Rhododendron Question
 

Asked on behalf of a friend with no computer:

She has a rhododendron that has never flowered since she bought it. It was
flowering in the garden centre, but in the two years since it's been in the
garden it's produced no flowers, but does have some large buds that never do
anything.

Can anyone suggest what might be stopping it from flowering?
--
Rhiannon
http://www.livejournal.com/users/rhiannon_s/
"The trick is to commit crimes so confusing that police feel too stupid to even
write a crime report about them."
Aubrey on remaining at liberty
www.somethingpositive.net

Rhododendron Question
 

In article ,
Rhiannon S wrote:
Asked on behalf of a friend with no computer:

She has a rhododendron that has never flowered since she bought it. It was
flowering in the garden centre, but in the two years since it's been in the
garden it's produced no flowers, but does have some large buds that never do
anything.

Can anyone suggest what might be stopping it from flowering?

Two common causes of plants producing flower buds which don't open
are cold and drought at the critical time - rhododendrons are
sensitive to both. It might not be those, but checking those out
is a good idea.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Rhododendron Question
 

Subject: Rhododendron Question
From: (Nick Maclaren)
Date: 17/04/2004 13:06 GMT Daylight Time
Message-id:

In article ,
Rhiannon S wrote:
Asked on behalf of a friend with no computer:

She has a rhododendron that has never flowered since she bought it. It was
flowering in the garden centre, but in the two years since it's been in the
garden it's produced no flowers, but does have some large buds that never do
anything.

Can anyone suggest what might be stopping it from flowering?

Two common causes of plants producing flower buds which don't open
are cold and drought at the critical time - rhododendrons are
sensitive to both. It might not be those, but checking those out
is a good idea.

Can I ask when the critical time for cold is? She lives quite high on the
Lanark moors, so I'm guessing this may be it?
--
Rhiannon
http://www.livejournal.com/users/rhiannon_s/
"The trick is to commit crimes so confusing that police feel too stupid to even
write a crime report about them."
Aubrey on remaining at liberty
www.somethingpositive.net

Rhododendron Question
 

'Rhiannon',

It is quite likely that the roots of the shrub are too dry during the
late summer when the flower buds form.

Encourage your friend to keep its roots moist during the growing season
and its performance should improve.

Regards,
Emrys Davies.




"Rhiannon S" wrote in message
...
Asked on behalf of a friend with no computer:

She has a rhododendron that has never flowered since she bought it.
It was
flowering in the garden centre, but in the two years since it's been
in the
garden it's produced no flowers, but does have some large buds that
never do
anything.

Can anyone suggest what might be stopping it from flowering?
--
Rhiannon
http://www.livejournal.com/users/rhiannon_s/
"The trick is to commit crimes so confusing that police feel too
stupid to even
write a crime report about them."
Aubrey on remaining at liberty
www.somethingpositive.net

Rhododendron Question
 

On 17 Apr 2004 11:55:46 GMT, emon (Rhiannon S)
wrote:

Asked on behalf of a friend with no computer:

She has a rhododendron that has never flowered since she bought it. It was
flowering in the garden centre, but in the two years since it's been in the
garden it's produced no flowers, but does have some large buds that never do
anything.

Can anyone suggest what might be stopping it from flowering?

The others have almost certainly diagnosed the problem but there is a
remote outside chance it could be 'bud blast' - remote chance, this is
more likely where there are lots of rhododendrons. Do the flower buds
partially form, then go hard dry and brown, and stay there for ever
unless you pick 'em off? It would be worth cutting open some of those
buds after normal flowering time. Remove and burn those buds anyway.
Poor growing conditions from early summer onwards is a much more
likely cause.

Rod

Weed my email address to reply
http://website.lineone.net/~rodcraddock/index.html

Rhododendron Question
 

The message
from emon (Rhiannon S) contains these words:

Can I ask when the critical time for cold is? She lives quite high on the
Lanark moors, so I'm guessing this may be it?

Might be, but I doubt it. The Castle Grounds in Stornoway are always a
riot of rhododendrons. Indeed, a rioting forest of them.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

Rhododendron Question
 

The message
from emon (Rhiannon S) contains these words:

Asked on behalf of a friend with no computer:

She has a rhododendron that has never flowered since she bought it. It was
flowering in the garden centre, but in the two years since it's been in the
garden it's produced no flowers, but does have some large buds that never do
anything.

Can anyone suggest what might be stopping it from flowering?

Soil not acid enough?

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

Rhododendron Question
 

In article ,
Emrys Davies wrote:

It is quite likely that the roots of the shrub are too dry during the
late summer when the flower buds form.

Encourage your friend to keep its roots moist during the growing season
and its performance should improve.

Yes, but she did say that it formed buds which didn't open!

I don't grow rhododendrons (obviously), but I have quite a few plants
that form buds only to have them swell, shrivel and drop off. The
causes are usually some combination of very dry conditions, a late
frost, or a dry or cold period with a wind.

Stornoway (to refer to another poster) isn't known for dry winds,
or even very cold ones. High up on the Lanarck moors, I would expect
that a cold wind just as the buds start to swell or open is the cause.
Many flower buds are much frost hardier when small than as they start
to become flowers.



Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Rhododendron Question
 

Ok, I think I've gotten this working. I hate computers!

Right, thanks to everyone for their replies:o)

I think I can rule out the not enough water, R's garden is quite damp bordering
on the water logged in parts even in summer.

I'm not sure what we can do about the lanarkshire wind, I wont say it's cold,
but their is a thriving welding industry catering to brass monkeys even in
summer [weg]

The ground it was planted in was quite compacted, so I wonder if that might be
it, plus it seems she is on black almost oily clay. I've loosened the ground
with a fork and dumped some proper compost in it too.

The only other thing to note is that the buds have grown and then just sat
there for the last year, no going brown and dropping off, just sitting there
waiting.

Most bizarre.
--
Rhiannon
http://www.livejournal.com/users/rhiannon_s/
"The trick is to commit crimes so confusing that police feel too stupid to even
write a crime report about them."
Aubrey on remaining at liberty
www.somethingpositive.net

Rhododendron Question
 

The message
from emon (Rhiannon S) contains these words:


The ground it was planted in was quite compacted, so I wonder if that
might be
it, plus it seems she is on black almost oily clay.

"Black oily clay" sounds horribly like soil contaminated with coalmine
or steelworks spoil, both possible in Lanarkshire.

Janet.

Rhododendron Question
 

Subject: Rhododendron Question
From: Janet Baraclough..
Date: 23/04/2004 23:31 GMT Daylight Time
Message-id:

The message
from emon (Rhiannon S) contains these words:


The ground it was planted in was quite compacted, so I wonder if that
might be
it, plus it seems she is on black almost oily clay.

"Black oily clay" sounds horribly like soil contaminated with coalmine
or steelworks spoil, both possible in Lanarkshire.

I can rule out steelworks, but coalmine spoil seems a terrible possibility.
The only things that seem to grow in her garden are conifers, berberis and
grass. Any suggestions?
--
Rhiannon
http://www.livejournal.com/users/rhiannon_s/
"The trick is to commit crimes so confusing that police feel too stupid to even
write a crime report about them."
Aubrey on remaining at liberty
www.somethingpositive.net