Sep
Azalea Bonsai Care
The azalea bonsai tree is not actually a tree, but a shrub. The thick base of the plant makes it a good candidate for a bonsai because it resembles a miniature full grown tree trunk. These bonsai usually only flower once a year but their blossoms can very colorful & beautiful. The care azaleas require is minimal & can be maintained with a little effort.
The azalea bonsai do not care for direct sunlight & it’s preferable to place the bonsai in an area that has some indirect light. Azalea bonsai require water twice or two times a day & should be kept in a container that allows proper drainage. Azaleas do not care for a damp or wet soil & a mix of sand, gravel, & clay should be used when potting. Do you follow? Take care to ensure the holes in the bottom of the container are lined with screen to stop the loose soil from draining out.
Azalea bonsai should have their flowers & leaves removed right after they die to promote proper health & growth. Care should be taken when pruning to get rid of only the new growth every year after they flower & again in the middle of summer when new sprouts appear. Azalea bonsai care for an acidic soil & should be fertilized every 6 weeks.
The roots of the azalea bonsai should be inspected once a year & trimmed to keep the root ball the same size as the container. The azalea bonsai needs to be repotted every 3 to 5 years when more than 1/5 of the root ball would need to be trimmed to fit the container. Care should be taken when repotting to insure all air pockets are filled with soil.
Proper care of the azalea bonsai for the winter is to keep the plant out of the harsh elements of snow & ice but the azalea should be allowed to go dormant. An unheated room with a little sunlight would be a good place to care for the the plant & should be watered once a week to ensure proper azalea bonsai care.
Kevin J. Riley has studied & observed the art of bonsai for 20 years with his father James J. Riley. He is the host of the website http://www.theartofbonsaitrees.com
