Too good to pass? Azalea

[Slickrick773]

Should i buy it or pass? Im on the fence.

New to the hobby, ive got 5 bonsai in total (1 azalea), half of which are pretty young. My condo association bought azaleas for pur garden. One of them has a great trunk and is alot nicee than mine.

Should i buy another azalea to replace my condo assocations pictured azalea? Or just pass.

Thanks

 

[ihaveaspaceship]

That seems turbo expensive to me.

 

[Slickrick773]

Really? Okay, for those who can’t see the price tag, it’s $50.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Dig down to the soil...is there a flare at the base or is it narrower? Some potted nursery plants have a reverse taper. To me it seems to not have a flare,but a more reverse taper. But I am on my phone...if so...and real noticable...pass.

 

[Slickrick773]

Dig down to the soil...is there a flare at the base or is it narrower? Some potted nursery plants have a reverse taper. To me it seems to not have a flare,but a more reverse taper. But I am on my phone...if so...and real noticable...pass.

Much appreciated, I’ll check it tonight.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Find the roots...the trunk just above is what you wish to inspect. You may need to dig a bit.

 

[Slickrick773]

dug a 3” circle around the trunk with my fingers, 2-3” deep. Didn’t find but 1-2 roots, which were tiny and pretty much on the soil surface. Ps- current bonsais attached (bought the azalea in March and it was in bloom, it’s bloomed once more since)

 

[Cadillactaste]

Wait...this tree was already purchased...when you started this thread asking our opinion!?! ?

 

[JosephCooper]

The price is hefty for a less than impressive trunk; But it does look like a desirable variety. Try to find a bigger trunk unless this was the best you could find.
Did you already buy it?

 

[_#1_]

$50 is a steal! For the nursery lol

Box stores has same size for much less

 

[Slickrick773]

Wait...this tree was already purchased...when you started this thread asking our opinion!?! ?

My condo association purchased 8 to put in our gardens. I was contemplating purchasing another one to swap out with the one in the picture.

Questions:
What does the narrow root system tell you about the plant?

I live in Chicago, we have two seasons, winter (oct-April) & summer May through sept. How do you think the azaleas will do. The gardening committee was ready to plant them until I pointed out the gardens are infested with scale.

Thanks!

 

[River's Edge]

The Bixby Azalea is noted for coarse growth and therefore likely more suited to a larger size Bonsai. I tend to prefer azalea with smaller leaves,smaller flowers and more refined possible growth. That being said, the price also seems high as well for a fairly common nursery variety of that size. However the true value is in how well it suits your needs. Based on the trunk, i would expect to find one like that out of every twenty or so i looked at in the average nursery.

 

[Slickrick773]

At the nu

Wait...this tree was already purchased...when you started this thread asking our opinion!?! ?

at the nursery & found this one

 

[Slickrick773]

A Ridley Lee azalea

 

[CasAH]

My condo association purchased 8 to put in our gardens. I was contemplating purchasing another one to swap out with the one in the picture.

Questions:
What does the narrow root system tell you about the plant?

I live in Chicago, we have two seasons, winter (oct-April) & summer May through sept. How do you think the azaleas will do. The gardening committee was ready to plant them until I pointed out the gardens are infested with scale.

Thanks!

One look at the brick on the garages and I knew you where in Chicago.

For the others, prices in Chicago are ridiculous for everything, let alone plants.

 

[Cadillactaste]

My condo association purchased 8 to put in our gardens. I was contemplating purchasing another one to swap out with the one in the picture.

Questions:
What does the narrow root system tell you about the plant?

I live in Chicago, we have two seasons, winter (oct-April) & summer May through sept. How do you think the azaleas will do. The gardening committee was ready to plant them until I pointed out the gardens are infested with scale.

Thanks!

Narrow trunk is what I meant...than the rest of the tree. Sometimes nursery plants...their trunks are compromised under the soil. Instead of a nice flare at base of trunk...it is notacibly narrower.

 

[barrosinc]

50??? Wowzer

 

[Stan Kengai]

Chinzan and Waka-e-bisu are pretty common in the nursery trade. They are both satsuki varieties, and both make nice bonsai subjects.

 

[Danny Tuckey]

Just got this (im in the UK, for £3.50) what a steal. Not sure about the nebari & trunk/trunks but anyway, ill find out later once I repot. It had a lot of weeds too. Do azaleas prefer a particular soil ph or would a normal bonsai soil mix be fine for it? And should I be spraying it with a fungicide?

 

[just.wing.it]

Woah, a Grant note!
I thought Home Depot in Columbia was expensive!
Over here 50 will get you 2-3 that size....and 5-6 that size if you wait till the end of season sales!
Nice color though, it's a beautiful one!