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Rhodo problemette

ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
in Problem solving
My yellow small rhodo is looking sick, i think it may be the soil. I specifically asked the builder for erricacious soil, he said yes, but... this would be the second to die in this patch


Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Start by doing a pH test on the soil. Do you think your builder knew what ericaceous soil is? If it is around neutral, you can feed with an fertiliser for acid loving plants. If it is alkaline, you have no chance.
  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    Does the appearance of the leaves correspond with alkaliniti? 
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    We have rhodos in pots, some in the ground we inherited, a couple we have added, our soil is neutral, did it get plenty of water this summer?
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    That looks chlorotic, anaemic and thirsty so yes, do a soil test before trying to revive or replace it.   I would be tempted to water it thoroughly - not with hard tap water - and leave it to soak then dig it up and re-plant in a large pot of ericaceous compost and give it a foliar feed of Epsom salts diluted at 15ml to 5 litres of soft or rain water.  Assuming it recovers, feed regularly thru the growing season with a liquid feed for ericaceous plants and an annual dollop of slow release fertiliser every spring.

    Rhodos are Asian plants and need a lot of water over late summer/early autumn (monsoon season) to help them set flowers for the spring display.  Thirsty rhodos will drop their flower buds.  Sick and anaemic rhodos won't have the energy for flowers.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    I have been out and bought a large bag of ericacious soil, taken the plant out, dusted of the soil, except the plant pot sized rootball, dug a hole, put in the soil and replaced

    fingers xxxx
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I hope you watered before and after.  
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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