New Azalea

This azalea came to me yeaterday from a friend in the landscape biz. Don't know wht kind/type, bu the leaves are nice and small and the trunk is about 2". I did some but minimal reducing of the root ball that was hard red clay. Should I have done more? I killed my 1st azalea for reasons unknown early this spring and would like to help this one make it... Fingers crossed for upright pics. Cheers.

I really have read the "posting pics" thread... Any ideas on making photos upright? Sorry Jim...

Leave it alone for a year, water and fertilize only.

Eli, it's like being between a rock and a hard place.

I'm sure you can imagine that heavy clay in a rootball surrounded by course, fast draining soil is going to cause problems. BUT not every plant growing in red clay will let you wash all of the old soil from its root system.

Azaleas have shallow roots systems, but the way azaleas grow means they are shaded, moist and cool. Soak some sphagnum for a few days and put a layer over the soil surface. That will help keep the soil moist without water-logging it.

Are any of the trunk and branches alive? It looks like the only things living are those thin shoots on the main trunk.

R

Looks very promising...I like it.

I just collected one and I covered the top with sphagnum moss as Russell said. Keeping my fingers crossed and for yours as well.

So Russel, you're saying leave the clay but keep moist but not wet, correct? Just clarifying your statement. I'll give it a little scratch tomorrow to see if the branches show green.

It was just collected, right? I think I'd go ahead and get that clay out of the root system. Luckily, azaleas don't mind this, but aftercare is important. Go back with the sphagnum, keep it shaded, evenly moist and cool.

It was out of the ground for 2 days in the red clay ball, which was pretty dry. I'll gently rinse it away tomorrow and box it up nice.

hometeamrocker wrote:I really have read the "posting pics" thread... Any ideas on making photos upright? Sorry Jim...

The picture's rotation is done in your imaging software; not in the forum. Somewhere, you will have a menu that includes "rotate" or "orientation."

There has been discussion that the problem may stem from pics taken with a phone and transferred directly to the forum. I have not taken photos with a phone, and know nothing of the process or the capabilities of any accompanying software (if any), so cannot help. If this IS the problem, maybe someone else can solve it. If so, we'll put that into the photo thread.

JimLewis wrote:

hometeamrocker wrote:I really have read the "posting pics" thread... Any ideas on making photos upright? Sorry Jim...

The picture's rotation is done in your imaging software; not in the forum. Somewhere, you will have a menu that includes "rotate" or "orientation."

I also had this problem uploading to photobucket (couple of times). I tried rotating there but the picture posted is still on it's side. I re-uploaded and the pic looked right but again the pic posted was on its side. I basically gave up but the pic posted here later got "corrected". Maybe photobucket have a lag?

I fixed the first pic. That'll save someone a crick in the neck.

jim

So, this azalea has some tiny buds showing in good places, but the existing leaves aren't looking so good. I've only tried 1 azalea before, and while it pushed a lot of new growth (before I eventually killed it), the exisiting leaves always kinda looked bad, like these. I thought maybe too much sun was the problem on the one I tried first, not looking to make the same mistake again. So, with the excessive heat it's had a layer of sphagnum moss on top and has been in a shaded spot on the front porch, facing west. It gets bright afternoon sun, but entirely indirect. What say ye, wise men of small trees? How can I make this guy robust and vigorous? Sorry I don't know what type it is, it was given to me... It's in mostly turface, with some river sand and a little natures helper for organic.




And once again, my pics are uploading wrong... *Sigh*.

The heat large parts of the US have right now is killing azaleas in some parts country. Otherwise, it may be your 'kindness' that is doing the farm. Either too much fertilizer/water.

Using some peat or low pH substrate is always a must if you ask me.

Please tell us, where are you keeping the tree? How are you watering? What is the tree planted in? Talk about your total cultural routine. Also, the florist Azaleas just can't take the heat. You will see these for sale in bloom even at the grocery store, or from florists, and even sometimes as "mallsai."

hometeamrocker wrote:So, this azalea has some tiny buds showing in good places, but the existing leaves aren't looking so good. I've only tried 1 azalea before, and while it pushed a lot of new growth (before I eventually killed it), the exisiting leaves always kinda looked bad, like these. I thought maybe too much sun was the problem on the one I tried first, not looking to make the same mistake again. So, with the excessive heat it's had a layer of sphagnum moss on top and has been in a shaded spot on the front porch, facing west. It gets bright afternoon sun, but entirely indirect. What say ye, wise men of small trees? How can I make this guy robust and vigorous? Sorry I don't know what type it is, it was given to me... It's in mostly turface, with some river sand and a little natures helper for organic.

Billy see above for where I keep it and it's mix. This azalea came out of the ground, where it was in heavy clay soil...

Hometeamrocker
Can I ask you if your on city or municipality or well water?

Mitch

Hi Mitch, downtown Atlanta...

Hometeamrocker
IMHO what you are are experiencing is the same as I over the last 10yrs.
All of the advice from all the above is spot on advice! But I do belive many of cities water purification efforts although safe for human consumption is detrimental to plants in bonsai pots over time. Many plants are not as sensitive to salts and alkalinity as others, some thrive, some die. I think plants usually perish from more than one insult. So it could be your watering technique, soil composition, heat, or Water quaility, probably a combination of any mentioned. This is my opinion and I probably will get hammered for it.
Any way, You said you tried a azalea before to no avail and your pictures look exactly like what mine end up in the end! If so you will need to seek out the trees that are affected by your conditions if you want to continuing practicing bonsai. Sorry to sound so blunt, I mean it in a nice way.

Mitch

Thanks Mitch, advise heeded.