so have tried lots of watering over the last few days but that hasn’t changed anything.
garden centre responded to my email, see response below. going to try the weevil spray, which I’ve purchased elsewhere , thought at least they could have given me that if they won’t refund.
but think some pruning maybe in order?
“ With regards to your plant purchase of the Rhododendron on 25th February we have spoken to our nursery staff who advised that they recollect your purchase and that they advised that the plant would need treatment in the Spring. It is now Spring so you can now treat your plant with Bug Clear Vine Weevil Killer.
We sell this product in store at £12.99. Indeed we are also treating our Rhododendrons now as a preventative measure because unfortunately Rhododendrons are prone to the Vine Weevil.
Care: The effect of moving plants can cause some shock depending on the weather. We recall some Frost during March. Plants tend to recover with time. Also depending on where you plant Rhododendrons they can suffer from lack of water, often due to competition to other plants such as tree roots.
Unfortunately our shop’s policy is we do not refund perishable goods, such as plants, grass and foods because how items are kept or indeed the environment are out of our control.
You wouldn't see a difference in just a few days' of watering. It isn't usually instant. I don't think the GC has been very responsible though, but that's how it is.
I would give it a few weeks, or probably a couple of months, before doing anything, apart from trying the weevil treatment. If it was properly planted - ie roots weren't solid, or were teased out if that was the case, and it's in the right sort of soil, then it may just need some time to settle and show signs of recovery. Planting at this time of year is always more iffy unless you're in a cooler damper area. As I said early on - it's a big specimen, and they take a while to establish. Virtually every shrub will take around a year to get properly settled in and start growing, depending on the conditions and climate.
We can't see the condition it was in when you bought it, or the site/soil etc, so it's not possible to be totally accurate with advice. It's based on what the most likely scenario is.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I think that's a very poor response from the retailer.
Their response would seem to indicate that they sold you a plant that they knew was already infected.
You mentioned that much of the compost fell away when you removed it from the pot. That should not have happened. There should be a mass of roots holding it all tightly together. If the compost was full of Vine Weevil larvae when you bought it, that would account for the lack of roots when you took it out of the pot. In my opinion the plant was already infected when you bought it and you should demand your money back. At that size it would not have been cheap! If it were me, I'd also happily name the the GC you bought it from on this forum.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Totally agree with you @Pete.8. As you say - if they're treating their plants - they've sold a plant that was already infected [you can see the damage to the foliage ] and they're basically washing their hands of the problem. You're right about the soil falling off too - that's exactly what would happen if there are grubs there. My first thought was it being recently potted on, especially with the size of it, but most places would do that in autumn. It's why I asked what the roots were like when it was taken out the pot. Didn't cross my mind that it could be due to larvae in there, but it absolutely makes sense now you've said it.
Yes- name and shame. There's no way they should be selling plants when they know there's an infestation. The plants should be isolated and treated, and only back out for sale after that, and some foliage tidying done.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks, I`ve written back to them early, showing photos of now and when it was on sale. That the lady at the garden centre checked with others and said the weevil will probably be fine once planted. I also said its a bit much to ask me to buy the weevil product when it should have been cared for by them, and the fact that the root ball fell apart when planting probably showed it was in a worst state than first thought.
I also said its a bit much to ask me to buy the weevil product when it should have been cared for by them,
Quite.
They're certainly less susceptible in the ground, although you still get a bit of cosmetic damage, but that's not the point. You might have been keeping it potted...
I often pass a garden which has a boundary border full of rhodos and camellias - all gradually dying because the site is totally wrong for them. However, they've recently replaced one dead rhodo with a new one - probably from the local GC. The difference between it and yours is like night and day. It probably won't stay that way, but at the moment, it's exactly how a healthy plant should look - dark green foliage, loads of fat buds about to open, and no damage anywhere.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
That the lady at the garden centre checked with others and said the weevil will probably be fine once planted.
Well it wasn't and they sold you a plant that should not have been for sale. The plant was infected when you bought it so you have every right under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 to demand your money back.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Posts
I did chuck about 10L of water on it a few days ago but no change. Will hold off pruning in case they want to see it.
so have tried lots of watering over the last few days but that hasn’t changed anything.
garden centre responded to my email, see response below.
going to try the weevil spray, which I’ve purchased elsewhere , thought at least they could have given me that if they won’t refund.
but think some pruning maybe in order?
Indeed we are also treating our Rhododendrons now as a preventative measure because unfortunately Rhododendrons are prone to the Vine Weevil.
Care:
The effect of moving plants can cause some shock depending on the weather. We recall some Frost during March.
Plants tend to recover with time. Also depending on where you plant Rhododendrons they can suffer from lack of water, often due to competition to other plants such as tree roots.
Unfortunately our shop’s policy is we do not refund perishable goods, such as plants, grass and foods because how items are kept or indeed the environment are out of our control.
With kind regards,”
I don't think the GC has been very responsible though, but that's how it is.
I would give it a few weeks, or probably a couple of months, before doing anything, apart from trying the weevil treatment. If it was properly planted - ie roots weren't solid, or were teased out if that was the case, and it's in the right sort of soil, then it may just need some time to settle and show signs of recovery. Planting at this time of year is always more iffy unless you're in a cooler damper area.
As I said early on - it's a big specimen, and they take a while to establish. Virtually every shrub will take around a year to get properly settled in and start growing, depending on the conditions and climate.
We can't see the condition it was in when you bought it, or the site/soil etc, so it's not possible to be totally accurate with advice. It's based on what the most likely scenario is.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Their response would seem to indicate that they sold you a plant that they knew was already infected.
You mentioned that much of the compost fell away when you removed it from the pot.
That should not have happened. There should be a mass of roots holding it all tightly together.
If the compost was full of Vine Weevil larvae when you bought it, that would account for the lack of roots when you took it out of the pot.
In my opinion the plant was already infected when you bought it and you should demand your money back. At that size it would not have been cheap!
If it were me, I'd also happily name the the GC you bought it from on this forum.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
You're right about the soil falling off too - that's exactly what would happen if there are grubs there. My first thought was it being recently potted on, especially with the size of it, but most places would do that in autumn. It's why I asked what the roots were like when it was taken out the pot. Didn't cross my mind that it could be due to larvae in there, but it absolutely makes sense now you've said it.
Yes- name and shame. There's no way they should be selling plants when they know there's an infestation. The plants should be isolated and treated, and only back out for sale after that, and some foliage tidying done.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
They're certainly less susceptible in the ground, although you still get a bit of cosmetic damage, but that's not the point. You might have been keeping it potted...
I often pass a garden which has a boundary border full of rhodos and camellias - all gradually dying because the site is totally wrong for them. However, they've recently replaced one dead rhodo with a new one - probably from the local GC. The difference between it and yours is like night and day. It probably won't stay that way, but at the moment, it's exactly how a healthy plant should look - dark green foliage, loads of fat buds about to open, and no damage anywhere.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The plant was infected when you bought it so you have every right under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 to demand your money back.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Awful.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...