panda’s satsuki azalea ‘flame creeper’

[pandacular]

I won this azalea at the club auction this June. @Deep Sea Diver had told me to consider it, and I am pretty pleased with the winning bid.

When I was inspecting the tree, a few issues came to light. The pot is far too small and does not match the tree, and the scar had a number of wounds that lacked attentive care. Both of those are easy enough to address, especially as I plan to grow the tree on to be somewhat thicker.

I got right to work on addressing the scars, which were double sealed with Top Jin M followed by putty. I also undercut a branch that I plan to remove to get a jump on healing the wound.

 

[pandacular]

Earlier this week, this tree was knocked off its stand. The tree and pot were both unharmed, but their connection was damaged—the tree was improperly secured to the roots, and seemingly recently repotted, so the tumble made the tree very loose in the pot.


I had already planned to change to a larger more subtle pot at the first opportunity, and since the tree was healthy and I was having trouble keeping it watered in the small pot before the fall, I repotted it today (really more of a slip pot, but that term can be misleading.)

I noticed some signs that this tree was created from an air layer—there were chunks of sphagnum moss as well as large woody stumps under the soil. I removed the sphagnum and cut some dead stumps for a flat bottom, but otherwise left the roots untouched.

Previously, the tree had been tied down directly over the soft roots. Because the root ball was stable, but small, I staked in one side for the tie down. The other was tied down to some woody surface roots as the other side of the roots were very solid.

Plan is to allow the tree to recover in morning sun and keep a close eye on it.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Was just scanning old issues of Satsuki Kenkyo before reading these post Will. Here’s what I took an image of….

Thought you’d be interested.



Ciders
DSD sends

 

[pandacular]

Wow, the root base and trunk line are incredibly similar! I appreciate this reference image, John. Maybe I’ll bring it in and we can look at it together sometime.

I plan to hold off on any pruning until at least fall, maybe this time next year. It could use some cuts, but with the out of season repot, I figure it’s best to wait.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

John. Maybe I’ll bring it in and we can look at it together sometime.

I plan to hold off on any pruning until at least fall, maybe this time next year. It could use some cuts, but with the out of season repot, I figure it’s best to wait.

Sure thing.

Likely will be ok to cut back in Sept. the upside is better ramification. The down side is no followers in these sitters.

Cheers
DSD sends