Azalea Bonsai Pruning
Therefore prune the branches at the base harder than the top.
Azalea bonsai pruning. Remove spent flowers as soon as they wilt and any new shoots that develop after blooming ends. Eliminate u shaped pairs of branches a particularly irritating trait of rhododendron azaleas. Prevent pests and diseases. If heavier pruning is required do it after your azalea finishes blooming.
With a distinct trunk you often see the azalea trained in the shape of a tree. This video discusses several techniques for pruning azalea bonsai during their development. Cut off anything that comes straight out toward the viewer the whole poke you in the eye thing. Satsuki azalea bonsai before and after pruning i had the pleasure of working on this stunning shohin satsuki azalea late last autumn.
Don t prune after july or you ll pinch off the new buds that would develop into blossoms. Azalea bonsai tend to be susceptible to spider mites or vine weevils which eat up the leaves and branches so appropriate pesticides are much needed. The third and final main method of pruning azalea is simply pruning shoots back. It helps to know just when to prune in the year for doing so too late can prevent flowers from blooming later down the line.
Every other spring march may your bonsai will need its roots pruned. Ordinarily for the best results it is always best to prune azalea and all species of rhododendron immediately after flowering has finished however this work can safely be carried out until the end of autumn. To prune pinch out ends of new growth that occurs after the blooming season. Azaleas respond well to hard pruning and if pruned back to a stump after flowering will bud back prolifically and can be shaped in just about any bonsai style.
The azalea is one of the very few tree species that are basally dominant. Once trained to a specific bonsai shape azaleas require only maintenance pruning and trimming. With both you want branches that bifurcate so look for pairs and prune away third wheels.