Member of the Ericaceae family, it originates from Japan.
It is highly appreciated for its flowering, which in some varieties can have different shades on the same plant (and have different colors in the same flower).
The Azalea Bonsai is an outdoor plant.
Common Name: Azalea
Scientific Name: Azalea Indica
Characterization: Member of the Ericaceae family, originating from Japan.
A shrub that can be semi-deciduous or evergreen, depending on the variety, with oval leaves of a bright green.
It is highly appreciated for its flowering, which in some varieties can have different shades on the same plant (and even different colors on the same flower). The most valued variety is "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 this will cause the flowers to wilt.
Watering: Very abundant during flowering. As it is sensitive to limestone, good quality water should be used (ideally mineral water for the final watering!) and avoid wetting the leaves, only doing so during foliar fertilization.
Water the soil abundantly until plenty of water comes out of the drainage holes, in order to moisten the soil uniformly, always from above and never by immersion, using a watering can with fine holes.
Tips about watering can be found in the watering technical sheet watering.
Let the surface layer of the soil dry slightly between each watering (to check 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 advantage in misting the leaves; only do this on the days you fertilize and if the fertilizer is for foliar application, but make sure the leaves dry before nightfall to prevent 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 the rest of our range, or for a more specific nutrition plan, consult the complete nutrition plan technical sheet.
Pruning: Unlike most trees, it does not have apical dominance; you must always leave "green mass" at the apex.
We should remove new shoots that cover the flowers before they open so that direct sunlight stimulates them as well as the formation of leaf buds around the floral bud.
After flowering, select 2 well-located 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 exhaust itself and may even die.
See how to perform specific pruning in the azalea post-flowering work technical sheet.
Transplanting: Using Terra Bonsai Azaleas or Kanuma pure, after flowering in May/June along with formative pruning, or in February/March for plants that we decide not to let flower that year (exhausted plants or those still in formation where we will prioritize shaping).
Details about transplanting, post-transplant care, and specific fortifiers you can use can be found in the transplant 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 the Azalea is very brittle.
Guidance on wiring can be found in the wiring technical sheet.
