Humble beginnings - Azalea
- leatherback
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Soo.. Today I decided to go and have a look at a place nearby where I noticed they were taking a house away. In passing, I had seen a juniper of decent size, so I wanted to check whether they were working, and whether the tree was interesting.
Well.. The tree IS interesting. But also 3 meters (10ft) in diameter, 2 meters (~7 ft) tall with a 40+cm (~1 1/2 ft) diameter trunk. I guess a 2-year prep cycle is needed to succesfully collect that tree. So I left it in place.
No-one was working, so I took a peek between the rubble, and to my joy I found a large azalea, half covered in muck and waste. So I picked it up, put a spade around the trunk, and took it home.
What drew my attention was one long branch with lots of bends. It turned out to be connected to another 2 long bendy branches. At home I realize the first branch has lots of roots on one side, and I cut it off to be a separate plant. I potted both of them, and trimmed the twin trunk to get some air in the tree, and taking away clusters of branches that were duplicate. Most of the branches were left, for the plant to have energy to rebuild the roots.
Anyway.. This will be a 3-year project before it ever gets near a bonsai container. The plants will be compacted a lot over the course of several years. It currently stands about 1.5m tall (5 ft)
Well.. The tree IS interesting. But also 3 meters (10ft) in diameter, 2 meters (~7 ft) tall with a 40+cm (~1 1/2 ft) diameter trunk. I guess a 2-year prep cycle is needed to succesfully collect that tree. So I left it in place.
No-one was working, so I took a peek between the rubble, and to my joy I found a large azalea, half covered in muck and waste. So I picked it up, put a spade around the trunk, and took it home.
What drew my attention was one long branch with lots of bends. It turned out to be connected to another 2 long bendy branches. At home I realize the first branch has lots of roots on one side, and I cut it off to be a separate plant. I potted both of them, and trimmed the twin trunk to get some air in the tree, and taking away clusters of branches that were duplicate. Most of the branches were left, for the plant to have energy to rebuild the roots.
Anyway.. This will be a 3-year project before it ever gets near a bonsai container. The plants will be compacted a lot over the course of several years. It currently stands about 1.5m tall (5 ft)
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by leatherback
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- bob
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Cool choice of style with this opitune plant.
by bob
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- Auk
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The soil looks like what I use - special purpose danish fired clay pellets I thinik ?
Last Edit:10 years 4 months ago
by Auk
Last edit: 10 years 4 months ago by Auk.
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- leatherback
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Indeed (
), in combination with 'lava' for floor levelling in construction..
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- leatherback
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Looks like I never updated this thread, yet it is such a pretty tree now!
So in 2015 planted in a container:
In 2018 it was well established:
Enjoying the flowers:
In 2019 flowering season. The tree keeps improving ramification, and slowly this could be considered a nice tree.
I am now waiting for the 2020 flowering. I have thinned out the pads a lot as they were starting to fuse.
So in 2015 planted in a container:
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In 2018 it was well established:
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Enjoying the flowers:
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In 2019 flowering season. The tree keeps improving ramification, and slowly this could be considered a nice tree.
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I am now waiting for the 2020 flowering. I have thinned out the pads a lot as they were starting to fuse.
by leatherback
The following user(s) said Thank You: persimmon, Clicio, BofhSkull
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