I know many who have success with them as bonsai...but planted in cactus soil holds a bit more water...yet...still draining. I would allow it to become almost dried out in between watering. I wish you success...a stressed plant does not receive fertilizer. (Even FAQ here on this site states that)

Are you purchasing plants at a local reputable nursery, one that sells things appropriate for your climate? In looking, it seems evergreen azalea Fashion would be very marginally cold hardy for your zone, likely would not survive without protection. If that's what you have, neither fertilizing nor moving would be of any help. Deciduous azalea High Fashion should be hardy for you there, and appearing quite bare right now would be normal. A potted blooming azalea Coral Bells at Easter has probably been greenhouse grown and would need to be gradually acclimated to outdoors (hardened off) before you could install it in your garden, but this is another that would not be hardy for your winters.

Hi, mrlike2u =) yea, all the ones that rooted in bark seem to be doing real good. There's by far more oxygen that flows to the roots, vs compacted soil; and the watering can almost be equal to a rainforest as it just flows straight through, and quickly dries. Also, the EC has very small roots compared to the other two holiday cacti, so maybe next spring I'll transplant if it looks to need it. Good morning Josh! You're always too kind. I think that the almost immediate success of pure bark is what drove me to post about it. If you look through the threads, all you see are a good few handfuls of people that are failing to keep their holiday cacti, and orchids alive; and they either give up on them throwing them in the trash (which is really sad) or have some sliver of hope left to keep them alive (but most the time they're really nervous about it) So it's like, if I can provide some insight that I've learned through my experiences, and those learned by people like you, and show through pictures how easy it is; then maybe we can have more success stories. People need to understand that super market holeless pot, and this over dried out soil that never seems to get wet, doesn't success make. I'll go into stores and can tell that rot has set in, or that they're on their last leg, and I honestly just want to rescue all of them! I also notice that everyone comments with their own successful potting mediums, and they're all so different, and so many of them that people get confused and still don't end up with the answer that they originally asked (I think in a way it kind of scares them off.) So if by chance someone with a question clicks here and sees close up pictures of what mine are in, and how they're able to grow so successful; hopefully that person can take something away and have just the same (or even better) success story. Greg J.

I'm a relative newbie, too, but I can tell you that I've planted two florist's hydrangeas (lacecap) outdoors and they're gorgeous now. Late bloomers, but they do bloom. They've been outdoors for about four years. In full sun. I blow leaves on them in late fall for winter protection. Can't offer help on clay soil.