Member of the Ericaceae family, it originates from Japan.
It is a species highly valued for its flowering, which in some varieties can have different shades on the same plant (and have different colors on the same flower).
The Azalea Bonsai is an outdoor plant.
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Common Name: Azalea
Scientific Name: Azalea Indica
Characterization: Member of the Ericaceae family, originating from Japan.
Shrub that can be semi-deciduous or evergreen, depending on the variety, with oval bright green leaves.
It is highly appreciated for its flowering, which in some varieties can have different shades on the same plant (and have different colors on the same flower). The most appreciated variety is the "Satsuki," which comes from Kanuma in Japan, the place where the specific soil for Azaleas is collected.
Location: Outdoors, where it receives 2 to 3 hours of direct sunlight per day (ideally in the morning or late afternoon), protected from strong winds and frost. During flowering, it should be protected from direct rain (but always kept outside) as rain will cause the flowers to wilt.
Watering: Very abundant during flowering. As it is sensitive to limestone, use good quality water (ideally mineral water at the end of the line!) and avoid wetting the leaves, only doing so in case of foliar fertilization.
Water the soil abundantly until a good amount of water drains out of the drainage holes, to uniformly moisten the soil, always from above and never by immersion, using a watering can with fine holes.
Tips on watering, see the watering technical sheet.
Let the surface layer of the soil dry slightly between each watering (to confirm if the plant needs water, touch the soil with your fingers), considering that it has a high water consumption in summer.
If you have a tray under the Bonsai, never leave any water in it (to prevent the roots from rotting).
There is no benefit in misting the leaves; only do it on days when you fertilize and if the fertilizer is for foliar application, but make sure the leaves dry by nightfall to avoid fungi.
Nutrition: From February to October, with a basic plan composed of a complete fertilizer (Fertil Bonsai Humic, or Green & Gold Bonsai Organic or Biogold), and a biostimulant (Bio Bonsai Activ), which can also be combined with other products from our range.
Detailed information on how to combine these products with others from our range, or for a more specific nutrition plan, see the complete nutrition plan technical sheet.
Pruning: Unlike most trees, it does not have apical dominance; we must always leave "green mass" at the apex.
We should remove the new shoots that cover the flowers before they open so that direct sunlight stimulates both the flowers and the formation of leaf buds around the floral bud.
After flowering, select 2 well-placed shoots from those that grow where the flower bloomed and remove the floral ovaries (small fruits that appear in the flower area) because if left, the plant will weaken greatly and may even die.
See how to perform specific pruning in the azalea post-flowering work technical sheet.
Transplanting: With Terra Bonsai Azaleas or Kanuma pure, after flowering in May/June along with formation pruning, or in February/March for plants that we decide not to let flower that year (worn-out plants, or those still in formation where modeling is prioritized).
Details about transplanting, post-transplant care, and specific fortifiers you can use are available in the transplanting technical sheet.
Wiring: Wire from October to spring; during spring and post-flowering (May to August) branches are poorly formed and break easily, but always with great care as Azalea is very brittle.
Instructions on wiring, see the wiring technical sheet.
