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Cultivating A Bonsai Azalea: Care Guide

Few things are way more rewarding than taking a tiny Bonsai Tree and tending it till it matures into its full beauty. But unhappily not all Trees are easy to tend for. Bonsai care is a fine art and an ongoing journey of learning and discovery.

The bonsai azalea is a hardy species that is known to prosper in mild climates. The species is identified by a rich green foliage as well as really colourful flowers seen in the spring and summer months. The good thing about this plant is that it conforms quite well to some heavy pruning. Following are some basic guidelines on how to care for your own azalea:

Remove wilted flowers as soon as you see them. During the growing season of the species, be sure to trim back its interior branches, foliage, and stems in order to let air movement freely. Be sure to use only sterile pruning shears. Be sure to trim suckers that appear at the base as fast as you see them too. It is advised that trimming should be done occasionally through the entire growing season so your bonsai azalea can keep its shape.

Plan your hard pruning and re-potting during the early spring, especially right before the plant enters its growing season. Be sure to remove any damaged, broken, or dead stems and branches. When re-potting, be totally sure to remove the plant gradually from its pot and then take away the soil from its roots so you can inspect it for any damage or rotting. Use caution not to trim back more than a 3rd of the roots, so your tree won't become stunted.

Re-pot your tree into a fresh and loamy soil, ideally with a new pot also. It is best to mix equal proportions coarse sand, potting soil, and pine bark for this reason. As fast as your plant has been re-potted, irrigate it to push good conglomerate. Pour water evenly over the soil till it seeps thru the drainage holes. After irrigation, you can eventually return your bonsai azalea to its warm and sunny place in your tiny plant collection.

Article Source: GardenGap.com

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