Regional Bonsai Care

摘要

Azaleas are arguably one of the most truly ideal species for bonsai; yet there still exists a great deal of controversy about them, and in fact they are even avoided by many bonsaists. On one hand, they have great trunks, fabulous nebari, near perfectleaf size, and respond well to wiring and pruning, and love shallow pots; as a bonus, they have a relatively lengthy and beautiful flower display. On the other hand, the really great trunks require in-ground development, and we have yet to come up witha source on this continent; the Japanese imports are becoming increasingly expensive and difficult to obtain. Furthermore, some purists from the bonsai "naturalist" school of thought argue that since azaleas in nature are multistemmed bushes, that styling them as trees is wrong (in fact many of these bonsaists object to "pine-style" training on any bonsai with leaves). The image of azaleas as not being real bonsai has been further perpetuated by the appearance in Japan and this country of azalea societies dedicated to the flowering aspects of azaleas, in which they are grown in forms designed to display the flowers.Thus, there is an abundance of azaleas in lollipop or multiple S forms which remotely resemble bonsai, but not good bonsai.