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Flowering tree's and flowers
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Author:  Martin296 [ 06 Sep 2017, 12:09 ]
Post subject:  Flowering tree's and flowers
Hello all.

Sorry to fill the forum with questions today.

I have two Azalea bonsai (well I will in October) and I'd like to develop the branches and help it fill out a little more - and help build the canopies on them.

I know you can chop off the flowers but can this be done 2-3 years on the trot? and does anyone happen to have a picture of a devolping flower bud so I know what I'm chopping off?

Has anyone else got any decent tips with developing Azalea? I'm still yet to afford a decent book on them to read up.

Thank you.
Author:  Paul B [Swindon] [ 06 Sep 2017, 12:55 ]
Post subject:  Re: Flowering tree's and flowers
Azalea don't seem to like me, so I don't grow them.............. BUT the best book on the subject that I have found is by Alex Kennedy, [also a nice bloke]
Remove the flower directly behind it to save energy in the plant.

Loads on a search about Azalea.............somewhere in there will be advice about their care or try a search on Bonsa4me

NOTE....... sorry I didn't attach the link........ https://swindon-bonsai.co.uk/?s=azalea

Attachment:
Alex.jpg
Author:  Martin296 [ 06 Sep 2017, 13:19 ]
Post subject:  Re: Flowering tree's and flowers
Problem I've found with Azalea books, is all the best ones are out of print and people want £100's for them :(
So do I wait for flowers to show before chopping them off?
Author:  Brendan [ 06 Sep 2017, 13:30 ]
Post subject:  Re: Flowering tree's and flowers
I fall into the same camp as Paul - I can't keep azalea. But flowering trees are pretty similar, I think.

Snipping off buds is useful, especially with an azalea covered in blooms. But if this is your first year with them why not enjoy the magnificence of a total show?

Producing flowers is not the process that demands too much of a tree. It is the process of setting seed after the flower dies that saps energy.

You can thus enjoy some flowers and snip them off once they have started to whither.

But if you do want to snip off buds then you can remove as many as you like, just try and stagger the snipping so that as some are drying out new ones are still coming on.
Author:  paulpash [ 06 Sep 2017, 13:35 ]
Post subject:  Re: Flowering tree's and flowers
Azalea are pretty touchy plants - I've found them difficult too - cutting off limbs can lead to dieback on the trunk. They also need radical trimming every 3 or 4 seasons to keep them vigorous and shoot thinning to two stems. They are quite a labour intensive tree to maintain.
Author:  Martin296 [ 06 Sep 2017, 13:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Flowering tree's and flowers
I could do a season of colour, least I can see how the season actually goes.
I hope I can keep the Azalea - I'm all preped for them.

Rain/deironised water, azalea feed, Kanuma ready for repotting so hopefully things will grow well.


Paul - I don't mind work it's my only hobby other than maintaining and DIY of the house and gardens. I really must get a book I think
Author:  Paul B [Swindon] [ 06 Sep 2017, 13:54 ]
Post subject:  Re: Flowering tree's and flowers
I must think about selling several books that I have by Alex, I have 3........... :201thumbup: Trouble is that they were first published in 1997 in the USA.

I see what you mean, you want to build the growth on the tree before enjoying the flowers. Yes you can remove the flower bud over several years and then all the goodness will go into the tree and not the flowers. Most do a trade off by removing some of the flowers, usually 2/3. You can if you wish do as soon as the flower buds start to grow and as soon as they are large enough to handle. Use tweezers the break the bud out. The new growth sprouts from immediately below the flower bud so care must be taken not to damage this area. That is why it's normally done after flowering............. see picture

Regarding re potting they can't be treated as other bonsai, if you cut the wrong roots off they will struggle or die, They need a lot more of their small feeder roots left. But for the full details you will need to read the book........... :07hysterical:

Attachment:
20170906_134848.jpg
Author:  richardb [ 08 Sep 2017, 11:01 ]
Post subject:  Re: Flowering tree's and flowers
My advice to you would be to use the kanuma and azalea feed. Although an azalea will appear to be ok without this over the years it will fail. I am only repotting every 2 - 3 years and I appear to be keeping a lot more vigour in my plants. You will hopefully get new buds back down the branches, let the ones which are in suitable places grow on as at some point you will need to cut back some of the branches and this gives you a place to cut back to. Enjoy
Author:  Martin296 [ 08 Sep 2017, 14:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Flowering tree's and flowers
Thank you Richard.

I'm quite looking forwards to keeping them. I will however need to do a repot on the one as the pot has cracked :( But I'll do that in feb/march time.
Author:  stymie [ 08 Sep 2017, 14:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: Flowering tree's and flowers
After flowering is the reputed best time for re-potting.
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