Technical Sheet - Azalea

Common Name: Azalea

Scientific Name: Azalea Indica

Characterization: Member of the Ericaceae family, it originates from Japan.

A shrub that can be semi-deciduous or evergreen, depending on the variety, with oval-shaped bright green leaves.

It is highly valued 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 appreciated variety is the "Satsuki," which comes from Kanuma in Japan, a 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 outdoors) as rain will cause the flowers to wilt.

Watering: Very abundant during flowering. As it is sensitive to lime, use good quality water (ultimately mineral water!) and avoid wetting the leaves, doing so only in case of foliar fertilization.

Water the soil abundantly until a good amount of water drains out from the drainage holes to evenly moisten the soil, always watering from above and never by immersion, using a watering can with fine holes.

For watering tips, see the watering technical sheet.

Let the top layer of 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 there is a tray under the Bonsai, never leave any water in it (to avoid root rot).

There is no advantage in misting the leaves; only do so on days when you fertilize and if the fertilizer is for foliar application, but ensure the leaves are dry by nightfall to prevent fungi. Never mist the flowers.

Nutrition: From February to October/November, with a basic plan composed of a complete fertilizer (Fertil Bonsai Humic, or Green & Gold Bonsai Organic or Biogold), and a biostimulant throughout the year (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.

You should clean the new shoots that cover the flowers before they open, so direct sunlight stimulates them well. This will also facilitate the formation of leaf buds around the flower bud.

After flowering, select 2 well-positioned shoots from the several that grow from the flowering site and remove the flower ovaries (small fruits that appear in the flower area) because if left, the plant wastes a lot of energy and may even die.

See how to perform specific pruning in the azalea post-flowering work technical sheet.

Transplanting: Using Azaleas Bonsai Soil or pure Kanuma after flowering in May/June along with formation pruning, or in February/March for plants that you decide not to let flower that year (worn plants or those still in formation and for which modeling will be prioritized).

Details about transplanting, post-transplant care, and specific fortifiers you can use can be found 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.

For guidance on wiring, consult the wiring technical sheet.