Linn01's 2020-2025 azalea entry

I got one exactly like that from Esveld as well. Sadly, they weren't able to tell me what the origins of this variety are. 'Crespiflorum' appears in the old botany books as a drawing.
Very long shoots that made me wonder how they grow these, indoors or what.

If it wants to grow shoots that long once more, definitely prune them early.
 
One could make some really nice whips with those shoots.
 
Yes, I have about 8 cuttings or so of this variety. But I kinda want to use them for an experiment. Pretty sure I cut in half the shoots I pruned.
It is narrow leaved so very much like an R.indicum. But compared to 'Kozan' or 'Osakazuki', it must grow very fast. Having shoots 30cm long in the Netherlands is unusual. My 'Cripsiflorum' grew plenty in 2021, but not quite 30cm. It for sure needs a prune in 2022. Flowers are double and purple. Not very special or unusual. Or Esveld magic. Like I said in another thread, Dutch azalea nurseries are on top of their game. The only problem is that they don't grow a wide range of satsuki and modern US varieties.
 
Good start!

At this point I’d go back and shave the chops smooth and cut paste. Azalea chops heal fastest if done very slightly convex to the surface.

Finally if one goes to all the work to do a bare root on an azalea, it’s best to do it complete . It’s a pain, I know, I’ve done over 30 nursery 3-5 yoa azaleas the last month. Yet it’s well worth The effort. We lost a really big donated satsuki at the museum years back. It was planted in Kanuma and acted poorly over the next couple years after receipt. The team finally decided to get into its root ball and see what was going on. Only to find soggy smelly field soil in the core. Too late to save it….

cheers
DSD sends
 
Last edited:
Chop smoothing done. Had to use quite a lot of cut paste though. About the bare rooting: will do a complete one next repotting. Wait a few years or better to do it next year again?
 

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Sorry…. I had to go out and find a tree that wasn’t worked yet to show you. Here’s an example.

Before5A9762E9-54A7-4393-9A2B-36AA49E59703.jpeg

After carving down
8F3A72C3-FD48-41F5-8D85-CAA3E84F032B.jpeg

After putty - feather the edges with wet fingers, to cover past the margins

C2260FDF-B8EF-41AA-8783-42B86F10EA84.jpeg

I just leave it on, replacing as needed. Rarely scratching the edges. It takes awhile to seal, depending on the cultivar.

Cheers
DSD sends
 
Tnx! That is a lot of paste. Seems I have to be more generous then. And more thorough in carving.
 
Yep. Shaving down the angular spots helps lend credibility to the design.

Smooth bumps and concavities are often found on older Satsuki due to loss of branching, weathering and irregular growth. The lower area I pared down in the example would of been fine over the years. Yet it did make a good example. 😉

btw a good inexpensive book, Japanese Satsuki Azaleas by Watanabe illustrates many Satsuki techniques. It’s available at Bonsai Tonight.

Cheers
DSD sends
 
:confused: Tree died. Can I try again with a new azalea entry? I've got a candidate already.
 
:confused: Tree died. Can I try again with a new azalea entry? I've got a candidate already.
Yes, continue on with your new entry on this same thread. Remember to post pics of the starting material before you start the pruning.
 
Wow!

That’s a find… and quite the fun project all at once.

One suggestion…..one might add some Kanuma up over the roots and then put mountain (Yamagoke) or Sphagnum moss over the roots to keep them happy and productive.

So like this:

image.jpg

Keep in mind that protecting the top 1/3 of the media is key.

Congratulations and Cheers
DSD sends
 
Wow!

That’s a find… and quite the fun project all at once.

One suggestion…..one might add some Kanuma up over the roots and then put mountain (Yamagoke) or Sphagnum moss over the roots to keep them happy and productive.

So like this:

View attachment 458155

Keep in mind that protecting the top 1/3 of the media is key.

Congratulations and Cheers
DSD sends
I followed your instructions DSD. :) No sphagum but home grown moss. Would that also do the trick?

IMG_20221005_115948.jpgIMG_20221005_115952.jpg
 
If you purchased it as is, then this is considered a pre-bonsai and not raw stock. If you want to continue on with the contest you will need to start with raw stock. Your current entry will not be considered. There will be prizes at the end of this and members have started the contest with raw stock.

Please go back and re-read the rules below........

Azalea contest 2020-2025 Rules
 
I indeed realized that upon rereading the rules, stating explicitely that pre-bonsai is not allowed. My mistake.
 
Notwithstanding the contest entry. Your job of building up the soil and mossing in will make this new acquisition very happy.

The reason I recommend Mountain or Spaghnum moss is they come soilless and don’t muck up the media compared to yard moss. That said, the overall effect should be very positive. On your next repot you might switch over.

cheers
DSD sends
 
lnitially I thought that the concept of the contest was iffy, and now I am certain that it is not really beneficial to the process of creating an azalea bonsai. Basically using nursery stock is a very difficult way to begin. I have found that satsuki pre bonsai in the US are extremely rare and are seldom pruned at a level similar to, e.g. black pines at a pre-bonsai nursery, thus most are "raw stock". Looking at the photos, if you can achieve something with a definitive shape and healthy growth at the 5 year mark, I would count it as a success notwithstanding the contest situation.
 
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