Page 50 - BSAM 2016 Q2

Satzuki Kaho; white- magenta-pink owers with possible streaks of various colors.
Here is a new bene t of azalea bonsai: they foster love. When walking in a bonsai garden or in a simple nursery in the presence of a bonsai azalea, who knows when love will suddenly blossom...
Azalea are also gifted as a symbol of luck and strength before an important test.
Tips for growing azaleas
Azalea require an acidic growing medium that is 5 on the pH scale. In our climate, good results are ob- served with the use of 40% Kanuma, 40% akadama, 20% peat. is composition aims to encourage the re- tention of water, never allow azalea to dry completely; aeration of the roots that are very ne, slow growing and therefore subject to rot; a good balance of acidity; intake of humic acids.
Repot more o en than the 4-5 year period for other plants, and totally bare root every 7-8 years. e ide- al period is immediately a er owering (usually in June), however, in our climate we have observed excel- lent results even in November, exploiting the dormant period of the tree.
For watering, rainwater is essential because they do not tolerate continuous watering with hardwater (water with dissolved minerals such as lime, calcium and iron), which causes a slow but steady and inexo- rable decline of the plant resulting in branches drying and dying; watering should be well balanced, with no stagnation but also without ever allowing the root ball to dry out completely.
NPK fertilization must be carried out according to the fertilizing curve, never exceeded; using balanced fertilizers, avoiding periods pre- owering.
Exposure must be that of full sun to encourage owering and then semi-shade during the owering period.
48 | BCI | April/May/June 2016