When all goes well, satsuki bonsai can produce lots of flowers in spring.
Hakurei-no-hikari – 15″
After 80% of the flowers have bloomed, it’s time to remove all remaining flowers, taking care to remove the seed pods left behind after the petals fall away (see “Removing flowers” for details).
Kinsai just past peak bloom
After removing the flowers
If the tree is healthy and has grown well in spring, the next step is to thin the tree to no more than two shoots per branch tip.
After thinning branches – 15″
This is a good time to repot satsuki that couldn’t be repotted in spring, and it’s a good time to prune and wire trees that need styling. Once the flowers come off, the clock starts ticking for this work because pruning too late into summer can inhibit bud development for the next year’s flowers.
Watering azaleas requires extra care this time of year as underwatering or overwatering azaleas can lead to a decline in health. Although azaleas generally need more water in summer, trees that have been pruned will need less frequent watering than trees that have more foliage.
When it comes to regularly turning bonsai so all sides can receive adequate sunlight, satsuki are no exception. Because azaleas can grow quickly after pruning, turning them frequently – once every 1-2 weeks – will help the trees leaf out evenly.
And if you haven’t started fertilizing your satsuki, now’s a good time as the tree will set buds for next year over summer.
Beyond that, be on the lookout for signs of infestation or fungus as new leaves are attractive to insects and foliar pathogens.
The next step in the satsuki calendar will be fall pruning when the old leaves start to turn color. Until then, enjoy any improvements you’ve made to your trees’ branch structure!
News and Updates
There’s still time to submit trees to the U.S National Bonsai Exhibition in September. The biannual event is hosted by William Valavanis in Rochester, New York and it’s the most fun – and best shopping – bonsai event of the year! Learn more at the official event website.
Although most akadama-based bonsai soils remain out of stock on the Bonsai Tonight online store, I’ve placed several orders that are scheduled to arrive this fall. I’ll provide additional updates in an upcoming post when I know more about the timing and contents of the shipments.
The Bonsai Tonight Online Store now accepts cryptocurrency! You can use Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USD Coin, among other currencies, directly on the site. Give it a try today!
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Richard Dorfman says
Removed the pistils, sepals and peduncles on my Satsuki 2 days ago; overlooked pruning back to two shoots per branch tip. Thanks for the reminder, Jonas. Now on my task list for this afternoon. 😎
Jonas Dupuich says
Awesome – sounds like your tree is right on track!
Ryan says
Jonas – how hard can I prune a satsuki? In the past I’ve pruned them pretty hard and they’ve responded well but both of my trees are rebounding from a terrible season last year. This year they’re growing like weeds! A really good sign but now I feel I risk losing their shape. Gut tells me they’ll respond well to a hard pruning due to how robustly they’re currently growing. The one that had the crown die was repotted earlier this year and while the crown is gone now, the rest of the tree seems healthy.
Jonas Dupuich says
Hi Ryan – I’m glad to hear the trees are growing so well this year! It’s possible to prune healthy satsuki back hard. If a tree isn’t strong, I wouldn’t expect as good a response. The aftercare will also make a big difference. Usually it’s best to do hard cutback early in the season, just as the tree is starting to grow in spring. This would be February or March in the Bay Area or later in areas with colder climates (maybe April or May in your area).
Hard cutback can happen any time of the year if the tree is placed in a warm and humid greenhouse as this is crucial for encouraging new shoots on old wood. Since your trees are only now recovering, it might make sense to do the big cutback next spring so the trees can establish as many roots as possible this year.
If you just want to prune back to two new shoots per branch, you can likely do that now.
Faizmie al Hanieff says
I love this tree, it’s beautiful when it blooms with beautiful and colourful bright flowers….
Sad that i don’t have this kind of var. here…
Jonas Dupuich says
Thanks, Faizmie! I’ll keep my fingers crossed that some azaleas make it your way before long.
Zack Clayton says
Jonas, in your reply to Ryan you mention cutback (maybe April or May in your area). a general description of Your Area such as central mountains, Florida, or Maine would give some reference for the rest of us. Your posts have a lot of good detail and this would add to the useful information. Thanks for what you do.
Jonas Dupuich says
Thanks, Zack – the key is “early in the season, just as the tree is starting to grow in spring.” Although I have an idea where Ryan’s tree is, I don’t know the ideal time by the calendar which is why I suggested such a broad range (and why I left out the location). I suggest following clues from the tree and from the climate as I don’t know when the tree starts growing in spring as well as the person growing it does.
This gives me more ideas about how to approach a calendar for bonsai work – thanks again Zack!