My Something or Other Azalea

[Vin]

My azalea has progressed well. Photo 1 and 2 show the azalea as purchased on April 17, 2014. After reducing the branches throughout much of last year I let it rest for the past three months. Images 3 and 4 show my work today. I’m going to have to address that straight branch on the left at some point but it endured enough today. It seems to be progressing well. Other than my crappy photos, any thoughts?

 

[edprocoat]

Man your photos are as crappy as mine ! err. you didn't want to hear that did ya ?

Vin you have the name wrong in your title of this thread, judging by the unique qualities of this particular genus of Azalea I can say with certainty that this plant is actually an " whatsitsname" Azalea > Unknowniccus Rhodendronicus

ed

 

[Cadillactaste]

DUDE! Seriously...you have done great by it so far! Love the pot as well. But the size of the trunk seems impressive. No stick in the pot...

 

[Giga]

Have to say that's a nice find and good progress thus far! With the foliage it hides the straight branches, so it's to bad at that point. I only have two azalea's so other then chopping them back I'm not sure how well they'll bend without scarring

 

[Vin]

Man your photos are as crappy as mine ! err. you didn't want to hear that did ya ?

Vin you have the name wrong in your title of this thread, judging by the unique qualities of this particular genus of Azalea I can say with certainty that this plant is actually an " whatsitsname" Azalea > Unknowniccus Rhodendronicus

ed

..and so it shall be forever known. Thanks!

 

[Vin]

DUDE! Seriously...you have done great by it so far! Love the pot as well. But the size of the trunk seems impressive. No stick in the pot...

Thanks Darlene! There was a pretty nice trunk hiding under that moss.

 

[Vin]

I'm not sure how well they'll bend without scarring

Not very well at all. It's best to coax them along when they're small. Thanks for the encouraging remarks.

 

[TinRoses]

I have one of these! No idea what the heck it is, but I bought it was a rescue... Well... All three of them. YOURS is stunning. Well done.

 

[Vin]

I have one of these! No idea what the heck it is, but I bought it was a rescue... Well... All three of them. YOURS is stunning. Well done.

Thanks! I had to prune it pretty hard because of the root work. However, I left a few buds for identification when it blooms.

 

[TinRoses]

Let me know when you do. I know mine came from Dewars in Apopka, but as far as species? Coin toss. I know we have soft pink blossoms and it likes to bloom in clusters. That's it. Nice deep green foliage and it bloomed early, signs of new growth from where I've plucked the injured blossoms from. We'll see next bloom when we can ID without the petal blight. Not the greatest photos, but these are the three of them in their rescued state. Repotting as soon as I can.

 

[Adair M]

The trunk has nice taper, until it gets to the final vertical branch, then it has none.

None of the other branches have any taper.

As you found out, azaleas will readily back bud. So, you need to shorten your apex by two inches. And cut all the other branches back to where they are only about an inch long. Yes, that means removing virtually all the foliage.

What you should shoot for is getting new branches off the trunk for ALL the branches except for the lowest ones on the tree. You want the branches higher up to be thinner than the ones on the bottom. Yours are all the same.

You were on the right path, just not brave enough to cut back far enough!

 

[sorce]

This is a wonderful trunk!

Nice find Vin. I dig it!

Sorce

 

[Stan Kengai]

The trunk has nice taper, until it gets to the final vertical branch, then it has none.

None of the other branches have any taper.

As you found out, azaleas will readily back bud. So, you need to shorten your apex by two inches. And cut all the other branches back to where they are only about an inch long. Yes, that means removing virtually all the foliage.

What you should shoot for is getting new branches off the trunk for ALL the branches except for the lowest ones on the tree. You want the branches higher up to be thinner than the ones on the bottom. Yours are all the same.

You were on the right path, just not brave enough to cut back far enough!

I agree with this. The only thing I would add is to be sure to cut back during the growing season, ideally near the end of flowering because there is a natural growth spurt at this time. If you cut back to no vegetation out of the growing season, or in the heat of summer, you risk die-back.

 

[jk_lewis]

As you found out, azaleas will readily back bud. So, you need to shorten your apex by two inches. And cut all the other branches back to where they are only about an inch long. Yes, that means removing virtually all the foliage.

What you should shoot for is getting new branches off the trunk for ALL the branches except for the lowest ones on the tree. You want the branches higher up to be thinner than the ones on the bottom. Yours are all the same.

Agree. And have your Rootone handy. Those cut-back branches will make great cuttings.

 

[Vin]

The trunk has nice taper, until it gets to the final vertical branch, then it has none.

None of the other branches have any taper.

As you found out, azaleas will readily back bud. So, you need to shorten your apex by two inches. And cut all the other branches back to where they are only about an inch long. Yes, that means removing virtually all the foliage.

What you should shoot for is getting new branches off the trunk for ALL the branches except for the lowest ones on the tree. You want the branches higher up to be thinner than the ones on the bottom. Yours are all the same.

You were on the right path, just not brave enough to cut back far enough!

Thanks and I agree. The only reason I didn't cut back more than I did is I didn't want risk killing the tree as at had very little feeder roots. It was so root bound you could probably hit the pot with a hammer and it would sound like an anvil. I'll do it next year even though it will put me a year behind. I have another even bigger one to cut back as well. Maybe it will have a healthier root structure.