When to re-pot Azalea

Crazeegang · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:24 am Post subject: When to re-pot Azalea

Hi

I have recently purchased an Azalea. When would be the best time to re-pot? I have had it about three weeks and it looks pretty healthy but the soil seems a little compact and the water seems to be having a little trouble seeping through so am thinking it may be in need of a root prune. There is no signs of flowering as yet.

Regards

Toni

freezingcold · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:49 am Post subject: Re: When to re-pot Azalea

I had a azalea which was completely pot bound and the water was running off as yours. For the health of the tree I re potted as soon as I could. I believe march or after flowering are the best times but if it is compacted then I would do it sooner. it may knock it back a bit but it may be better in the long run.

use kanuma if you can or something similar .... don't use ericacious compost.

hang on for a couple of days to see what other replies you get from the more experienced bods before doing anything rash !

Surrey John · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:48 pm Post subject: Re: When to re-pot Azalea

Hey FC, I just repotted an azalea which was also completely pot bound, and it turned out to be 2 azaleas, once I got the roots untangled - which I eventually had to do in a bucket of water. They are now each in 1 TCL - 1 HG - 1 ericaceous compost. Quite small, 5" pots. I know they should be in kanuma, but don't you think my mix would do to start them off? You've got me worried now. I'll pot up to kanuma next time - March 09. Smile

SJ

Crazeegang · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 5:15 pm Post subject: Re: When to re-pot Azalea

Hey!!! Don't abbreviate I can't follow it. What is 1 TCL and the other as well? I'm lost Confused

Toni

Surrey John · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:26 pm Post subject: Re: When to re-pot Azalea

Sorry Toni - apologies. We have had so much discussion about soil components over the course of the last 12 months that it is very easy to assume that everyone automatically knows what the abbreviations mean. As follows:

TCL: Tesco's (Premium Light) Cat Litter (Look on the packet and make sure it is clay based, not wood or paper based).

HG: Horticultural grit - purchase at most garden centres.

You will also see PFC - peat-free compost.

The 1 just means 1 part by volume of each component.

SJ.

Dick · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:22 am Post subject: Re: When to re-pot Azalea

To the original question, now would be a great time to repot azaleas.

My own mix for them is 2 parts kanuma soil and one part chopped sphagnum or peat, thought I prefer the sphagnum more.

imholte · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:16 am Post subject: Re: When to re-pot Azalea

You mention that there are no signs of flowering yet...can you see any swollen buds amung the leaves?

freezingcold · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:33 am Post subject: Re: When to re-pot Azalea

sj your mix sounds fine
i used 100%l ericacious (in the early days of simpledom) on other plants but they just got soaked and waterlogged. I now use 100% kanuma and they are all doing fine

daryl · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:22 pm Post subject: Re: When to re-pot Azalea

Toni (Crazeegang) can't read this thread because he is not a full member and the post has been moved here (by Admin?) from its original place in Talk Bonsai. If you have any more answers please put them in Talk Bonsai so he can read them

steve · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:32 pm Post subject: Re: When to re-pot Azalea

Someone may have been trying to help keep the forums less cluttered by moving this not realizing that Toni was not registered. I moved it back.

Crazeegang · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:24 pm Post subject: Re: When to re-pot Azalea

Thank you Steve Razz

Oh and by the way folks, I am FEMALE!!!!!!!

Toni

daryl · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:19 pm Post subject: Re: When to re-pot Azalea

SO AM I !!! (female that is)

Sorry Toni, I'm one of the culprits Embarassed

. I think we all just assume that people with unisex names on a bonsai site are probably male. Bad pre-judgment eh?

Anyway - glad to see that both your threads are back together now. Just hope it doesn't get even more confusing now.

Smile

Daryl

Crazeegang · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:24 pm Post subject: Re: When to re-pot Azalea

Ed, there appears to be no swollen buds, infact no buds to see at all. I have got my soil on order (Kanuma) and hopefully that will be here early next week. The weather is close to freezing on a night so I will have to take extra care with it. I will sit it in my lovely, tidy shed at night.

Toni