment 328594

I think this would look fantastic in a small drum pot

 

[Eckhoffw]

I think this would look fantastic in a small drum pot

Absolutely! Thanks for the recommendation

 

[Eckhoffw]

The last leaves have dropped and I figured I’d get some naked pics for the first time.

Like @Leo in N E Illinois noted, these sure do have longgggg then short internodes. I’m trying to devise a plan of attack on those long straight sections!

 

[Pitoon]

Spring is here and your azalea could be blooming (depending on your location) or starting to leaf out with this season’s flush……it’s time for updates!

I would also like to add at this time we have 3 prizes to award. Many thanks to @Forsoothe! and @Deep Sea Diver for donating. I am also donating a prize as well.

If you are no longer interested in continuing in the Azalea Contest, please let me know so we can close your thread, thanks.

 

[Eckhoffw]

Photo update:
No flowers yet. We will see.

 

[Pitoon]

Good growth, but I don't see any flower buds.

 

[Eckhoffw]

Good growth, but I don't see any flower buds.

Yeah. Just a few. Lots of flower last year, but maybe a result of messing with it.

 

[Pitoon]

Depending when you prune you will prune the future buds. A safe practice is not to prune after July if you want to see flowers the following year.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Looks like the makings of a great forest!

Happy Friday!
DSD sends

 

[Eckhoffw]

Small showing this year.
thinking about a small prune.

Also, -not a contest entry- this Azalea x Karen I put in the ground last fall. Was soo excited to see these flowers pop last week!

 

[Eckhoffw]

Well. My White lights doesn’t seem to be looking so good.
Like some of my other deciduous plants it did not drop all of its leaves either. (Apple forest from seed entry next to azalea)

Just looks beat up. I do know some branches are broken off by squirrels, but I don’t know, not a lot of flower buds either. And the flower buds that are present look as if they’ve been nawed on or perhaps tried to open already.
I do like the way the clump is coming along though.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Hmm… it doesn’t look perky, leaf wise, but it is deciduous.

The ‘pruned’ twigs look exactly like my azaleas do when the rabbits show up. Is your azalea accessible?
I’ve been chasing the rascals hither and yon in the past month…. At night with a flashlight in the rain… my wife keeps trying to video me… but both of the rabbits and I are too fast

The squirrels don’t seem to like the azaleas here, but I don’t have but a small handful of deciduous azaleas and these are in the cold frame.

Maybe good news as the impromptu pruning might help with ramification in the next year though!

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Eckhoffw]

Hmm… it doesn’t look perky, leaf wise, but it is deciduous.

The ‘pruned’ twigs look exactly like my azaleas do when the rabbits show up. Is your azalea accessible?
I’ve been chasing the rascals hither and yon in the past month…. At night with a flashlight in the rain… my wife keeps trying to video me… but both of the rabbits and I are too fast

The squirrels don’t seem to like the azaleas here, but I don’t have but a small handful of deciduous azaleas and these are in the cold frame.

Maybe good news as the impromptu pruning might help with ramification in the next year though!

Cheers
DSD sends

yes, that’s what I’m hoping for. The rascals shouldn’t be able to get at it in the garage cold frame now.

 

[Eckhoffw]

Update.
once again no flowers. I should really keep better track of my pruning habits. I believe I prune off the flower buds each year.
That’s ok. I’m focusing on compacting this one as much as I can. Then maybe I will let it alone for a year and see if flowers come. After flowers drop from my 2 newly acquired Mandarin lights.
I will cut back again.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Very healthy looking azalea there! Well done!

If you are going to cut back again with goal to be a clump, perhaps be particular when reducing inside and perhaps just hedge prune to shape. If you do this now, likely it will flower well this year… if that is a goal.

Cheers
DSD sends

Btw, Being oldish I’m having a bit of trouble tracking which is which azalea.