Cleaning thin skin bark on specimen azalea

[SantaFeBonsai]

I don’t know what exactly the gray film on the bark is but I’ve tried everything to remove it including the last round with a textile spray gun. I can’t get to the red bark without exposing the green cambium. I’ve seen trees like this with solid red bark throughout the tree so I know it can be done but this one has super thin skin.

 

[just.wing.it]

Hmmm, very interesting...

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

I know very little about Azaleas, but Rob Mahler of Kifu Bonsai may be able to help. He studied in Japan for years, and is a big azalea guy.

 

[JudyB]

Would one of those pressure washers some use on trunks work? Don’t know how different from a textile sprayer it is. Beautiful tree!

 

[SantaFeBonsai]

Would one of those pressure washers some use on trunks work? Don’t know how different from a textile sprayer it is. Beautiful tree!

Same kind of sprayer.

I’m wondering if a light spray of vinegar left on to dry would kill whatever it actually is allowing it to be brushed off later?

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Not all azaleas have dark red bark, maybe yours doesn't. I have many different types and, in fact, none of mine do. They all are light brown, tan, or tan with a slight reddish tint.

 

[rockm]

What I would NOT do is apply a pressure washer to a thin-skinned satsuki. That "gray film" is old bark...

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

What I would NOT do is apply a pressure washer to a thin-skinned satsuki. That "gray film" is old bark...

Agreed, don’t use anything more abrasive than an old toothbrush on azaleas. That red color you’re referring to is one I only see on Kinsai in the wintertime. The leaves turn that color too, but in the summer, they’re bright green.

 

[Lazylightningny]

be careful with it. I nicked an azalea trunk last year exposing the nebari. It got a fungal infection and the bark split, and ended up completely girdling the trunk.

 

[Kendo]

You cannot do like that! hai

 

[SantaFeBonsai]

What I would NOT do is apply a pressure washer to a thin-skinned satsuki. That "gray film" is old bark...

Originally that’s what I thought, the gray was just part of the bark but a judge at our state exhibit said I needed to clean all the gray off to expose the red. ?. Now I know

 

[rockm]

Originally that’s what I thought, the gray was just part of the bark but a judge at our state exhibit said I needed to clean all the gray off to expose the red. ?. Now I know

Whoever said that must not have much experience with satsuki.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Whoever said that must not have much experience with satsuki.

Most definitely!

 

[Kendo]

Yes, some pressure washer ok, Hai but he just for light clean. Hai Use some Kaneshin bonsai pressure wash. Hai Not make red trunk. Hai

http://kaneshin.shop.multilingualcart.com/goods_en_jpy_398.html