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Rhododendron
Bluebell16
Posts: 9
Please can anyone tell me what is wrong with my Rhododendron?
0
Bluebell16
Posts: 9
Posts
It could be a break in the stem to those branches or a break in the bark layer which is exposing the cambium layer and preventing moisture and nutrients flowing up the stems. It may also be verticulum wilt or simply severe thirst?
Cut off one of the sick stems and check for verticulum wilt - http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=255 If not that, try giving it a good soaking at the roots to see if that helps it recover. If not, cut out all the affected stems and give it a feed or liquid rose or tomato food and some sequestered iron to help it recover.
If the pruned stems do show signs of verticulum wilt you need to remove the plant with as much root ball as possible and destroy it. Do not plant another rhodo in its place. Disinfect your secateurs and other tools after cutting and after digging out.
The problem is that the left hand part is still alive!
er...that's not what I meant. The only good rhododendron is a dead rhododendron!
No - not at all stupid. I'd like to find out too, and then maybe I can use it to get rid of the acres of the stuff in a bit of woodland I help with!
None of which is helping much. Sorry Bluebell!
Steve I kind of agree,love to see en masse in a wooded valley but want rid of the 1 in our front garden!
Other way round with me - ok in a garden but they don't stay there, and take over the world. And no, Philippa, don't shut up - there are loads of introduced species that disrupt our ecosystems. Rabbits and ground elder for a start.
And North American tree rats.
Hmm, vermin with bushy tails.. I think I prefer slugs to squirrels.
...and Spanish bluebells and American crayfish and New Zealand flatworms and Dutch elm disease and ....
steve you seem to be knowledgable on this subject in particular, could the large, purple,mature rhodo in our garden have self spread/seeded a white on a few feet away? it's only a foot or so tall and didn't flower last year, didn't even notice it