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For all those with Rhododendrons that aren't flowering.....
Orchid Lady
Posts: 5,800
in Plants
......please don't give up hope!! Below is my Rhododendron, it still isn't as healthy as I would like but I can't remember the last time it flowered, in fact I didn't even know what colour it was!! Every year it would get buds and they just never opened......this was taken just now, raindrops and everything. All I've done is cut it back a bit in spring (from advice off here) fed it once with special acid loving plant feed and then watered it once or twice a week with tea 
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As I've said, still work in progress but with all the new leaf shoots too and when I split the Day Lily next to it I'm hoping for even better results next year.
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Well done. Shows what a bit of tlc will do. I have high hopes of one that I had to cut right back a few years ago flowering again. I was brutal but there were long branches with a few leaves (admittedly flowers) at the ends. On the other hand we have gained at least 7ft of garden.
If I had access to this forum then I would know to cut back a third at time and give it a tea break now and again. Never too old to learn (said the old dog)
Thanks Lesley, this forum is great, it has taught me so much and in such a short space of time too
Trouble is, my brain is getting full too quick 
Wow Mike, seriously?? They are acidic loving plants and tea is acidic, I learned it on here....I think!
I'm very impressed with myself now.....you are one of the experts 
I can't remember where I read it now, it was a few weeks ago and it said to fed them waste tea and also open up used tea bags and out the tea leaves on, I have only done that a couple of times but I do save the 'waste' tea from the tea pot in a jug then top up with water and water it to all my acid loving plants in rotation in the evening
MrsG and OL - make a point of watching Beechgrove this weekend. You'll enjoy the garden they visit, and the owner has done a bit of rhodo pruning. As you'll see MrsG - they're very happy to be pruned
Rain does spoil the blooms if you get a heavy downpour or two, but they love a good watering. Mine is over now, but it's also had it's haircut MrsG - will get a pic later if I remember.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Mine is only quite small so I worry that if I prune it there will be nothing of it, I'm presuming I need to prune it straight after flowering too as next years flowers come on in autumn.....is that right?
No need to prune rhodies at all unless they have damage or are outgrowing their space OL. Some are slower growing than others but even ones described as dwarf will ultimately get quite big. The important thing to remember is that they need space to develop to give their full impact so try to avoid having too many things growing nearby. Give them a chance
Re my earlier post about pruning - I was referring to a post MrsG had recently about one she'd had in a pot for a long time, and the one I have here by the front door is getting too big for it's boots and I need to get a path alongside it which is why it got a snip!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
DOH!, should have gone to spec savers OL
Thats great, glad its flowered for you.
My white one has lovely blooms but is looking like it needs a prune. My pink one looks great this year too.
Youngest son gave me one for mothers day this year called Chtistmas cheer, finished flowering now but very pretty.
This is my pink one called Carrie Anne.
That's pretty Lily, I do love rhodies and there are loads growing near us, really big ones so I knew it should be growing. Anyway, see how I get on next year and I might 'invest' in another one