Page 51 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2016Q2

The formation of branching generally occurs after
flowering (can also be done before but you lose the
flowering period). In autumn/winter eliminate the
weakest branches and the most vigorous, then, very
gently, wire and position the branches to form foli-
age pads. Style azalea like the bushy plants they are
in nature.
When pruning you should tend to favor the devel-
opment the foliage in the apex. The terminal or api-
cal buds are weaker than the lateral buds. To obtain a
right balance and uniform foliage on the plant, prune
the lower branches and their outer areas more aggres-
sively.
The pruning must be performed partially on young
plants in order to promote flowering and more in-
tensely on old plants, thinning the vegetation in the Top and Middle;
outer areas and on the apex to allow more light into Satzuki Korin (magenta
flowers with small shape of
the interior areas. the corolla of a lily and thick);
During spring, before flowering eliminate the vari- Bottom;
ous suckers, both basal and areal that are typically Satzuki Kinsai (orange-red
produced by azaleas. flowers frayed and some
Regarding pruning for flowering, we tend to leave without fraying).
the larger, therefore more vigorous, buds; in the case
of multi-colored azaleas we can also act on the color,
removing those darker in color (they tend to magen-
ta as in the native rhododendron species), favouring
the lighter (pink-white). This selection is difficult to
make as it is necessary to recognize a closed bud that
is darker, one that tends to have darker reddish color.
After flowering is necessary to remove the fruit pro-
duced, by separating it from the mature flower stalk.
This operation allows the plant increased vegetative
growth and prevents unnecessary loss of nutrients
because the fruit has no aesthetic function. It is also
possible to perform a first pruning to the shoots that
grow upwards vertically and the more vigorous lateral
shoots (typical of the lower part of the azaleas).
As for diseases, the azaleas are subject to foliar
fungi, such as the typical azalea gall, and pests, such
as spider mites. In case of attacks of this type it is rec-
ommended to intervene with suitable fungicides and
insecticides of professional type, so as to obtain the
desired effect with one single treatment.

FERTILIZER ABSORPTION CURVE FOR PLANTS
Absorption varies, depending on the climate and season.

+P/K
+N +P/K
+N

APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEPT OCT
Macro elements NPK (N = Nitrogen useful for leaf development; P = Phosphorus
useful for development flowering / fruiting; K = Potassium useful for stem growth)
+ Ca (useful to tissues) / Mg / S / Fe (useful for chlorophyll formation)
Micro elements: Mn / B / Md / Cu / Zn / Co (catalysts of biological processes)

April/May/June 2016 | BCI | 49