Rhododendrom help please

I have the most beautiful huge rhodo in a container and it is a mass of buds..yeasterday they looked fine but this morning the flowers that are out are now all withered looking...the only thing I did yesterday was to put some chicken pellets in the container and water them...have I done wrong..I really am upset ..it is/was such a beautiful shrub..deep mauve...I really hope I have'nt lost it...not me the shrub ...Cheers

 

Hello!!

Im not an expert, but I thought you should only feed them with a Sequestered Iron feed which is designed for acid loving plants. Also you should only water with rain water.

Hope this helps!!:D

 

I don't think the chicken pellets did the damage-and in North Wales ( and on this I am no expert at all) the water is soft so doesn't have too much lime in it-besides you would see the effect of alkaline on the foliage not on the flower buds I think. Nevertheless rain water for acid loving plants.

Is this a new plant to you? It is possible that it is just one that doesn't have good strong flowers. Other than that you will need a more experienced person for it.

 

Many thanks Claire and Bigbird...I asked at the nursery yesterday ..I took one little withered petal with me, and he said lack of water ..it is in a big container...so gave it a really long long soak..and this morning it is definately looking better......I was surprised because it gets water most evenings but obviously not enough.....Cheers

 

...thank you JWK.....I cannot even move the container let alone lift it;(..lol..but I can see, if you had smaller containers it would work..the trouble is now I am likely to overwater..and drown it ....cannot win...

 

all sorted ...it was definately lack of water...it is now looking very well..

 

Goo, I remembered a tip I heard Alan Titchmarsh give once-tap the side of the pot whilst, if it gives a dullish noise its wet, if it sounds quite sharp it needs water.


Glad to hear it is doing better, hope you get lots of pleasure out of it.

 

Thank you claire..it is looking beautiful...