As a relative newbie (mainly a lurker on the site) of a little over a year
into this addictive hobby, I have two questions.
My hubby just brought home 2 miniature azaleas. I know there are certain
times to root prune and replant. Am I too late....south Florida, zone 10.
They were only labeled as miniature azaleas - specific variety not listed. They
are in lovely bloom...one double fuchsia and one single pink with white
edges on the petals.

Problem two - I seem to have thriving colonies of mealy bugs. They have not
made all plants their home, but have invaded some Mexican petunias (in the
ground, not bonsai) and another shrub that are planted near the trees. I
brought a Brazilian Rain Tree a couple of months ago from a bonsaist who, due to
health reasons was selling his plants. I found that tree was infested. Used
the soap solution and thought the problem was solved. When I discovered
this other infestation, I checked it carefully and found one or two and it has
been sprayed and seems clean. Is there anything other than the soap solution
to use? How often can I repeat the spraying. I seem to remember a week.
Can the amount of alcohol added to the mix be increased? If so, how much?

Love the list...have learned much...and any help will be appreciated.
Carol in S. Florida...Ft. Lauderdale area.

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for your general info about azaleas
******************

The plant has in stock the energy for the flowers so she already have
saved them..
the Azalea roots grow very slowly so you do not really need repotting
them when they look really clogged
moreover you just cut with a sharp knife the root ball 2-1 inch all
round no more and if more it depends of the size of the plant.

Flowers but can be thinned out if far too many before they open
or after the main bloom; when withered you can cut away all remaining to
avoid energy leaking.

The pods that sustained flowers ( ovaries)have to be romoved manually as
soon as
the flower wither

In your climate can stay outside , if cold you need them to be stored
in a fresh cold place in
the winther mine are under -6° celsious and are not affected.. when the
flowers start opening keep the azalea inside or half sun .. give a little
bit more water as the evapoarting surface is greater with the flowers open

DO NOT give fertilizer during the flowering period of will loose all
flowers within the next 6 hours
...
Azaleas love tea .. if you make green tea ,boil the remaining tea
leaves and give them water and tea leaves at azalea when water is at
room temperature

After the flowering season let the plant rest 10 days, after that give
some fertilizer for azeleas or rhododendrums or repot and fertilize 2
weeks later

Now if you need to start cutting long branches , you must always
always leave few leaves on the cut branch , as from the left leaves pit
will sprout new gems .

All this work has to be done by april may as the new growth will carry
the next year flower buds
never leave the bottom of the pot stay inside water more than half an hour
the roots of azaleas choke very easily if soggy
Repotting is necessary only every 5-6 years.. useless to put them in a
too big pot as zje soil will not dry as has no roots and will create
molds and roots rot

*********as I read under for mealy bugs.. use a specific product read
carefully instructions and give a second time as suggested day per day..
they are very resistent give under leaves eevry where check even
under pots I founs in my orchis nesting under dthe wooden table.. I do
not know what they might find as food in there



wrote:

As a relative newbie (mainly a lurker on the site) of a little over a year
into this addictive hobby, I have two questions.
My hubby just brought home 2 miniature azaleas. I know there are certain
times to root prune and replant. Am I too late....south Florida, zone 10.
They were only labeled as miniature azaleas - specific variety not listed. They
are in lovely bloom...one double fuchsia and one single pink with white
edges on the petals.

Problem two - I seem to have thriving colonies of mealy bugs. They have not
made all plants their home, but have invaded some Mexican petunias (in the
ground, not bonsai) and another shrub that are planted near the trees. I
brought a Brazilian Rain Tree a couple of months ago from a bonsaist who, due to
health reasons was selling his plants. I found that tree was infested. Used
the soap solution and thought the problem was solved. When I discovered
this other infestation, I checked it carefully and found one or two and it has
been sprayed and seems clean. Is there anything other than the soap solution
to use? How often can I repeat the spraying. I seem to remember a week.
Can the amount of alcohol added to the mix be increased? If so, how much?

Love the list...have learned much...and any help will be appreciated.
Carol in S. Florida...Ft. Lauderdale area.

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Mike Page++++
************************************************** ******************************

-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --

+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

--
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Private Mail :
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On 4 Feb 2005 at 13:43, wrote:

As a relative newbie (mainly a lurker on the site) of a little over a year
into this addictive hobby, I have two questions.
My hubby just brought home 2 miniature azaleas. I know there are certain
times to root prune and replant. Am I too late....south Florida, zone 10.
They were only labeled as miniature azaleas - specific variety not listed. They
are in lovely bloom...one double fuchsia and one single pink with white
edges on the petals.

Generally, you pot azaleas after they have finished blooming.
First, though, remove the entire flower, including the calyx &
pistal, so they won't try to make seed.


Problem two - I seem to have thriving colonies of mealy bugs. They have not
made all plants their home, but have invaded some Mexican petunias (in the
ground, not bonsai) and another shrub that are planted near the trees. I
brought a Brazilian Rain Tree a couple of months ago from a bonsaist who, due to
health reasons was selling his plants. I found that tree was infested. Used
the soap solution and thought the problem was solved. When I discovered
this other infestation, I checked it carefully and found one or two and it has
been sprayed and seems clean. Is there anything other than the soap solution
to use? How often can I repeat the spraying. I seem to remember a week.
Can the amount of alcohol added to the mix be increased? If so, how much?


Soap, applied weekly, will *control* mealybugs. The alcohol is
added, usually, when using the soap to kill scale. It isn't
needed for mealybugs. For mealybugs, it's best to purchase
Safers soap spray, as it has been formulated correctly.

A spray containing pyrethrins (only!) will do the job a bit
better. Also weekly (but for fewer weeks).

Jim Lewis - - This economy is a wholly
owned subsidiary of the environment. - Gaylord Nelson

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************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

In a message dated 2/4/2005 1:44:09 PM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

My hubby just brought home 2 miniature azaleas. I know there are certain
times to root prune and replant. Am I too late....south Florida, zone 10.

They were only labeled as miniature azaleas - specific variety not listed.
They
are in lovely bloom...one double fuchsia and one single pink with white
edges on the petals.

These plants struggle in the heat and humidity of south Florida. They are
usually forced into bloom, sold at Publix, already in bloom, taken home, enjoyed
and killed. One architect I know down there said they were putting dwarf
bougainvillea in landscapes where they would put Azaleas further north.
You will need to provide cool, outdoor shade all spring, summer and fall. I
recommend a clay, unglazed pot and pure "Canadian Peat" for the soil.
Billy on the Florida Space Coast

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Billy M. Rhodes wrote:


These plants struggle in the heat and humidity of south Florida.
well Japan is hot and damp a in some places and azaleas are
everywhere from cold north to monsonic half tropical south , Rhodos
are new breeds so quite hardy for cold and warm climate as well
I leave mine in full sun south or north sometmes 45 ° celsious or -6
in winthere , and they are always fine.. but love sun as are normally
mountains plants
I am only careful during the flowering period and I put them in
shade or half sun
peat or briar acidic soil or kanuma ( expensive) are the suitable
soils for these plants form supermarket in 6 years you can get
something lovely with a 2 " thick diameter trunk even in a pot
I have some

They are
usually forced into bloom, sold at Publix, already in bloom, taken home, enjoyed
and killed. One architect I know down there said they were putting dwarf
bougainvillea in landscapes where they would put Azaleas further north.
You will need to provide cool, outdoor shade all spring, summer and fall. I
recommend a clay, unglazed pot and pure "Canadian Peat" for the soil.
Billy on the Florida Space Coast

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Mike Page++++
************************************************** ******************************

-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --

+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

--
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Private Mail :
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