Soil for Azalea

[readc]

Howdy! I am new to the forum as well as bonsai's. I took a day class on general bonsai care and technique and acquired a Acer palmatum. Growing nicely it seems at this point.

I have an azalea that I dug up from my parents house that I wish to convert into a bonsai. I know it requires an acidic soil, so I was considering repotting in Kanuma. Would this be to abrupt of a change in soil mixture? Currently it is in a pot of soil that is the same soil from where I dug it up. Basically just dirt. The plant grows, but has hardly any leaves.

Should I do a 1:1 Kanuma to pine bark mix? What do yall advise. Additionally I will do a root pruning a a significant pruning as its growth is sporadic.

Thanks!

 

[Poink88]

Welcome to B-Nut! I was hoping someone will help you but seems like no one is interested.

I don't have much azalea experience but collected one and planted it in Turface with bark and it is thriving. Adding some chopped sphagnum moss should help too. See this thread.

http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?13989-When-to-repot-Azalea-(George-L-Tabor-NOT-satsuki)

I am sure your proposed mix will be fine. Good luck!

 

[small trees]

I think it should be fine. Most collected trees are potted into better soil as soon as they can be. Just be sure that if you are replacing the soil, you aren't damaging the feeder roots that the tree does have.

 

[GrimLore]

Where do you live?

Grimmy

 

[lordy]

Kanuma is generally good for azaleas, but it will dry out in a day even this early in the growing season. Check your trees at least daily. Use the chopstick water meter to know when it needs water.

 

[readc]

Where do you live?

Grimmy

I live in Richmond, Virginia. Zone 7.

I really just want to use a soil that will retain some moisture so that I dont have to water more than once or twice a day.

 

[readc]

I think it should be fine. Most collected trees are potted into better soil as soon as they can be. Just be sure that if you are replacing the soil, you aren't damaging the feeder roots that the tree does have.

how do you recognize the feeder roots? Shouldn't I trim the root ball to fit into the trainer pot especially since i will be cutting it back?

 

[discusmike]

How long ago did you dig? If the roots have been cut already I wouldn't disturb them much more this year, I would find a pot larger then the root ball, add a perlite peat moss mix for now, hit the roots again next year if it grows strong, I have many squat pots in thismix and they grow well and its cheap, save the kanuma for when it goes into a bonsai pot.

 

[discusmike]

Feeder roots are the thin small roots, azaleas have a lot of them so I believe you will be okay.do you have a photo?

 

[readc]

Feeder roots are the thin small roots, azaleas have a lot of them so I believe you will be okay.do you have a photo?

I'll take a picture when i get home from work. I dug it about a month ago.

I have plenty of peat moss, but i do not know where to get perilite. Is perilite similar to pumice? The only place i look for soils and pretty much anything related to bonsai's is the dallas bonsai website. What would you recommend? --NVM, I see that Home Depot sells it, so that mix should work...I guess I will pull the Azalea out of the big pot it is in and get rid of the soil and refill with 70% perilite 30% peat moss for now....Can I also go ahead and trim back? I will get a picture up soon to help. Thanks!

 

[Poink88]

how do you recognize the feeder roots? Shouldn't I trim the root ball to fit into the trainer pot especially since i will be cutting it back?

I apologize but based on your comments, I think you are not ready for bonsai yet.

Read and learn about plants...their parts and how they function. Then try bonsai after.

FYI, newly collected trees do not go in small trainer pots right away...they need to survive first. Leave the tree alone if you do not know what you are doing. Using expensive soil like Kanuma is useless if you do not know what you are doing. Please study first...we can help but you have to take baby steps for now. This is coming from a guy who wants everything faster if possible.

Again sorry for being blunt.

 

[Paradox]

You are correct in that we use a training pot, but they are generally much bigger than what the finished tree gors into. I prefer a relatively shallow and wide training container because it promotes lateral roots instead of deep roots and helps the plant to transition to the eventual finished pot.

Azaleas like to be moist and not dry out too much. Good draining soil that does retain some moisture without drowning the roots is best. I mix a bit of peat moss in my soil for azaleas because they prefer slightly acidic conditions.

Ill echo Dario's comment about doing as much research and reading about basic bonsai info, techniques and horticulture. Youll save yourself alot of frustration down the line.

 

[readc]

I apologize but based on your comments, I think you are not ready for bonsai yet.

Read and learn about plants...their parts and how they function. Then try bonsai after.

FYI, newly collected trees do not go in small trainer pots right away...they need to survive first. Leave the tree alone if you do not know what you are doing. Using expensive soil like Kanuma is useless if you do not know what you are doing. Please study first...we can help but you have to take baby steps for now. This is coming from a guy who wants everything faster if possible.

Again sorry for being blunt.

I accept your apology, but you've wasted your time typing that out. It took me all of 2 seconds to google Feeder roots and realize it's exactly what i presumed. It just didn't make sense to not disturb feeder roots even though i plan on pruning them.

This azalea is doing fine, it really needs to be repotted into better soil. I've been researching for months and find this no more difficult than the 200 gallon reef tank i maintain. Anyway, i need constructive recommendations as i will be repotting regardless of how experienced or knowledgeable you say I am.

 

[readc]

You are correct in that we use a training pot, but they are generally much bigger than what the finished tree gors into. I prefer a relatively shallow and wide training container because it promotes lateral roots instead of deep roots and helps the plant to transition to the eventual finished pot.

Azaleas like to be moist and not dry out too much. Good draining soil that does retain some moisture without drowning the roots is best. I mix a bit of peat moss in my soil for azaleas because they prefer slightly acidic conditions.

Ill echo Dario's comment about doing as much research and reading about basic bonsai info, techniques and horticulture. Youll save yourself alot of frustration down the line.

Yeah the training pot is like 12" by 4", so that is wide and shallow as you mention.

I'm pretty sure I am in the Newby thread here, so this IS part of my research. Why is this such a surprise?

 

[Poink88]

I accept your apology, but you've wasted your time typing that out. It took me all of 2 seconds to google Feeder roots and realize it's exactly what i presumed. It just didn't make sense to not disturb feeder roots even though i plan on pruning them.

This azalea is doing fine, it really needs to be repotted into better soil. I've been researching for months and find this no more difficult than the 200 gallon reef tank i maintain. How is kanuma expensive? Its like $5 for a quart. Anyway, i need constructive recommendations as i will be repotting regardless of how experienced or knowledgeable you say I am.

I wish your plant good luck then.

 

[GrimLore]

The root question can be answered "in general" like this for this purpose -
The Largest root or roots growing downward are Anchor Roots
The Heavy roots growing outward are Support Roots
The fine roots growing off the Support Roots are Feeder Roots

That is what you needed to know for now but there is much more to it all then that "basic" structure I outlined.

If they are potted it would probably be easiest to use a good quality cactus mix with about 1/3rd peat moss should work well.

I understand you ask to learn and if you need to contact me feel free

Grimmy

 

[readc]

The root question can be answered "in general" like this for this purpose -
The Largest root or roots growing downward are Anchor Roots
The Heavy roots growing outward are Support Roots
The fine roots growing off the Support Roots are Feeder Roots

That is what you needed to know for now but there is much more to it all then that "basic" structure I outlined.

If they are potted it would probably be easiest to use a good quality cactus mix with about 1/3rd peat moss should work well.

I understand you ask to learn and if you need to contact me feel free

Grimmy

Awesome thank you!

Sorry for my ignorance on root structure, I took Organismal biology like 10 years ago, so I am having to relearn the terminology.

Just to give you some more info on the azalea, it was dug up with the intent of capturing most of the root ball. The pot it is in now is about 16" deep by 14" wide or so and is filled with the soil that it was growing in. Has been in this for about a month and is starting to grow buds. Other than this I have done nothing to the plant.

My goal was to cut the structure way back and then repot into a trainer pot. Should I not cut the roots back as well? Should I hold off completely? The only thing that concerns me is the soil it is currently in, very dense and does not drain well.

Thanks again yall Curtis

 

[Dav4]

It would be helpful to know where you and the azalea reside...timing and aggressiveness of rootwork and pruning in different regions of the country will vary significantly. Feel free to fill out your location under the user cp so we'll all be on the same page with our advise.

 

[fourteener]

The part you are failing to understand is the absolute need to leave this plant alone for now. If you transplanted it a month ago, you need to leave the soil alone for two or three years. The idea of swapping out soil now, is to misunderstand how much you can do to a plant before it will just die. Whatever soil it's in now is what it needs to be in for a minimum of a year if not 2-3 years.

 

[readc]

It would be helpful to know where you and the azalea reside...timing and aggressiveness of rootwork and pruning in different regions of the country will vary significantly. Feel free to fill out your location under the user cp so we'll all be on the same page with our advise.

Thanks, I added that info. I am in Richmond, VA. I think i stated that further back.