January
• Move all trees into full sun
• Rotate trees at least once a month to promote symmetrical growth of roots and canopy
• Do not fertilize satsuki azaleas.
• Reduce watering because the sun is low, not hot or drying.
• Do not water too little! Days can be warm
• Water during prolonged dry spells between storms
• If drainage is inhibited (ponding occurs), repot immediately
• Prop up one end of pots to help drainage during prolonged storms
• Watch for insects and fungi; aphids become active during warm periods.
• Do not use lime-sulfur on satsuki azaleas
• Mesuki. OK to wire and bend; larger branches can be stiff and brittle; thin out new growth so blooms in May will not encroach on each other; seal all wounds
• Plan for repotting during next 2-3 months
• Review and, if needed, replenish supplies of potting mixes and screen materials
• Mix bone-dry ingredients and store for use during next few months
• Start air- and ground-layering late this month
February
• Rotate all trees at least once a month
• Fertilize with 1 tsp. Miracid/gal every two weeks
• Continue reduced watering
• Water during prolonged dry spells between storms
• Prop up one end of pots to help drainage during storms
• Watch for insects and fungi. Aphids can become active during warm periods.
• Do not use lime-sulfur on azaleas
• Mesuki. OK to wire and bend; remove excess buds, if not yet done; OK to make large pruning cuts; seal all wounds
• Trees looking unhealthy, repot immediately and keep in a sheltered place, protect from frost
• Accent plants: divide clumps of bamboos, grasses, sedges, herbaceous perennials, bulbs, etc.
• Air- or ground-layer before buds swell; plan to sever by June or next repotting season.
• Make thread grafts immediately preceding vegetative growth
March
• Rotate trees at least twice this month to promote symmetry as roots and canopy begin period of rapid growth
• Fertilize every two weeks; apply Miracid, Gro Power, or fish emulsion at 1 tsp./gal.; Miracid helps make growing mix more acid
• Repotted trees: delay feeding until 2–3 (some say 4–6) weeks after repotting
• Place fertilizer balls/cakes (see Appendix ) in pot corners and at 8- to 12-inch intervals around perimeter of growing mix; place also where rootage is wanted, but not in contact with trunk or visible roots; saturate to dissolve nutrients; scratch surface of growing mix
• Foliar-feed cascades: apex (= bottom) 3 times, mid 2 X, top 1X
• Place deep-potted cascades in saucers (1/2 depth of pot) containing MiracleGro for a few days at beginning of month
• Repot trees on a three-year cycle; do not repot trees to be subjected to motobadome
• Continue with reduced watering
• Do not over-water repotted plants, roots regenerate best in damp, not wet, growing mix; repotted plants usually have reduced foliage requiring less water
• Water trees during prolonged dry spells between rains
• Adjust automatic, programmed watering system for spring
• Prop up one end of pots to facilitate drainage during prolonged storms
• Apply Subdue if you suspect soil fungi or root rot
• Use Lysol to clean tools suspected of being infected; bleach (10% in water) and Pine Sol are effective but corrode steel
• Control aphids attacking buds and leaves with Safer Soap
• Apply Orthene/Orthenex to control thrips and other sucking insects
April
• Rotate trees at least twice this month to promote symmetry as roots and canopy begin or are in a period of rapid growth
• Fertilize with 1 tsp. Miracid/gal every two weeks
• Repotted trees: delay feeding until 2–3 (some say 4-6) weeks after repotting
• Foliar-feed cascades: apex (= bottom) 3 times, mid 2 X, top 1X
• Start regular watering schedule as temperature rises
• Do not over-water repotted plants, roots regenerate best in damp, not wet, growing mix; repotted plants usually have reduced foliage requiring less water
• Apply insecticides and fungicides as temperature rises
• Apply Subdue if not applied earlier for suspected fungi or rot in roots
• Use Lysol to clean tools suspected of being infected; bleach (10% in water) and Pine Sol are effective but corrode steel
• Apply Safer soap for aphids, Orthene/Orthenex, or other systemics for thrips and other sucking insects; remove scale mechanically; when rain is expected, apply Bayleton, Beenomyl, or Captan to prevent flower blight on early blooming cultivars
• Sacrifice/escape branches: strip lower leaves and lower secondary branching to prevent shading of tree; leave only a pompom of leaves at tip
• Mesuki. Trim errant branches; remove extra-long stems, use them for thread grafts, or shorten to two leaves; prune large branches; seal all wounds
• Last month for repotting
• Thread graft before buds break
• Air-layer after new leaves have stabilized
May
• Rotate trees at least twice this month to promote symmetry as roots and canopy are in period of rapid growth
• Withhold fertilizer from trees to be shown, but fertilize trees in training with Miracid, Gro Power, or fish emulsion at 1 tsp./gal.
• Repotted trees: delay feeding until 2–3 (some say 4-6) weeks after repotting
• Foliar-feed cascades: apex (= bottom) 3 times, mid 2 X, top 1 X
• Water regularly to keep root ball moist, not wet, and never dry
• Do not over-water repotted plants, roots regenerate best in damp, not wet, growing mix; repotted plants usually have reduced foliage requiring less water
• Remember! The most common cause of death for azaleas is overwatering.
• Warm weather causes insects to become active and powdery mildew to grow; maintain defensive treatments; apply Ortho’s Funginex for powdery mildew
• Apply Safer soap for aphids, Orthene/Orthenex, or other systemics for thrips and other sucking insects; remove scale mechanically; when rain is expected, apply Bayleton, Benomyl, or Captan to prevent flower blight
• Trim shoots extending beyond flowers or flower buds, seal all wounds; mark branches to reflect flower colors you want in cuttings; move to a dark, coolest place if blossoming starts too early; move to a warmer, sunny place (even inside the house if weather is cool) to accelerate blooming; clean pots of soil and stains; pull any weeds or liverworts growing on surface of growing mix; trim growth not needed in training; seal all wounds after trimming
• Do not repot, trees are actively growing
• Accent plants: divide clumps of bamboos, grasses, sedges, herbaceous perennials, bulbs, etc.
June
• Rotate trees at least twice this month to promote symmetry as canopy continues its period of rapid growth
• Fertilize to thank plant for blooming
• Foliar-feed cascades: apex (= bottom) 3 times, mid 2 X, top 1 X
• Assure trees and growing mix are not drying out
• Adjust automatic, programmed watering system for warm weather
• Water when mulch on growing mix has dried or top of growing mix is dry to your touch; avoid overwatering that fosters rotting of roots
• Control rapidly multiplying insects as soon as possible
• If ants are in a tree, look for aphids, scale, or mealy-bugs; tip pot on its side to observe lower sides of leaves and branches where insects or their black fecal pellets are to be found; if found, apply Malathion or Sevin
• Apply Safer Soap or Othene/Orthenex to control sucking insects and leaf rollers; if unlikely rain is expected, apply Bayleton or Captan to prevent flower blight on late-blooming cultivars
• Sacrifice/escape branches: strip lower leaves and secondary branching to prevent shading of tree
• Remove all flowers, seed pods, and unopened buds when 80% of flower buds have opened; reduce vegetative growth to no more than two shoots at each tip and two leaves on each shoot; remove unwanted smaller branches; seal all wounds
• Root softwood cuttings
July
• Rotate trees at least twice this month to promote symmetry as canopy completes period of rapid growth
• Do not fertilize show trees, but fertilize trees in training
• Monitor automatic watering systems during hot months, or have someone do it during your absence
• Mist leaves during hot spells
• Watch for and treat insect infestations
• Apply Safer Soap, Orthene/Orthenex, or Malathion for sucking and chewing insects
• Avoid any drastic pruning as growth slows during summer heat
• Do not trim after first week in July to avoid removing flower buds for next year
• Root softwood cuttings
August
• Beware of heat build-up in pot; insulate sunny side of pot with slat of bender-board, aluminum foil, etc.
• Rotate trees at least twice this month to promote symmetry as flower buds are formed on many trees
• Do not fertilize show trees, but fertilize trees in training
• Maintain moist but not damp condition of growing mix
• Mist leaves during hot spells
• Watch for chewing insects; keep them in check with Malathion or Sevin, as directed
• Check wire for biting-in; do not wire or prune
September
• Mist leaves in the afternoon to enhance fall color and leaf retention; do not foliar-feed
• Rotate plants twice a month
• Resume fertilizing after set of next year’s flower buds (detected by squeezing terminals)
• Do not allow trees to dry out; ensure that trees are not over- or under-watered by a drip system
• Mist leaves during hot spells
• Watch for leaf rollers; if found, spray with Thuricide
• Look for wire that may be cutting into bark
• Do not wire or prune
October
• Rotate plants twice a month
• Leaves produced last summer begin to show fall color; note stripes and sectors of darker pigments that parallel coloration of flowers on each branch or branchlet
• Fertilize using low nitrogen fertilizer
• Watering: a necessary chore during the Bay Area’s “summer”
• Adjust automatic, programmed watering system for fall to ensure that trees are not over- or under-watered
• Spray with Malathion to control chewing and sucking insects and leaf curlers
• Do not prune or wire
November
• Review exposure of trees as shadows lengthen northward; move trees into full sun
• Leaves produced during spring and early summer begin to show fall color
• Rotate all trees at least once a month
• First week, give last fertilizer of year
• Adjust automatic watering systems for winter
• Use Diazinon or Malathion for aphids, Sevin for ants, Ortho’s Funginex for powdery mildew
• Do not apply lime-sulfur spray
• Mark for later removal or reduction any branches showing undesired dark pigments; remove any wire cutting into bark and all wire if branches have settled into desired positions
• Late in month begin mesuki to reduce summer’s growth, thin buds, and wire and bend trunks and branches; let plants dry out to facilitate bending
• Accent plants: divide and repot clumps of bamboos, grasses, sedges, herbaceous perennials, etc.; dry bulbs of bulbous plants preparatory to replanting in February
December
• Review exposure of trees to sun at its lowest angle; move all trees into full sun
• Leaves produced during summer should show fall color
• Rotate all trees at least once a month
• Do not fertilize
• Adjust automatic watering system for winter
• Assure that plants receive sufficient water during dry spells; rains may not penetrate through profile of growing mix
• Check old wiring—wire may be biting in
• Continue to use either Diazinon or Malathion for aphids, Sevin for ants, and Ortho’s Funginex for powdery mildew
• Mesuki. Continue thinning of summer’s growth and reduction of floral buds; wire and bend smaller branches; wait until March to prune larger branches
• Accent plants: divide clumps of bamboos, grasses, sedges, herbaceous perennials, bulbs, etc.
(condensed from East Bay Bonsai Society’s revised San Francisco Bay Area Bonsai Calendar for the care of Satsuki Azalea Bonsai)