Detailed Guide to Making Azalea Bonsai and Photo Appreciation

Rhododendron, of the genus Rhododendron in the family Ericaceae, is a deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub with many fine branches densely covered in yellowish-brown appressed stiff hairs; leaves are simple and alternate, often clustered at the branch tips, ovate-elliptic or obovate, with stiff hairs on both surfaces; it blooms rose-red flowers from March to May, the corolla funnel-shaped, in clusters of 2 to 6 at the branch tips. When in full bloom, the whole tree is covered in red flowers, brilliant as brocade, making it an excellent bonsai flowering plant.

Common Species of Rhododendron

1. Rhododendron molle, also known as naoyanghua or yellow azalea, is a deciduous shrub. Leaves are oblong-elliptic, densely covered with soft hairs; it blooms from April to May, with golden-yellow flowers, bell-shaped or funnel-shaped, very beautiful.

2. Rhododendron mucronatum, a semi-evergreen shrub. Branches are relatively stout, leaves lanceolate; flowers are white, in clusters of 3 to 4 at the branch tips, double-petaled, large flowers, vigorous growth.

3. Rhododendron mariesii, a deciduous shrub. Leaves are ovate, often in clusters of 2 to 3 at the branch tips; flowers are usually paired and terminal, blooming before the leaves, corolla funnel-shaped, rose-red. It is found south of the Yangtze River basin and in Taiwan, China and other places.

4. Rhododendron obtusum, also known as zhusha azalea, an evergreen shrub. Sometimes prostrate, with many dense branches; leaves elliptic or obovate, glossy on the surface; flowers in 2 to 3 terminal, funnel-shaped, deep orange-red.

5. Rhododendron ovatum, an evergreen shrub. Leaves ovate or elliptic-ovate, dark green and glossy on the surface; flowers solitary, purple-white with pink spots, corolla funnel-shaped, deeply cleft nearly to the base.

6. Rhododendron latoucheae, an evergreen shrub. Often with 3 branches in a whorl, leaves clustered at the branch tips, leathery, ovate-elliptic, glossy on the surface; flowers solitary in leaf axils, often clustered at the branch tips, pink; both flower buds and leaf buds are purplish-red.

7. Rhododendron fortunei, also known as Tianmu azalea, an evergreen shrub. Branches are stout and smooth; leaves oblong-elliptic, leathery, bright green and glossy on the surface; flowers are large and fragrant, rose-red, borne in terminal umbellate racemes, with 6 to 12 flowers per cluster. It is found in Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan and other provinces.

8. White azalea, a deciduous shrub. Branches are densely branching, leaves ovate-elliptic, densely covered with stiff hairs on the underside, deep green on the surface; flowers are white or tinged with light red.

Growing Environment of Rhododendron

Rhododendron is widely distributed in the provinces of the Yangtze River basin and the Pearl River basin, and westward to Yunnan and Guizhou. It is the most common tree species on acidic soil mountain areas.

Rhododendron likes light and prefers a cool and mild, moist climate. It requires acidic soil with a pH value of 4 to 5; calcareous soil and clayey soil are both unsuitable for its growth. It dislikes scorching sun and does not tolerate waterlogging, but attention must be paid to preventing drought and maintaining moisture.

Propagation Methods of Rhododendron

Rhododendron can be propagated by sowing, cuttings, grafting, division and other methods. Generally, cuttings are the main method, as the procedure is simple and flowering is also fast. The best time for cuttings is during the plum rain season. Use current-year branches as cuttings; after the new buds have formed, cut them off at the base for rooting, which gives the highest survival rate. If older branches from the previous year are used as cuttings, rooting is more difficult. For rhododendron cuttings, the seedbed soil should be acidic mountain soil or dried, weathered pond mud or leaf mold; inserting cuttings in mountain soil placed in a wooden frame is also acceptable.

For precious rhododendron varieties, to ensure survival, the cut end can be wrapped in moss to form a ball, then inserted into the soil to a depth of about 3 to 4 cm, which makes rooting easier. After insertion, a shade frame should be set up, and water should be sprayed several times a day to keep the seedbed moist. After about 2 to 3 weeks, the cut end will gradually heal and take root; once the cuttings have rooted, the light exposure time can be increased. After about 2 months, diluted cake fertilizer water can be applied to promote growth. In the spring of the following year, they can be potted.

For sowing propagation, seeds can be sown in a wooden frame or clay pot. The bottom of the pot should be lined with vermiculite or leaves to facilitate drainage. Place mountain soil or leaf mold mixed with an appropriate amount of sandy soil in the pot, level with the pot rim (slightly below the rim), then sift a layer of fine soil over it, sow the seeds on top without covering with soil, and cover with glass, preferably lined with newspaper, to maintain moisture. After about 3 to 4 weeks, they will germinate and emerge. At this point, remove the glass cover, allow light, and spray water appropriately. When the seedlings have 3 to 4 leaves, transplant them separately.

Bonsai Making of Rhododendron

1. Pot selection: Rhododendron generally uses a slightly deep oval, rectangular or round pot, and the material can be purple clay pottery or glazed pottery. The color of the pot should preferably be dark, to contrast with the flower color, and it is best if the pot has no floral decoration. For cascade-style rhododendrons, a deep cylindrical pot can be used; for exposed-root-style rhododendrons, a slightly shallow oval pot can be used.

2. Soil: Rhododendron is suitable for fertile and loose leaf mold or mountain soil from pine forests. For potting, dried and freeze-thawed pond mud or paddy field soil mixed with an appropriate amount of sandy soil is also commonly used.

3. Planting: Potting can be done in early spring or after the flowers fall. If wild tree stumps are dug from mountain areas, since the roots have mycorrhizae, they must be planted with the original soil. When planting, the taproot can be cut short, and chicken manure or soybean cake can be placed at the bottom of the pot as base fertilizer. Branches and leaves should also be pruned as appropriate.

Bonsai Shaping of Rhododendron

1. Processing: After rhododendron seedlings are potted, processing can generally begin in 3 to 4 years. Rhododendron branches are relatively brittle, so excessive wiring is not suitable; only the trunk and main branches should be given appropriate shaping, and palm fiber is better for wiring. Other branches should be shaped by pruning. When pruning, attention must be paid to balancing strong and weak branches: prune strong branches heavily and weak branches lightly. Wiring is generally carried out in spring, when the branches and trunk are softer and easier to bend.

2. Tree forms: Common tree forms of rhododendron include the straight-trunk type, curved-trunk type and slanting-trunk type, and they can also be shaped into exposed-root style, cascade style, rock-clinging style, connected-root style and so on. Through artistic shaping, a beautiful bonsai is achieved that combines all four qualities: flowers to view, trunk to admire, roots to see, and form to discuss.

Rhododendron Bonsai Photos

Rhododendron Bonsai Photos

Rhododendron Bonsai Photos