Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Rhododendron: Cause of browning along leaf central vein?

midgardenermidgardener Posts: 1
in Problem solving
Hello everyone - first post from a new gardener with absolutely minimal knowledge.

One of my rhododendrons has developed browning from the central vein on some of the leaves: any idea why?

I’ve had a good look around online but can’t seem to pinpoint the issue: any suggestions gratefully received!

I have attached a couple of pics.

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I don’t grow rhododendrons so know nothing of specific problems… but two thoughts occur to me 

    i) is this only happening to older leaves or are newer leaves also affected?

    ii) are there signs of any leaf-mining insects actually inside the leaves?

    Hopefully someone with more specific knowledge will see this soon …

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I wondered if it's leaf miner too. I would clear all the leaves. Using clean secatuers remove the damaged leaf next to the bud. If it is newly planted it will be dealing with some stress. Stressed plants are more vulnerable to pest and disease.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I have a very old large rhododendron that gets various marks on some leaves. It doesn't seem to affect the overall health of the plant and the affected leaves usually drop off at some point.
    I suspect the problem with yours is environmental.
    They're really though as old boots.
    Mine was about 15ft round and 12ft high. I chopped it all down to about 3-4ft a couple of years ago and it's already back to about 8ft.

    This site give pics of various problems which may give you some further ideas - 
    https://gardenlux.decorexpro.com/en/sad-i-ogorod/dekorativnye-kustarniki/rododendron-bolezni-i-lechenie-foto.html


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited 23 January
    Insects, wind, frost, sun, phytophthora, it could be one of several things
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Sign In or Register to comment.