i bought an azalea today

[tomfisher]

so i just wanted to see what people think





any advice for a person starting an azalea

[JTred]

It looks like it has the start of a nice nebari. I look forward to seeing it in bloom.

[Bonsai Nutcase]

Very nice trunk! The soil looks like it's broken down a bit. May want to repot with fresh stuff.

[Marsman]

I agree with JTred, nice looking nebari. I'm still waiting for my azalea to leaf out. I just trimmed off all the buds. Killed me to do it, but it re-directs the energy back into the tree.

[tomfisher]

just wondering what is the best soil to repot it in? because ive seen many posts about using kitty litter and others about bonsai soil and its a lil confusing

[majed]

nebari with bloom style will be the best for it,indeed a good tree.

[Marsman]

just wondering what is the best soil to repot it in? because ive seen many posts about using kitty litter and others about bonsai soil and its a lil confusing

I know others have used kitty litter, but I've had bad results with it. It clumped up and turned to a solid. I did mix it with pine bark and some lava but it just didn't work well for me. I used bonsai soil for my trees now.

[StickFish]

That's a good looking tree, tomfisher. I've been considering getting an azalea myself. I'll keep an eye on this thread in case I do; people here like to give good tips.

[tomfisher]

thanks everyone its 10 years old and am just waiting for it to flower ive also heard that you shouldn't use fertilizers if its in bloom but what just before so like nowish ?

[Victrinia Ridgeway]

The best soil for azalea is kanuma... mostly because it promotes the acidic enviornment the azalea wants.

I have other thoughts to contribute to this thread... but I have a bunch of things to do this morning so I'll have to get to it this evening.

Have fun...

Victrinia

[moulman]

Marsman, your not supposed to use 'clumping litter'

[Marsman]

Marsman, your not supposed to use 'clumping litter'

I didn't.

I sifted it and mixed it with some good bonasi mix. It just turned to clay. Now I just use Turface when making my own mix.

[moulman]

Hey Mars, I took a look at the pics of your azalea. I don't mean to be contrary or to be rude, but I (and I think you will find most others will agree) have a totally different perspective on what a 'beautiful nebari' looks like. The nebari on the azalea needs serious root-pruning to remove all those crossing roots and try to get a more even and radial flare to the base of the tree.
The way it is now is a snarl of uneven oversized roots, not a flared nebari as is commonly strived for.
I hope you don't take this as an offense, because I say this only as a friendly comment, as you seem to be confused as to what constitutes 'nebari'.

[Marsman]

No offense taken.

I appreciate the comment and very much agree with your assessment. The look appealed to me, but I know it's not the generally accepted 'look and feel'.



I guess I'll have to get in there and see what I can clean up.

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Added:

Would this look cleaner?

[moulman]

Now yer talkin' -looks much better.