My very own spring box challenge azalea

[Alain]

Hi there,
I am doing the spring box challenge and now the spring box challenge extension with the twist that our trees will be judge a second time in Sept. 2016.

So this is my thread regarding my tree and I'll use it to ask you guys a bunch of question.
I post it in the 'flowering' forum as my tree is an azalea and a lot of the questions will certainly be on azalea sensus largo, I hope that's the right place to post it.

My first questions:
- I read that azalea are acidophiles plants. As I live in the Chicago area our water is kind of calcareous. So to water my azaleas (I've got a couple) I use distillate water (highly distillate, I am manager of a laboratory so I have unlimited access to ultra-pure water). Is that correct?

- for the fertilization I use a miracle grow specific for azalea fertilizer. It's in the form of little fertilizer slow-release gravels and I sprinkle that on the soil (for the moment my azalea is in the same soil it was in the nursery). Is that correct? Do you guys have recommendations for good fertilizers otherwise?

- I read contradictory articles about the light. Some said that azaleas have to be in the shade, other that they like direct sun light. What do you think?

- yesterday I did the first pruning after blossom (all the flowers were gone already). I hope I didn't screw up, this was my very first pruning, ever. If my azalea survive the process and starts to grow leaves again I plan to pass to the 2nd step of my plan for it: the wiring. It should be in one or two month(s). Is that a reasonable schedule or will it be too much to take for the tree?

- how long does it take to wired branches to hold their position (more or less)?

I think that's it for the moment.
I'll post pictures later on because I bought my azalea at home depot and it was just labelled 'Azalea red, x hybrid rhododendron' and I would love it if you guys could give me a more specific identification of my tree's species.
Cheers
Alain

 

[Vin]

My first questions:
- I read that azalea are acidophiles plants. As I live in the Chicago area our water is kind of calcareous. So to water my azaleas (I've got a couple) I use distillate water (highly distillate, I am manager of a laboratory so I have unlimited access to ultra-pure water). Is that correct?

I never thought about it so I can't help you here. I have a well over 300 feet deep that I use to water everything green.

- for the fertilization I use a miracle grow specific for azalea fertilizer. It's in the form of little fertilizer slow-release gravels and I sprinkle that on the soil (for the moment my azalea is in the same soil it was in the nursery). Is that correct? Do you guys have recommendations for good fertilizers otherwise?

I use the same stuff but I also use liquid Miracle-Gro every week or two. You should be fine.

- I read contradictory articles about the light. Some said that azaleas have to be in the shade, other that they like direct sun light. What do you think?

I have some in full sun, some in part shade and some in full shade. If it gets too hot and they start wilting put them in part shade. The more established they are the more sun they can take. The contradictions will continue. Do what works for you but keep them watered; they love water.

- yesterday I did the first pruning after blossom (all the flowers were gone already). I hope I didn't screw up, this was my very first pruning, ever. If my azalea survive the process and starts to grow leaves again I plan to pass to the 2nd step of my plan for it: the wiring. It should be in one or two month(s). Is that a reasonable schedule or will it be too much to take for the tree?

You didn't screw up, it will be fine. It's a lot easier to wire now right after pruning. If you wait to wire then you'll spend most of your time trying to avoid damaging the tender new buds. The sooner the better. Azaleas don't need to be babied.

- how long does it take to wired branches to hold their position (more or less)?

Wiring azaleas is very tricky. You'll want to keep the wire on the loose side and I've read copper wire can kill azaleas (though I don't know that to be fact). The bark is easy to damage and doesn't heal well from wire scars. Many people will apply raffia or some other protection to the branch before wiring. The use of guy wires is common. It's really hard to give a time frame on your question because there are many variables. The best answer I can give is, you must remove the wire by the time it's just about to bite into the bark. If the branch isn't set, rewire it again.

If you still have any branches you pruned away, use them to practice your wiring on. That way you'll get a good idea on how much of bend they can take.

Vin

 

[Alain]

Thanks Vin that's a bunch of information!

Regarding the water: you live in Fl so your water should be as hard as mine, may be even more if you are on a former coral reef. So I guess my water will be fine.

Regarding the Sun: we never have as much as you so if my tree like it screw the articles

Regarding the wiring: my main problem is that I don't have the right wire sizes yet! So to wire my tree I'll have to wait a couple of weeks more in order to be able to save enough $ on my pocket money and buy the right gauge Your advice of wiring branches I plan to get rid off is top notch!