I have a fairly young rhododendron in the back yard. We've lived here for nearly 3 years and have done nothing to this overgrown patch of garden but the rhodo did fine the first couple of years we've been here. Its in an area that is overgrown with muscari and some other purple plants that are kind of similar but they reproduce like weeds. Not sure if they've contributed to this rhodo's condition. It also looks like it may have been attacked by morning glory last year. Leaves are droopy, just doesn't look well. Yesterday I put some fertilizer on it for roses and other perennials. I have 2 rhodos in the front yard that are smaller than this one. They both look healthy. Is there any hope for this tree? Young rhodo that doesn't look healthy ( photo / image / picture from whistler's Garden ) Rhodo leaves and buds ( photo / image / picture from whistler's Garden ) Rhodo leaves and branches ( photo / image / picture from whistler's Garden ) Rhodo branch ( photo / image / picture from whistler's Garden )
I am not positive but I think they like an acidy fertilizer...and I once heard that it isn't a good idea to plant them near any cement because this makes the soil more alkaline...but seriously, if it hasn't bit the biscuit...it sure looks like it's thinking about it.
One possibility could be what we call, "Wortelrot phytopthera", or root-rit Phytopthera. I have only seen this once a few years ago and I do not recall what the person did to combat this. The problem with your Rhodi may well be a complicated one...in fact it could be a combination of several factors. It is difficult for me to comment with certainty on your plant since I don't know several things. I don't know what kind of ground it is growing in. Compact, loose...clay humus-rich....moist or dry. What the pH is of your soil (this is VERY important). If there is a "soil pan" under the plant's roots...if you water it frequently...if you water it with tap water or rain water....what the temps have been like there in your yard. --Do you see what I mean. It would be best if you could get a specialist to come and have a look (from a garden center or nursery, for instance). If that simply isn't possible, and if it were my plant, I'd dig it up and check the roots then if it looked salvageable, I'd plant it in a different place and make the ground "optimal" in the new place, after researching this problem further. Perhaps even on a small hill of special rhododendron soil and mulch for drainage. If it isn't a sickness, then sub-terranean rodents must be considered as well. Lastly, I guess that it is possible that it was not well when you bought it, but one would think that it might have shown signs of un-wellness earlier. Please keep us updated on this--we could all learn from this. Good luck.
I cannot offer any advice as I just planted my first ever rhododendren last year. But, I bought it from a nursery called Rare Find Nursery -- that specializes in rhododendren, azalea, and other woody plants. I found them to be extremely helpful and knowledgeable and I was thinking that they might offer an opinion if you were to send the picture to them. Then again, they may not want to comment on a plant that they didn't raise... but you never know. Here is the link -- and it's a really neat nursery anyway. Lots of interesting plants. When I ordered my rhodie, it came beautifully packaged and just lovely. It is located in Jackson, NJ, pine barren area. http://www.rarefindnursery.com/
Sjoerd is right about it could be many things. Here are some of my ramblings. One thing of the major killers of rhodies is planting depth or too much dirt, mulch placed over their roots. The leaves are reacting like they aren't getting enough moisture or air (shallow roots). One suggestion might be to take the pictures to a local nursery and ask what they think? People transplant rhodies from now through their blooming period (yours has lots of blooms on it). You also might want to look up bark split. With the really cold weather we had in December that might be a problem. I have lots of wild bluebell hyacithins around by rhodies. Adds to the display and they are great companion plantings.
This rhodo was already planted here when we bought the house. It has bloomed the past two years. We had a fairly mild winter here, just outside Vancouver, BC on the wet coast of Canada so we get a lot of rain. I haven't had to put the sprinkler on this part of the garden since September. We have clay around here though our property has very nice topsoil due to former residents being avid gardeners. I'd say we have to dig more than a foot, like closer to 2 feet to find clay. No rodent problems around here. Residential area. I saw a mouse in the front garden last summer but there are no out of control problems around here. We have 3 other rhodos on the propery, 2 in the front yard, one other in the back yard, but not in the same section of garden this one is in. We were planning to replant that one, which is considerably older, near this one, but just never got around to it. Late this afternoon we covered the ground around it with chicken manure and some very good top soil, so we're hoping the nutrients might help it along. I only have one place where I could transplant it to, along the back of the shed, but only for a temporary basis because it'll outgrow that area. I don't know how many times this tree can stand being transplanted. I was at a nursery yesterday too buying sod. Didn't think to take along photos of the rhodo. For sure am keeping an eye on it. It should bloom sometime in the next 2 months if its going to at all.
It does look a bit sorry for itself, doesn't it? Rhododendrons like alkaline soil, and chicken manure is often too chalky and too strong for them. They're really very easy plants to keep if only they get enough humidity and are sheltered from the winds. The spring breezes can dry out a rhododendron bush very quickly, at least here where the ground might be frozen so the bush can't drink. Good luck with saving your bush.
Say Droopy, I didn't know Rhodies liked alk. soil, unless they were grafted onto a specific root stock so they would be alk.-tolerant. Are there special sorts that you guys can buy up there? Have a look at this page: http://www.rosebay.org/chapterweb/jpsoil.htm
I had a Rhodo that looked just like that after a particularly cold and windy winter. Once spring came had lots of new growth and has been fine ever since. Have you had a bad winter this year?
A little acid in the soil will help a rhododendron get the nutrients it needs. They do well near pine trees.
Gotta love Sjoerd's very gentle way of questioning Droopy...cute. Netty, I once had some friends whose Rhodos would wilt and curl up like this in the winter too and they always came back fine in the Spring too. I didn't want to volunteer that info because heaven knows I don't know what I'm talking about -- but since you do, and you said it, I will agree. I've seen that happen too.
I can't say as how I've paid any attention to this rhodo the past couple of winters/springs seeing as how its at the back of the property, so for all I know this is normal for it. Hoping it comes back. The really weird thing is I have a larger rhodo in the side garden, closer to the house, about 50 feet away from this one and I looked at it today and it has no leaves at all! But it has lots of buds. This is the one I want to transplant but haven't got around to it. I noticed this rhodo for the first time last summer when I was mowing the lawn. I thought it was an errant branch from the neighbor's yard, but when I busted through the foliage to investigate I realized its on my side of the fence. Its about 5 feet tall and growing about 3 feet sideways trying to escape a lilac tree and some big tree on the neighbor's side. It has beautiful red blooms when it comes out, but seeing as how I never noticed it before I don't know if its normal for that one not to have any leaves on it or not. Here's a photo I took of the bigger rhodo last May. I think it has leaves on it but I can't tell for sure because the surrounding trees overpower it. Other side of how rhodo is growing ( photo / image / picture from whistler's Garden )
There are orange, yellow, and white deciduous rhodies that I know of. There may be more colors. They are often very fragrant. We have one up at the cabin, but I have never been able to get a picture of its blooms (forget the camera). Here's what it looks like just before loosing all its leaves. deciduous rhodie in fall colors ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )
