What to do with this bargain rhododendron?

Saw this sorry specimen in Wilko's today and got a reduction on it from £2.50 to £1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22351913@N07/2461486996/
I have some ericaceous compost to put it in, anything else I should do to try and get a good display out of it next year?

 

Daisy, if it`s potbound then you should pot it on. Take off all the dead flowers, that will make it look slightly better. I would also folia-feed it with Miracid. I would put it somewhere cool and shady. And hope for the best.

 

Hi there. Was thinking, would it be worth cutting it back ?

 

Just shows how green[new] i am to this, I Looked at pic and for me its in rhoadieheaven.............But cannot believe it can be saved

Hence replys..........Unbelievable,Good luck

 

I posted this pic a couple of days ago on a thread about potted rhododendrons: -





Be like me. Have faith and send for a darn good priest of a denomination of your choosing.

 

I have some miracle grow for acid plants, so I'll try that. The paltry instructions say not to prune it, but it does look better now I've removed all the dead heads. It's soaking in water overnight and I'll pamper it tomorrow.

 

Daisy, I`ve got great faith in you, go for it girl.:D:thumb:

 

It looks like the indoor type, what we used to call azaelia.
Think I'd water and wait.

Its dried out at some stage and is looking bad, but once new roots start growing it should produce new growth.
Thats when I would pot it on.

 

Wilko's never water their in-store plants, just for the record.

 

I have seen the odd watering can passed over them but they certainly don't care for them as they should. They must lose loads of money in dead plants, all for the sake of someone watering them.
I don't think the air conditioned shop environment does them much good either.

 

There is only one wilkos that I know of that actually waters their plants. Its a place called Eccles in Manchester. I saw a guy watering the plants and I said to him, I had never Known it before in their stores. His reply was no they dont ,but I love gardening,and I hate to see plants die, so I make sure they're watered myself!!! good on him I say. 02