The first time I repotted my Satsuki azalea into kanuma soil, I thought I was doing everything right. I had read that kanuma's low pH is ideal for azaleas, which prefer more acidic conditions. But a few weeks after repotting, I noticed the leaves were yellowing and the growth was pretty sluggish. I assumed it was just the tree adjusting, but when I checked the pH, it was way higher than I expected. Turns out, the tap water I was using regularly pushed the pH up since it's quite alkaline.

I learned the hard way that it's not just about the soil you use, but also the water. I switched to using rainwater collected from a barrel, and things started to turn around. The azalea's leaves gradually returned to their healthy green and new growth picked up. I also started checking the pH more regularly with a meter, just to make sure I’m on top of it. Lesson learned: even with a great substrate like kanuma, pH can be a sneaky issue if you're not fully considering all the variables!