Japanese azalea 3-4

Growing Tips

Location: Preferably display your azalea in a shady spot in the middle of summer, paying attention to the bright sun at midday. Leave your bonsai outside even in winter, only, beware of frost (temperatures below -3°C) we advise to protect the roots because it does not tolerate prolonged periods of frost or frost (location: cold greenhouse or pot protection with winter fleece or glass wool)

Watering : Azaleas require a lot of water and more during the flowering period. It needs a substrate that is always moist. Water it regularly while allowing the root ball to dry out slightly between waterings to avoid excess water.

In spring/summer, watering will be done regularly, when it's hot, it's every day ! On the other hand, in winter, water according to the soil monitoring you do. Thanks to the rain and cold, you won't necessarily need to water regularly since the substrate will remain moist.

Important: Don't hesitate to water the entire root ball up to the roots, the water will drain away through the holes under the pot or bathe the tree in water (drenching) for a few minutes, to be sure to water well up to the roots. We do not recommend putting a cup or container underneath your pot as the water will stagnate and can cause root rot. (Too much water = asphyxiation).

Avoid tap water which is hard (which can increase the pH), opt for water from the well or spring (rainwater cistern)

Repotting and substrate : Every 2/3 years, the ideal time to repot your azalea is right after flowering. Repotting can only be done before flowering if you live in a warm area, especially if you need to cut a few more roots than usual. This will allow the azalea to better withstand the heat of June.

In the nursery, we use agricultural soil composed of black peat, blond peat, eco-aged, topsoil, horse manure, pozzolana. The next time you repot, you can mix more draining substrate such as: akadama, pumice, kiryu... Just be careful not to disturb the root ball, don't destroy the whole root ball.

Many bonsai react noticeably when repotted at the wrong time or too drastically. For this reason, you should cut as few roots as possible

The most important thing to know is that azaleas love acidic soils. They are often grown in a special substrate called Kanuma, named after the eponymous city. It is a soil with a natural pH of around 5, it also ensures good drainage as well as good water retention. This is because azaleas don't like to be thirsty and also hate having their roots soaked in water.

Pruning : Once flowering is over, you need to remove all the flowers and especially the pistil that is in the center. If you leave it, it can develop into a small fruit which will weaken your azalea. It is better to channel vigor into the shoot than into the formation of the fruit.

Fertilization : In the nursery we use blue tomato/flower fertilizer NPK 12 12 17. Put a handful of them on the substrate (small or large depending on the size of the pot) from spring from May to October, every 2 months, alternating chemical/organic.