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#1
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Problems with older rhododendron
We inherited a very old scraggly large rhododendron. It was never in
very good shape and we have done a lot to try to improve its health: extra water during dry summers, added iron and added epsom salts, special rhodo fertilizer. All to little avail. Some photos of the poor quality lime green leafs and spotting can be found he http://imageshack.us/g/17/0001un.jpg/ Any assistance on whether we can do anything further to help this plant would be appreciated. Larry Gagnon |
#2
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Problems with older rhododendron
"lagagnon" wrote in message ... We inherited a very old scraggly large rhododendron. It was never in very good shape and we have done a lot to try to improve its health: extra water during dry summers, added iron and added epsom salts, special rhodo fertilizer. All to little avail. Some photos of the poor quality lime green leafs and spotting can be found he http://imageshack.us/g/17/0001un.jpg/ Any assistance on whether we can do anything further to help this plant would be appreciated. Larry Gagnon You don't say where you are or what sort of soil you have? if you are in a drier part of the country or your soil is unsuitable naturally then you will never win. If you are in a good place for them then heavy watering (hose on all day) and organic mulching may help as may hard pruning to encourage new growth from the base, takes a few years for the plants to resume flowering but does re energize them -- Charlie, Gardening in Cornwall Holders of National Collections of Clematis viticella and Lapageria rosea cvs http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk |
#3
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Problems with older rhododendron
On May 5, 12:56*pm, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Fri, 4 May 2012 15:27:27 -0700 (PDT), lagagnon wrote: We inherited a very old scraggly large rhododendron. It was never in very good shape and we have done a lot to try to improve its health: extra water during dry summers, added iron and added epsom salts, special rhodo fertilizer. All to little avail. Some photos of the poor quality lime green leafs and spotting can be found he http://imageshack.us/g/17/0001un.jpg/ Any assistance on whether we can do anything further to help this plant would be appreciated. Larry Gagnon Looks like a mineral deficiency of some sort. The trouble is, a number of deficiencies can produce yellowing leaves with reddish or bronzed edges, much like yours. For example nitrogen, magnesium and potassium deficiencies will all give those symptoms. I see that it appears to be in full sun, and bearing in mind the low rainfall of the past two years across most of the UK, I wonder if it's simply been too dry at the roots, when of course it can't take up the nutrients it needs, so will show signs of multiple deficiencies. I'd agree with Charlie P; plenty of water regularly and a good thick mulch (3-4 inches) of acid leafmould across the whole root area, or maybe rotted pine needles if you have access to a stand of pine trees. Give it a high-nitrogen feed, watered on monthly (sulphate of ammonia is best for rhodos) until the end of July, when you could give it a couple of potash feeds to encourage flower bud set for next year's flowers. But don't overdo the feeding otherwise you risk burning the roots, and then you're back where you started with poor nutrient uptake. -- Chris Gardening in West Cornwall overlooking the sea. Mild, but very exposed to salt gales I don't know how Rhodo's react to a foliar feed, but I'd try. I'd add a bit of detergent to act as a wetting agent to help it stick to the leaves. Maby something like Phostrogen that has trace elements |
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