Pacific Northwest Garden Forum: Rhododendron Hybride

Author

Message

RebeccaD
Rainy Side New

Joined: Jun-19-2010
Posts: 2

Topic: Rhododendron Hybride
Posted: Jun-19-2010 at 1:16pm

Hi,
Im new to this site but have a question concerning my Rhodi ...
I purchased it last Jan 2009 and planted it in a partial shade/sun area.
It started to grow and bloomed the most beautiful white flowers and i was very pleased.
This year .. it has grown a lot but hasnt not flowered

everytime it looks like a bud is about to open up on it - it opens out to sprout more green leafs ..
I dont know what went wrong. This is very important to me as i bought it in memory of my child and i dont want to lose it.
Has anyone any idea as to what i must to to help it flower. I understand that it proberly wont flower this year now, but what do i need to do to help it along for next year.
I have fertalized it twice this year so far ...
Help ...
Thanks x

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DebbieTT
Admin Group

Sunset zone 5, USDA zone 8

Joined: Jan-25-2003
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posts: 4306

Posted: Jun-19-2010 at 3:00pm

Give it time to settle in, since you planted it last year and it sets its buds the year before it blooms, it is working on growing a good root system, and this is what you want. You don't need to fertilize it too much and I wouldn't fertilize it anymore this year. Be sure you don't prune it until after it flowers. That it is growing and sounds healthy, you just need some patience, grasshopper.

Be sure it gets a deep watering at least once a week during the drought part of summer until it gets well established this year. Don't use any lime around the root system as it prefers acidic soil. And unless you have it growing next to a foundation or sidewalk that leaches lime into the soil you don't need to add more acidic fertilizers unless a soil test says other wise. Pacific Northwest soils (in the maritime portion) are naturally acidic already with a few exceptions.

I hope I covered all the bases for you, if I haven't someone else will fill in those blanks.

Welcome to the forum!

When the going gets tough, the tough need a hug.

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RebeccaD
Rainy Side New

Joined: Jun-19-2010
Posts: 2

Posted: Jun-20-2010 at 12:37pm

Hiya,
Thank u so much for your reply ..,, i have one more question tho, how do i prune it??? I didnt even know i had to until i read somewhere else ..

I actually live in the UK and the Rhodi is planted in amongst Fir Trees, so i do water a lot as the trees would take up a lot of moisture themselves.

I have noticed that it is very sticky too ... is this a problem im missing???

Thanks for your advise so far ... im so glad its nothing to worry about as i didnt want to lose the plant :o)

xx

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DebbieTT
Admin Group

Sunset zone 5, USDA zone 8

Joined: Jan-25-2003
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posts: 4306

Posted: Jun-20-2010 at 3:06pm

Well for most rhodies, pruning isn't necessary or very minimal. Some rhodies have a tendency towards legginess, so people will prune them a lot. I was just trying to cover all the basis with you on why your rhodie didn't bloom, so mentioned pruning. If done at the wrong time it can take all the flower buds away.

I'm not sure what the stickiness would be from. Could be aphid or other things secreting down from the trees. I don't know what pests or problems you have in the UK, so that may be something you can find out locally. Here we can get a sooty mold happening after sticky aphid secretions cover leaves. Rinse off the sticky leaves and see if you can observe where it is coming from. That wouldn't cause it to not bloom though, but may cause other problems.

When the going gets tough, the tough need a hug.

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Visual Touch
Rainy Side New

Joined: Jun-29-2010
Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor
Posts: 3

Posted: Jun-29-2010 at 9:55pm

I have three rhodies that are very well established in my backyard. They have not been attended to in years and are severly overgrown to the point that they have killed everything that was planted under and around them. The blossoms are falling off now and I was wondering when I could start to prune them back and the best way to prune them. One of them is nearly 10' tall and blocking a beautiful view out the window.

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JeanneK
Mod
Mod

Joined: Jul-28-2003
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posts: 2178

Posted: Jun-30-2010 at 9:23am

You can prune them now. The best way to prune is to thin the branches out and do minimal cutting. Prune out any dead wood and any branches that cross others by following the branch all the way to the trunk and cut just above the branch collar. Then step back and see how it looks. Resist the urge to prune more. You can shorten it a bit by cutting it back a foot or so. Stop at the nearest leave bud.

I would recomend you pick up Cass Turnbull's Guide to Pruning:What, When, Where and How to Prune for a More Beautiful Garden.

Good luck!

Jeanne

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Visual Touch
Rainy Side New

Joined: Jun-29-2010
Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor
Posts: 3

Posted: Jun-30-2010 at 9:40am

Thank you Jeanne for your advice, I will start it this weekend and go easy on it.

New Home Owner

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Author	Message
RebeccaD Rainy Side New Joined: Jun-19-2010 Posts: 2	Topic: Rhododendron Hybride Posted: Jun-19-2010 at 1:16pm
	Hi, Im new to this site but have a question concerning my Rhodi ... I purchased it last Jan 2009 and planted it in a partial shade/sun area. It started to grow and bloomed the most beautiful white flowers and i was very pleased. This year .. it has grown a lot but hasnt not flowered everytime it looks like a bud is about to open up on it - it opens out to sprout more green leafs .. I dont know what went wrong. This is very important to me as i bought it in memory of my child and i dont want to lose it. Has anyone any idea as to what i must to to help it flower. I understand that it proberly wont flower this year now, but what do i need to do to help it along for next year. I have fertalized it twice this year so far ... Help ... Thanks x

	IP Logged

DebbieTT Admin Group Sunset zone 5, USDA zone 8 Joined: Jan-25-2003 Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula Posts: 4306	Posted: Jun-19-2010 at 3:00pm
	Give it time to settle in, since you planted it last year and it sets its buds the year before it blooms, it is working on growing a good root system, and this is what you want. You don't need to fertilize it too much and I wouldn't fertilize it anymore this year. Be sure you don't prune it until after it flowers. That it is growing and sounds healthy, you just need some patience, grasshopper. Be sure it gets a deep watering at least once a week during the drought part of summer until it gets well established this year. Don't use any lime around the root system as it prefers acidic soil. And unless you have it growing next to a foundation or sidewalk that leaches lime into the soil you don't need to add more acidic fertilizers unless a soil test says other wise. Pacific Northwest soils (in the maritime portion) are naturally acidic already with a few exceptions. I hope I covered all the bases for you, if I haven't someone else will fill in those blanks. Welcome to the forum!
	When the going gets tough, the tough need a hug.
	IP Logged

RebeccaD Rainy Side New Joined: Jun-19-2010 Posts: 2	Posted: Jun-20-2010 at 12:37pm
	Hiya, Thank u so much for your reply ..,, i have one more question tho, how do i prune it??? I didnt even know i had to until i read somewhere else .. I actually live in the UK and the Rhodi is planted in amongst Fir Trees, so i do water a lot as the trees would take up a lot of moisture themselves. I have noticed that it is very sticky too ... is this a problem im missing??? Thanks for your advise so far ... im so glad its nothing to worry about as i didnt want to lose the plant :o) xx
	IP Logged

DebbieTT Admin Group Sunset zone 5, USDA zone 8 Joined: Jan-25-2003 Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula Posts: 4306	Posted: Jun-20-2010 at 3:06pm
	Well for most rhodies, pruning isn't necessary or very minimal. Some rhodies have a tendency towards legginess, so people will prune them a lot. I was just trying to cover all the basis with you on why your rhodie didn't bloom, so mentioned pruning. If done at the wrong time it can take all the flower buds away. I'm not sure what the stickiness would be from. Could be aphid or other things secreting down from the trees. I don't know what pests or problems you have in the UK, so that may be something you can find out locally. Here we can get a sooty mold happening after sticky aphid secretions cover leaves. Rinse off the sticky leaves and see if you can observe where it is coming from. That wouldn't cause it to not bloom though, but may cause other problems.
	When the going gets tough, the tough need a hug.
	IP Logged

Visual Touch Rainy Side New Joined: Jun-29-2010 Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor Posts: 3	Posted: Jun-29-2010 at 9:55pm
	I have three rhodies that are very well established in my backyard. They have not been attended to in years and are severly overgrown to the point that they have killed everything that was planted under and around them. The blossoms are falling off now and I was wondering when I could start to prune them back and the best way to prune them. One of them is nearly 10' tall and blocking a beautiful view out the window.
	IP Logged

JeanneK Mod Joined: Jul-28-2003 Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro Posts: 2178	Posted: Jun-30-2010 at 9:23am
	You can prune them now. The best way to prune is to thin the branches out and do minimal cutting. Prune out any dead wood and any branches that cross others by following the branch all the way to the trunk and cut just above the branch collar. Then step back and see how it looks. Resist the urge to prune more. You can shorten it a bit by cutting it back a foot or so. Stop at the nearest leave bud. I would recomend you pick up Cass Turnbull's Guide to Pruning:What, When, Where and How to Prune for a More Beautiful Garden. Good luck!
	Jeanne
	IP Logged

Visual Touch Rainy Side New Joined: Jun-29-2010 Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor Posts: 3	Posted: Jun-30-2010 at 9:40am
	Thank you Jeanne for your advice, I will start it this weekend and go easy on it. New Home Owner
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