Will’s azalea entry 2020-25

[Eckhoffw]

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.

Thank you!
Yes, I definitely want this to be a clump.
Do you think I can tip prune/hedge prune now?
This one is the white lights azalea for the 5 year challenge.
The other 2 -mandarin lights azaleas-are for the yard. One I have in the planter in front. The other may end up in the ground somewhere.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

So…Northern White Lights azalea…. ?

Prune early summer…

Check out this link. https://www.rhododendron.org/pruning.htm

Good luck
DSD sends

 

[Eckhoffw]

So…Northern White Lights azalea…. ?

Prune early summer…

Check out this link. https://www.rhododendron.org/pruning.htm

Good luck
DSD sends

Yep. Northern white lights.
thanks soo much for the link!
Very helpful!

 

[Eckhoffw]

Update.
The Flowers were pretty much finished on my other two magenta lights azaleas. I noticed some infestations on them. Little black dots on the leaves and Little green worms. From the google, it sounds like azalea sawfly. They definitely did some damage. I checked my White lights Azalea, and the pests did exist although in far less numbers.

I figured it was a good time to prune.
It looks a little sparse now. I hope to shorten some of those oooh so long internodes.
Back budding is present. However it always seems to be in the wrong place. Beauty night tonight.

 

[Eckhoffw]

And it’s gone.
Ahhhh!
My reasoning is;
- this plant along with many others got fried big time mid July.
Afterwords I put it in good shade but I believe it stayed too wet. I let off on watering, but was too late.
Pot is still waterlogged and substrate is muddy.

there is some green left in parts, but I’m not holding much hope for it.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

So sorry to see this! You were on a roll there.

Sadly
DSD sends

 

[Eckhoffw]

You were on a roll there.

Well I’m not sure about that!

But thanks! I did like where it was headed. I think I will up my soil game next time around.
The calcined clay soil mix in there definitely broke down over the 2+ years.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

You got it to flush well, That counts for a lot.

Next time you might consider Northern Lights again. Or…

Just a thought ….try to hunt around and see if you could find a Bixby Dwarf (-20F) azalea. It’s a Mezitt hybrid. I’ve been testing one for a couple years bonsai use and it really has all the qualities to make a good cold hardy tree.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[BrightsideB]

I got those dollar store colanders too!

 

[Eckhoffw]

You got it to flush well, That counts for a lot.

Next time you might consider Northern Lights again. Or…

Just a thought ….try to hunt around and see if you could find a Bixby Dwarf (-20F) azalea. It’s a Mezitt hybrid. I’ve been testing one for a couple years bonsai use and it really has all the qualities to make a good cold hardy tree.

Cheers
DSD sends

Thanks for the suggestion!
I will definitely be on the lookout for one!