Chinzan Azalea Progession

[VAFisher]

I bought this azalea at a local nursery in 2015 as a big round bush with lots of trunks. The base seemed good and I thought I could do something with it. I neglected to take any pics in 2015 but took this one in 2016 after it was cut back and potted. I initially kept 4 trunks.



After it flowered, I reduced the trunks further.

 

[VAFisher]

In 2017 I reduced it to 3 trunks, chose a new front and wired the initial structure

 

[VAFisher]

Here is the tree in 2018 in a new pot. It was starting to take shape.

 

[VAFisher]

I decided I didn't like the pot, so it got a new one in 2019 that fits much better. The tree was wanting to become a semi cascade, so I decided to stop fighting with the plant and just go with it.

 

[VAFisher]

In 2020, I just let it grow. Not much changed.

 

[VAFisher]

2021 was the best year I've had for flowers. It really showed off.

 

[VAFisher]

And here is the tree today. I just finished removing all of the flowers. I didn't get a good pic of it in bloom this year - I was waiting for it to get to the peak and a hard rain messed it up. I wish I would have brought it in. Oh well.

The tree is due for a repot now that the flowers are gone. I think it's been 3 years at this point.

 

[yashu]

Nice! What’s the substrate you have it in?

 

[Carol 83]

Great progression and transformation. Thanks for sharing, gives me a lot of ideas.

 

[VAFisher]

Nice! What’s the substrate you have it in?

Thanks! I keep all my trees in a mix of small lava rock, turface and pine bark. I adjust the mix based on the water needs of the tree. Pines get more lava while maples get more pine bark in the mix for example. Seems to work for me.

 

[VAFisher]

Great progression and transformation. Thanks for sharing, gives me a lot of ideas.

Thanks!

 

[Ben in Kzoo]

Hi there
I have a chinzan as well, just removed the flowers!
Would you prune now?

 

[Glaucus]

Very good work. Interesting that you are using pine bark. Not a big surprise that it works well, though.

 

[VAFisher]

Hi there
I have a chinzan as well, just removed the flowers!
Would you prune now?

Yes, right after flowering is when I prune and clean up.

 

[VAFisher]

Very good work. Interesting that you are using pine bark. Not a big surprise that it works well, though.

So far so good. I haven't seen a need for anything else (like kanuma) yet.