Wiring an Aozora satsuki azalea into a whip

[Chuah]

Last September my wife and I visited Deep Sea Diver and Marie in Seattle. We had a great time together. He gave me several satsuki seedlings. I just repotted them into kanuma and wire the the tallest Aozora into a whip. Looking forward to it becoming a beautiful bonsai.

Many thanks to Deep Sea Diver!

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Well done! I like your technique.

Looking forward to following these satsuki grow out over time.

cheers
DSD sends

 

[Glaucus]

Aozora is a really nice variety. Ah, I see you did this as a pro and you used the wire on the top as a handle. And yes, you start bending at the base. And yes, branches on the outside of the curve, of course.
The Japanese tutorials on how to wire and bend a whip basically look the same as your pictures.

 

[Chuah]

Well done! I like your technique.

Looking forward to following these satsuki grow out over time.

cheers
DSD sends

Thank you John. I did not reduce the top so that I can use some for cutting propagation in May. Hopefully I will have some Aozora in the future to share. The other ones you gave me were repotted in kanuma and are doing very well.

 

[Chuah]

Aozora is a really nice variety. Ah, I see you did this as a pro and you used the wire on the top as a handle. And yes, you start bending at the base. And yes, branches on the outside of the curve, of course.
The Japanese tutorials on how to wire and bend a whip basically look the same as your pictures.

Yes, this is the way the Japanese growers make a whip, taught in Nakayama’s book and in the various Satsuki Kenkyu Supplements. I have been using this technique and it works well for me.

 

[Glaucus]

Ah, and I thought I was cutting edge in ordering Satsuki Kenkyu from Japanese Amazon, scanning them, and then slowly translating them.
I do think you need a couple of more whips, to be honest.

 

[Chuah]

Ah, and I thought I was cutting edge in ordering Satsuki Kenkyu from Japanese Amazon, scanning them, and then slowly translating them.
I do think you need a couple of more whips, to be honest.

There are two Satsuki Kenkyu supplements I think are very helpful to satsuki enthusiasts. The first one is “Solutions to Satsuki troubles,” the other is “Satsuki 100 Questions and Answers”. I think the first one is out of print, the second one is still available. The only problem with the second book is the index is in Japanese and it is hard for non Japanese readers to search for answers quickly. But it is still useful as one can scan through the pages and find the appropriate sections.

 

[JackHammer]

Is a "whip" and a "twisted trunk" bonsai the same thing?

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

A whip is a young tree grown out without any side branches, growing out as far as possible but still being able to wire and set the primary structure.

The advantage is the hobbyist dictates the initial primary structure of the tree from the gitgo.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Bob Hunter]

Whips from Japan

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

…. and these are American made satsuki whips. Ready for a good bending!cheers
DSD sends

 

[JackHammer]

So this is a development technique, correct? I presume you would only want to do this on a species that is likely to back bud from the trunk.

 

[Chuah]

So this is a development technique, correct? I presume you would only want to do this on a species that is likely to back bud from the trunk.

It is a development technique. You can use the whip for
1. Growing into a tall azalea bonsai displaying the multi-color flowers such as the attached Akemi no Tsuki (Not wired for display). It is now 10 years old starting as a whip, the base is about 1-1.5” thick tapering upwards.
2.Using the whip as a sacrificial branch to thicken the base for shohin. This Huang hybrid azalea is grown with a whip and a lot of low sacrificial branches to thicken the base. Once it reaches the desired base size, I will cut off the top whip and start developing it into a shohin with a new leader.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Pretty darn awesome technique @Chuah!
Best
DSD sends

 

[Glaucus]

There are two Satsuki Kenkyu supplements I think are very helpful to satsuki enthusiasts. The first one is “Solutions to Satsuki troubles,” the other is “Satsuki 100 Questions and Answers”. I think the first one is out of print, the second one is still available. The only problem with the second book is the index is in Japanese and it is hard for non Japanese readers to search for answers quickly. But it is still useful as one can scan through the pages and find the appropriate sections.

I have that '100 question' one as well. I think they may even have a newer version. Or they created that book by compining the questions secetion of their monthly magazine.
There are quite a few additional booklets put out by the same company. In fact, I think they just put out a new one.
There is one that is 100% filled with progression. I am slowly getting to translating some of them.
Also, there is one called 'raising satsuki' which is also has all the generic info, but lacks the question-based format.

Ah, Huang azalea bonsai, very chique.

I wish I had a Huang 2-1-22.

 

[Chuah]

Ah, Huang azalea bonsai, very chique.

I wish I had a Huang 2-1-22.

I don’t have a Huang 2-1-22. Have you tried contacting Ronnie Palmer of Azalea Hill Nursery? He is the care taker of all Huang azaleas in the US.

 

[Glaucus]

I am in Europe. We have no Huang azaleas here.
Additionally, I believe Ronnie said he had problems growing 2-1-22 because of frost.
Pete Vines says it is one of the best evergreen azaleas. To me it looks really really good.
I'd like to use it in my breeding, if I can. I guess it is really tender?
I don't believe anyone sells it commercially, sadly.
Mostly, I just wanted to draw your attention to this specific one, Maybe it will do good in your climate.

 

[Pitoon]

I am in Europe. We have no Huang azaleas here.
Additionally, I believe Ronnie said he had problems growing 2-1-22 because of frost.
Pete Vines says it is one of the best evergreen azaleas. To me it looks really really good.
I'd like to use it in my breeding, if I can. I guess it is really tender?
I don't believe anyone sells it commercially, sadly.
Mostly, I just wanted to draw your attention to this specific one, Maybe it will do good in your climate.

If you want cuttings, locate who has one and I'll get it and send you cuttings.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Ronnie mentioned that about some Satsuki too. He didn’t post any last year I was interested in , but I wanted to pick some more up. 2-5-71 (George Drake) which seems to do ok after two winters and is breeding true to form. It also has put out good cuttings.

Ronnie is presently listing Hu 1-3-62 and Hu Early Light Pink (He’s been changing their numbers to names, which is his prerogative as the legacy breeder

I’ll write Ronnie and ask him what is possible.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Chuah]

I am in Europe. We have no Huang azaleas here.
Additionally, I believe Ronnie said he had problems growing 2-1-22 because of frost.
Pete Vines says it is one of the best evergreen azaleas. To me it looks really really good.
I'd like to use it in my breeding, if I can. I guess it is really tender?
I don't believe anyone sells it commercially, sadly.
Mostly, I just wanted to draw your attention to this specific one, Maybe it will do good in your climate.

I have not seen it in Ronnie’s catalog, I will ask him.