A few months ago, two satsuki professionals visited my garden. The weather was unseasonably warm when they arrived – it reached 102, an unusual high for June – and they were worried I wasn’t watering my azaleas enough. They repeatedly stressed that azaleas don’t do well when they dry out or when it gets too […]
Satsuki
Top 5 tips for keeping azalea bonsai healthy
Azalea care can seem puzzling at first, especially if you’re familiar with junipers or other hardy species. But with the right approach, keeping these flowering bonsai healthy is within reach. Here are the top five things you can do to keep your satsuki healthy. 1. Water more frequently Satsuki azaleas produce fine roots that don’t […]
Report from the Bay Area Satsuki Aikokai’s 2019 Exhibit
The Bay Area Satsuki Aikokai held its 24th annual exhibit last weekend at the Lake Merritt Garden Center in Oakland, California. And thanks to the weather this spring, the timing of the exhibit was perfect for seeing azaleas in full bloom. Osakazuki Sachi no Tsukasa Many of the flowers were familiar, but an equal number […]
Determining flower color by looking at the foliage – satsuki azalea
I sometimes come across satsuki azaleas of unknown varieties. Although it’s nice to know what the flowers will look like, it can be fun to wait and see what colors show up in spring when the tree blooms. Young satsuki azalea In the meantime, I can make rudimentary assumptions about the flowers based on the […]
Repotting exposed root satsuki azalea bonsai
Here’s an example of an exposed root azalea that has been bare-rooted. Exposed root ‘Korin’ satsuki azalea – 19″ from top to bottom These trees can be tricky to repot as they lack a solid rootball to tie down. Exposed roots One of the best ways to secure trees with good roots but no rootball […]