Suitable species
The genus rhododendron comprises more than a hundred species and over a thousand cultivated forms. Specimens with small, leather-like leaves are suitable for bonsai design. These are evergreen and keep their foliage during the winter months. Such representatives have their origin in Asian countries. Depending on the variety, the flowering period extends from spring to summer. The varieties bloom from white to yellow and pink to red, blue and purple in all imaginable colors.
also read
- Magnificent Japanese Azalea Bonsai - location, care, cutting
- Japanese azalea begins flowering in late spring
- How to hibernate Japanese azaleas properly
Azaleas suitable as outdoor bonsai:
- Japanese azalea: Rhododendron obtusum (Japanese: Kurume tsutsuji)
- Satsuki azalea: Rhododendron indicum (Japanese: Satsuki)
- ** Kaempferis Azalea *: Rhododendron kaempferi (Japanese: Yama tsutsuji)
Design options
Rhododendrons are suitable for almost all styles. They form a beautiful nebari and are characterized by rapid growth. Azaleas branch well all over the trunk, so that they develop many levels in a short period of time. Due to this ability, drastic cutting back is not a problem and is often used as a design method.
Shape a bonsai
During the growing season, young plants are pitted at intervals of six to eight weeks. Just before flowering, remove any shoots that grow steeply upwards or point downwards. Select the flower buds so that the tree does not put too much energy into the flower pile. Young shoots that develop near the buds are broken out.
After flowering, cut the new shoots when they have reached three to four centimeters in length. To get more volume in the crown, you can shorten the previous year's shoots to one or two pairs of leaves. Make sure you are the top of the Treetop to be shortened as little as possible. This part is the area with the lowest growth rate in rhododendrons. Intensive interventions carry the risk of drying out.
You have to pay attention to this
In the further course you concentrate not only on the annual growth, but also on the strong old branches. Japanese art recommends removing the main branches when the tree is at least twelve years old. Then start shaping again. In this way you will revitalize the bonsai. Thick branches should not, however, except for the Astring be shortened, because azaleas tend to withdraw their sap.
Wires
After flowering and the pruning measures, thick branches can be shaped with copper wire. To make it more gentle on the tree, you can wrap the wire with paper tape. If the shoots are too young, there is a risk of injury as the bark is very sensitive. Mature wood is very brittle and should be shaped using anchoring methods.
