Rhododendron won't flower

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by begoodian, Mar 18, 2013.

  1. begoodian

    begoodian Gardener

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    I have been in my current house for five years and have the aforementioned in my front garden. The first year we were here it flowered, but then my mother-in-law pruned the plant fairly heavily, and it has never flowered since. Is there any way I could encourage it to flower again? Any thoughts most appreciated.
     
  2. Lolimac

    Lolimac Guest

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    As far as i'm aware begoodian it really shouldn't have been cut back especially as drastically as you've mentioned unless it was becoming totally unruly....if it's still looking healthy i'd give it a good mulch of Ericacious compost and only water it with rain water....hopefully this could be the year it springs back into flower...fingers crossed:dbgrtmb:
    Welcome to GC:blue thumb:
     
  3. begoodian

    begoodian Gardener

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    Thanks. It has kind of been left alone over the last few summers and consequently the ground beneath it is pretty compact. Is this a bad thing?
     
  4. Lolimac

    Lolimac Guest

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    I don't think so....they are a pretty tough shrub....after all it's survived a good hair cut;) :blue thumb:
     
  5. merleworld

    merleworld Total Gardener

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    Can you post some photos of the Rhododendron so we can see if it is otherwise healthy? :)
     
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    • silu

      silu gardening easy...hmmm

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      Not sure where you live but certainly in Northern England/Scotland many (not all) Rhododendrons do seem to flower better when South facing. I have quite a few and certainly the South facing ones do flower best.Some Rhododendrons are quite shy to flower, especially the species ones and certainly if yours was pruned severely it will take time for the plant to recover enough strength to flower again. If the ground around the plant is very compacted I'd tend to mulch it with organic material which will break down improve the structure and help to conserve moisture,( not that that was needed last season!) . Rhododendrons are shallow rooted so don't think it would be a good idea to dig over the ground close to the plant.
       
    • Kristen

      Kristen Under gardener

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      Are there Rhododendrons and Azaleas in gardens near you? (Just want to check that you have the right soil type, and that it isn't needing some special "treatment" to be growing in an adverse soil)
       
    • begoodian

      begoodian Gardener

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      Thanks all. I am in Glasgow. I will take a picture in daylight tomorrow and post. It had occurred to me that the plant isn't in peak condition but I don't have an expert eye! Can't say I've noticed an abundance of rhods close by now you mention it, but will take a closer look.
       
    • stephenprudence

      stephenprudence GC Weather Guru

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      Most likely a soil issue, the soil may not be acidic enough. If your Rhody leaves are often yellow or pale, this is the case. Otherwise it may be a moisture thing or something similar.
       
    • Kristen

      Kristen Under gardener

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      Yup, I wondered that as because it did well in the first season maybe that was because the previous folk had given it some special treatment.

      But if it is a soil issue I think its pretty much certain that the leaves would be showing it - the yellowing that Stephen has described .
       
    • Verdun

      Verdun Passionate gardener

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      I suggest a ph test on your soil...easy n cheap to do...then you will know. Sequestered iron spray is very effective. The rhodo may simply be reacting to pruning by growing at the expense of flowers. Is soil dry there? Despite the rain last summer at bud forming time your plant may have been too dry? I have a feeling this may be the problem, viz., a hard dry, compacted soil surface throwing off water. I agree about not digging around the roots but I would mulch with acid bark chips after a thorough soaking with water
       
    • silu

      silu gardening easy...hmmm

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      As you are in Glasgow (lived there for 18 months) it would be very unlikely that you have limey soil. If you/neighbours can grow the likes of Heather, Camellia, Azalea, Pieris with no problems that is a good indication that your soil is acid unless of course the house is fairly new and the builders have left behind "nasties!" No harm in getting a kit tho.It could be that the variety you have isn't that suitable for our Scottish climate (flowers too early/ not that hardy) and it might have formed flower buds which then get too frosted and fall off. I have 2 "mistakes" which produce buds but they seldom actually break unless we have a kind early Spring which we are NOT getting atm!
       
    • begoodian

      begoodian Gardener

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      Here is a pic. It's not great but you can hopefully see it's kind of scraggy at the top.

      ForumRunner_20130320_213422.png
       

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    • silu

      silu gardening easy...hmmm

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      Looks pretty healthy to me and as I suspected not suffering from an overdose of lime (leaves would be pretty yellow). How much sun does it get? We in Scotland don't follow the same "rules" as in England ie shrubs which might do ok in England in semi shade need full sun in Scotland. If your Rhododendron is in a shady spot move it. The rule of thumb with Rhododendrons is if you can physically move it, it will move. I actually had a few moved with a JCB!!!!
       
    • Kristen

      Kristen Under gardener

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      I thought that looking at the photo too. Looks like it has recovered from the pruning too.
       
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