how to trim an azelea

[paddles]

I was given an azelea bonsai, I must admit, I have no idea how I should be triming it, let alone shaping it? should I shape it at all? can they be grown as a tree ?

[Flowerpots]

Yay paddles the estate here

[ynot]

Here is some info on Azaleas as bonsai:
https://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Rhododendron.html

They are very popular as bonsai, See some examples here: https://images.google.com/images?q=azalea+bonsai&oe=UTF-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

Here is a bit about bonsai care in general: https://www.bonsai4me.com/Basics.html

Hope these help a bit.
ynot

[paddles]

Ok, so how do I get mine to go from a little thing to something nice looking? (some of them look awsome!) A lot of my bonsai, are maturing in black plastic pots, Should I put my azelea in a larger pot, to encourage it to grow, and thicken? I'ts currently in a little bonsai pot, I'd like to let it get larger, and thicker, its multi stemed at the moment, should I trim it back to one stem all at once? Or do it gradually? I don't want to kill it. (I'm very good at killing azeleas.

[Flowerpots]

Hey Paddles I have one azalea and you can practice on mine okies

[paddles]

How bigs yours? mine are tiny

[Flowerpots]

about 5 imches, have a few cuttings also going in a pot for 3 years, found then under a bench on the weekend, may be okies to srart a few off, forgot I had them

[ynot]

Ok, so how do I get mine to go from a little thing to something nice looking? (some of them look awsome!) A lot of my bonsai, are maturing in black plastic pots, Should I put my azelea in a larger pot, to encourage it to grow, and thicken? I'ts currently in a little bonsai pot, I'd like to let it get larger, and thicker, its multi stemed at the moment, should I trim it back to one stem all at once? Or do it gradually? I don't want to kill it. (I'm very good at killing azeleas.

To key to increased size [trunk thickening ] is unrestricted growth. This will require either a bigger pot or planting it in the ground for a few years.

Generally- Little bonsai bonsai do not grow up to be big bonsai, Big shrubs are pruned back restyled and trained to be large bonsai.

Do peruse the previous links as this issue is addressed, Please read these as well: https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/growprin.htm
https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/trunks.htm

ynot

[paddles]

Ok, will go and repot into 8inch plastic pot, with good mix, ! Leave for a few years (Easy! )

[paddles]

Do peruse the previous links as this issue is addressed, Please read these as well

I did! I don't really understand all of it, however, I'm trying. (Very tryying hubby would say,)

Thee, Hubby says that I may not come home with any more bonsai, or he will be very angry. (He's still angry about the sewing machine.

[ynot]

Do peruse the previous links as this issue is addressed, Please read these as well

I did! I don't really understand all of it, however, I'm trying. (Very tryying hubby would say,)

re: 'hubby....' lol..
Well, I can't be of too much help unless you ask about the things you are unclear on....
What are you having trouble with? [There is an excellent pair of beginners pages on the bonsai4me site.]

Do you have a picture to post? Not required, Just fun .
Do you know the variety you have? [Satsuki, Kurume-etc]

EDIT:Sorrry, I didn't see this post before I posted this initially:

Ok, will go and repot into 8inch plastic pot, with good mix, ! Leave for a few years (Easy! )

Yep, Plenty of time to read up on bonsai.
ynot

[paddles]

If you want to go and have a look, here's my photobucket site, no pics of my saksumi? azelea, it looks fairly weedy at the moment
[url]https://s111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/Thepaddlepoplioness/[/url]

[ynot]

Cool,
I'll be right back.

[ynot]

I think you improved your alberrta spruce with your initial styling.
I like this angle as the front of the tree.
[img]https://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/Thepaddlepoplioness/alberta%20spruce%20makeover/sprucefoliage6.jpg[/img]

The bar branches may cause some reverse taper down the line though. {a bit of a concern}
Does your soil stay wet for a long time? it seems to be composed of mainly 'fines'- Could just be the pictures [from the repotting process] though.

Nice styling on the blue cedar also, Two tree compositions are very difficult due to their inherent symmetry.
[img]https://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/Thepaddlepoplioness/cedar%20bonsai/Bluecederafter.jpg[/img]

Still looking
ynot

[paddles]

I tend to use standard potting mix (I'm in Australia, Specialist bonsai mix is not easy to get here) It's fairly hot here and we tend to have more trouble keeping the pots moist, as opposed to dry and hard as a rock.

having said that, I do use specialist bonsai mix on my older more valuble trees, (Not that I've got many that count as that) I did that alberta as a "teaching aid" for someone on a forum over here. I'm no expert, far from it, however, Around here, I'm considered knowledgeable on bonsai. sad but true.

[ynot]

Yeah, I understand about the heat.

The large particle mixes are more beneficial to your root system development but there is no progress at all on a bone dry dead tree.

Have you considered mixing your own soil? It's far more economical than buying it, and it's customized...lol.
If your interested take a look at the sticky re:soils at the top of the forum.
Some of it won't apply to your situation, But you never know where that one usefull bit will come from.

I also understand about being termed knowledgeable when I feel as though I am stumbling about in the dark....

I have a 2 sections of my photos on my cpu called 'mess' ...
still looking ....
ynot

[ynot]

I am curious how long have you had your trident?
Does it get enough of a dormancy during your winter?
ynot

[paddles]

Yes I did read the soil post (First thing when I logged on, soil and mixes are/is a big thing for me, however unfortunatley (Or fortunately depending on how you look at it) I live in the country and rarely have the forsight to buy proper mix when I can get it, I keep telling myself that I will, however it never happens! Most of my trees are happy and healthy, (and We don't talk about the ones that aren't! )

[ynot]

Yes I did read the soil post (First thing when I logged on,)

cool.

soil and mixes are/is a big thing for me,

Me Too!

however unfortunatley (Or fortunately depending on how you look at it) I live in the country and rarely have the forsight to buy proper mix when I can get it, I keep telling myself that I will, however it never happens!

I was a farm kid, [no more tho] I understand the country just fine.

Most of my trees are happy and healthy,

That is the important thing

(and We don't talk about the ones that aren't! )

:shrugs-shuffles feet: I know that feeling too...
ynot

[paddles]

My trident is 5 yrs old, bought as a seedling, It gets a good dormancy here, although, I have been known to put some tree's in the fridge for a week or three. (Hubby winges when I kick his beer out to put a plant in! ) We have what I would almost call perfect weather here, hot in summer, cool/cold winter, decent frosts, no snow.

[ynot]

My trident is 5 yrs old, bought as a seedling, It gets a good dormancy here, although, I have been known to put some tree's in the fridge for a week or three. (Hubby winges when I kick his beer out to put a plant in! ) We have what I would almost call perfect weather here, hot in summer, cool/cold winter, decent frosts, no snow.

The man wants his slabs cold! can't blame him for that. ...lol [Warm VB...Ugh!]
Weather does sound good for your trees.

Wow, I just noticed the massive candles on your black pine!

[Flowerpots]

you a such a good paddles email me paddles want to know about this weekend, also how young you kids and sexs, may have some pressies for them ??

[paddles]

They've been trimmed, I promise! I wasn't certain what to do with them, so I didn't do anything Took it to bonsai expert, to have it trimmed, he explained exactly what to do, sometimes I need to have things shown to me for it to sink into my thick scull.

[ynot]

They've been trimmed, I promise! I wasn't certain what to do with them, so I didn't do anything Took it to bonsai expert, to have it trimmed, he explained exactly what to do, sometimes I need to have things shown to me for it to sink into my thick scull.

No pines for me actually [Well a few seedlings actually] I find them quite intimidating. But since you are beyond help...
This might help you out a bit:
https://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATPine%20Pruning.html

ynot