This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Underperforming rhododendrun
Busyliz
Posts: 149
Hello gardeners
My mature rhodo which is normally festooned with blooms produced only two blooms this year. It looks healthy with no sign of any disease. Any suggestions as to why it didn't come up with the goods?
0
Posts
Is it in a pot or in the ground? I may have been too thirsty last summer and early autumn which is when they set their flower buds for the next display. It may have been given too much nitrogen feed which promotes leaves but not flowers.
If yours is otherwise healthy, I suggest you give it a good dollop of slow release rose or tomato food together with a liquid drink of rose or tomato food for an instant tonic and followed by a mulch of ericaceous compost or soil improver formulated for rhodos, azaleas and other ericaceous plants. Make sure it doesn't get dry in August and September and it should be fine next spring.
Not sure if I pressed the right button to reply oblixx, The rhodo is in the ground and yes, I think you're right about the water. I don't think it got enough last summer/autumn but I will use your remedy to hopefully restore it to its former glory. Thanks