Help with an Azalea

[Cmdrew6115]

I bought this Azalea at a Lowe's because I liked the trunk. I think it has potential but I'd like some help from some of you. I got interested in Bonsai last summer, so I don't have the experience or the eye to know what to do next. The first photo is as purchased. The rest of the photos are after I cleaned out the dead limbs and exposed some of the root spread. I'm not sure exactly what to do next. All of the rest of the limbs are very long with foliage only at the tips so I know I need to shorted them but I don't know exactly how short to cut them. The single trunk also splits into many branches all at one location and I'm not sure how I should handle that. I't considered taking out the center vertical trunk that protrudes from the center of the "V" and then thinning out the rest of the secondary branches, but I'm not sure if thats the best next step or when exactly to do it. I'm also not sure when to begin fertilizing and I'm not sure about the current health of the Azalea.

So, what do all of you think? Where should I cut next and when should I do it? Should I begin fertilizing now or wait? Should it be kept in full sun, partial sun, or shade?

Thanks everyone in advance!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I'd definitely remove the middle trunk. And maybe something like this...

 

[erb.75]

ya, immediately I was thinking that middle trunk must go
nice find

 

[Eric Group]

I'd definitely remove the middle trunk. And maybe something like this...

Yep, what he said!

Damn... I feel like I am giving better advice lately- I just find a post where BVF gives someone advice, agree with it... Can't go wrong! LOL

Seriously- nice material there! You CAN chop an azalea like a Brian recommended and it will pop back with loads of new buds if it was healthy... You can probably root some of the branches you cut off too if you want...

You might even consider removing the side branch as well and just keeping that trunk line, completely redeveloping the branches from the new growth... Your choice obviously!

 

[GrimLore]

If you hack it up a lot I would not recommend a repot and root reduction until next Spring/Summer. The plant can handle the cuts and buds back great but you have to keep in mind it also needs to establish itself in its new environment. Expect a lot of back budding and new shoots in 30 days or less.
Azalea like to be damp but not wet. If allowed to dry out expect a lot less form the plant. As for the first season I would keep in in partial sunlight for maximum results. That is a nice one for Lowes and you should have it a very long time
As for fertilizer I would wait at least two weeks and not use full strength for the first year. After repot next season depending on the substrate your fertilization routine will require modification.

Grimmy

 

[Cmdrew6115]

So based on your suggestions, I'll go ahead and chop it somewhat following Brian's Virt, I'll leave it in it's current pot and soil for this year and I'll begin fertilization in a couple of weeks. Thank you everyone for your help. I considered entering this into the Boxstore challenge, but I figured I'd rather get some assistance instead of possibly doing something stupid on my own and ruining any potential it has.

Eric, I thought about keeping the single trunk, but IMO that would make it look out of balance since all of the lean would be to the left. It seems like that would also be a very large scar and in my limitted knowledge I don't know how well it would heal, but I really appreciate you pointing out another option.

Thank you all again for your help! I'll update the thread with it's progress so I can keep track of it.

 

[berobinson82]

Years ago I met John Geanangel by posting about this video here. I learned he was a forum member. Maybe this can help you like it has so many others:

 

[Cmdrew6115]

Years ago I met John Geanangel by posting about this video here. I learned he was a forum member. Maybe this can help you like it has so many others:

Thank you for the post. I really enjoy John's videos and I think I've seen everything he's posted on youtube but I couldn't remember if he mentioned fertilization in this video or in the follow up where he shows about 100 azaleas that were cut back to nothing and were sprouting new limbs and leaves like crazy. John does great work and I hope to see his large flat top bald cypress and his giant Crape Myrtle in person at one of the local shows someday.

Thanks for posting this video!

 

[GrimLore]

I know and respect John G a LOT! He has given me advice on many things in the past and is a truly good person. He does have great success with Azaleas and is a bit more aggressive then me because he can be! His growing season and conditions are FAR better then up here and quite a bit better then yours if anything just for his professional setups and practices coupled with good climate. Either way I am pretty certain you will have good success if you do as you stated you would. Just tossing that out there so others take it into consideration when seeing work done in other conditions and adjusting everything in a way that is productive for yourself as well

Grimmy

 

[Adair M]

When you make a cut on an azalea that you want to heal over, make sure it's flat, not concave. Seal it IMMEDIATELY with Top-Jin sealer. The orange stuff. It takes a day for it to dry. Then cover the cuts with a second cut paste: the putty kind.

The Top-Jin has anti-fungal properties. The putty paste will keep it from drying out so the very thin bark can regrow. And it keeps the Top-jin in place. It will slowly dissolve from rain and watering.

Never, never, never make a concave cut into the trunk.

 

[Cmdrew6115]

I went ahead and chopped it tonight. I tried to make the cuts so that they follow the curvature of the trunk and are not concave. The only cut paste I have it BonsaiJack dressing and cut paste so I used that. Hopefully it'll be alright. Thank you everyone for your advise! hopefully my Azalea and I are on the right track.

 

[Adair M]

May I say that you are a brave soul! Good for you!

Now, this will pop tons of little branches. Just let them grow.

Next year, you will want to remove one of the heavy branches that form the Y. They are both the same size. You don't want that. Wait until you get the new growth, and you can decide then which one to keep.

If you get any really low branches, that would be great. To grow to build taper.

 

[GrimLore]

Nice! It may seem like forever but you will be amazed in about four weeks(maybe less) at how much back budding you will have. I would just let it go crazy except for the bottom 4 inches or so - I would rub off any new growth immediately so you don't have 100 small wounds from cutting them later.

Grimmy

 

[drew33998]

Now that I see it chopped I think I would remove the left trunk also. Just my personal preference

 

[Adair M]

LHere is one of my azaleas, before and after.

 

[Adair M]

I disagree with GrimLore. I would let low branches grow. I like taper in the lower trunk, and letting low branches grow is the way to get it.

 

[Cmdrew6115]

Now that I see it chopped I think I would remove the left trunk also. Just my personal preference

After chopping it to it's current point, I also considered removing the left branch as well but my wife quickly vetoed that.

 

[barrosinc]

Adair, was that a boxstore purchase??? or a bonsai grown plant?

 

[Cmdrew6115]

Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions. I wouldn't have had the courage to chop it this far without the confirmation from all of you. I'm very happy with the way it turned out so far and I can't wait to continue developing my new Azalea.

 

[Adair M]

Grown for bonsai. Imported from Japan.

They import them bare root. Then they go into quarantine for 3 years. They just get watered.

The first picture is what they look like after 3 years. Right out of quarantine.

They need to get heavily cut back.

The same process could be done with box store stuff. It just won't have the massive trunk. This tree is a shohin, by the way.