by Midge Goeth

Tommy, you are the undisputed king of azalea bonsai and inquiring minds want to know. Will you share your knowledge and intellect about growing azalea bonsai with us?

GLBS - We all know you have had a fascination with bonsai gardening for many years. What or who got you started? And when did you get involved with Greater Louisville Bonsai Society?

TOMMY- I have always had a great love for nature and especially trees. In 1966 while reading the Ford World News, I found a feature article about a Ford employee and his hobby - Bonsai. When I saw a picture of his 90 year old spruce bonsai, I was hooked. My search for information about bonsai did not produce much locally, but I was able to locate a couple of books in New York City. However, pots, tools and trees were another matter, and I lost interest. Ten years later in 1976, I met Elaine Walden (a former club member) on a sales call and when I entered her back yard, I noticed that she had a collection of bonsai trees. After some negotiating, I finally convinced her to sell me her least favorite tree which was nothing more than three maple seedlings she had dug from her fence row. I killed this first bonsai with a little too much attention before the next spring came. But, this got me excited again. Elaine Walden helped me get in touch with Lee Squires who was a member of The Greater Louisville Bonsai Club, as it was known in those days. Lee assisted me in joining the club and most everyone knows ...... the rest of the story.

GLBS - How long have you been interested in azaleas, and what event created that interest?

TOMMY - I became interested in azaleas about 20 years ago when I purchased my first one from Brussel's Bonsai and I soon learned that they are very easy to grow when given reasonable care.

GLBS - How do you start creating a specimen azalea bonsai? Give us some insight into your creativity. I dug mine out of a foundation planting and truly did not know where to go from there.

TOMMY - Purchase one. Or, you can grow a nice Satsuki azalea from a four inch size whip to a one inch caliper bonsai in 10 years or so, if you have the patience. A few of my bonsai were created this way, but the larger specimen trees in my collection are 30 plus years old and they were imported from Japan. Collecting azaleas from the landscape to grow as bonsai is a good way to get started, but it seems that they seldom have single trunks when you find them grown this way. It is difficult to train them into some of the traditional bonsai styles except maybe the clump style. Some of the azalea varieties I have found growing in southern climates that have a longer growing season tend to have a larger single trunk, making them a better bonsai subject.

GLBS - Do azaleas have special needs in their care? What soil mix is best?

TOMMY - If there are any special needs, I guess I would have to say they are: Never to let your azaleas become bone dry, and do not winter them outside in our unpredictable climate. The soil mix I currently use is: 1/3 lava rock - 1/3 medium Kanuma - 1/3 fired clay.

GLBS - Talk a little about the seasonal regime you have for your azaleas.

TOMMY - Beginning in early spring and until the rainy season has past, I apply daconyl using a watering can every two or three weeks as necessary to prevent petal blight. This method allows you to completely cover all parts of the tree much more effectively than spraying. Then I begin the annual battle with lace bug using an insecticide. I do not seem to have problems with other pests. During the blooming period, I remove about 25% of the blooms to relieve stress on the plant, and I remove dead flowers as soon as possible.

GLBS - How long should one expect to train, fertilize, and grow an azalea to become a specimen plant like the ones you exhibit?

TOMMY - Unless you spend a lot of money for a "finished" azalea bonsai, you will need between five and ten years to refine a typical field grown one imported from Japan. All my azaleas still need a lot of refining.

GLBS - What about special fertilizing, shade/sun requirements, watering, when to trim, when not to prune, when to transplant and root prune?

TOMMY - I begin to fertilize after blooming and pruning are finished and new growth is present. Every two weeks I alternate fertilizing with the following: #1 MirAcid + Dyna-Gro + Superthrive. #2 Fish emulsion + Superthrive + Epsom salt. FOLLOW THE LABEL DIRECTIONS. I water my azaleas usually every day or when needed depending on the weather conditions. I grow my azaleas in partial shade to ensure that the bonsai pot is not subjected to full sun. Azaleas need their root systems to be kept cool and moist. And as I said before, they should never be allowed to become completely dry.

I prune every two years on average in early spring at the same time as my other bonsai. This is the time I feel is most safe. Many books recommend repotting after your azaleas have finished blooming and I have followed this advice in the past. The blooming period here can be anywhere from May to late June and I think this is too late in the season.

GLBS - What are the best wintering conditions?

TOMMY - In late fall I allow my azaleas two or three hard frosts to get ready for winter. They are then placed in my storage shed, built especially for my bonsai, until spring. The temperature in this shed stays just above freezing and does not fluctuate much. Although many varieties of azalea are hardy in the landscape, I would never allow an azalea bonsai to be left outdoors for the winter.

GLBS - And what about those blooms? Can we expect lots of blooms, several large ones, or no blooms because of all the trimming?

TOMMY - With Satsuki azalea, blooms are easy and plentiful. Heavy pruning must be done soon after blooming is finished to ensure next years buds are not removed. Although maintenance pruning can be done at anytime.

GLBS - Would you like to see GLBS have a special showing of "Azaleas in Bloom"? What time of the year can we expect to have spectacular blooms on our bonsai azaleas?

TOMMY - Yes, if there are enough members in the club who are interested in this type of show, and enough members growing azalea bonsai. A show dedicated to azaleas in bloom would be very interesting.

GLBS - What is your best advice for someone who wants to start a bonsai azalea?

TOMMY - Read! Do some research, but most important, grow a lot. Like it or not, you will certainly kill some, and that's okay as long as you learn from your mistakes. Without a degree in horticulture, this is the best way I know to learn what works and what won't work. One thing is for sure... you will not learn anything in front of the television.