Growing rhododendrons - what you need to know

[@waterwoman901]

All the right questions, all the right answers! EXCELLENT

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@Sarah_L_N]

I don't even have any rhododendrons, but I like to watch your videos as they are so interesting!

[@MarlynHSilva]

❤I like the question und the answers exactly ❤❤❤❤

[@hoavacaycanh]

Beautiful garden!

[@feedermonkey7233]

I love this channel! Thank you for your neat, concise information and attention to detail. This has been a great help in working on my garden. Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

You're very welcome!

[@pinkpoodle7100]

Hello Alexandra, Thank you for all your great videos, I rewatch them often❤️

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@wayneenglish2658]

Thank you all for your wonderful information

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Our pleasure!

[@LavenderJergens]

I decided to do a dead heading experiment last year on two limbs of a 60ish year old rhodo in our front garden, unsure of exact variety but popular in midcentury East Coast US gardening, the deadheaded limbs had triple the flower this spring.

[@feeonaghchambers7403]

I have a rhododendron ( sorry no idea what sort) that I planted in a border in my north facing garden. Whilst it has grown in size it has never flowered. A year ago I dug it up & replanted it into a large pot using ericaeous compost as I thought perhaps the soil in my garden was unsuitable. It still hasn’t flowered! I think I will try the potash recommendation in this video before I give up completely! Thank you for this. I really do enjoy these videos immensely even though I am not a great gardener!

[@ntujlubkuamuag2050]

It is. Ery informational. I just wish they show photos of the types they are talking about so I don't have to paul every few seconds to google them up.

[@gardentours]

Beautiful 👍 Leonardslee is definitely worth to visit 🌸

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Yes it was!

[@paultsworld]

Thank you for the video - up to now I’ve just let my rhododendrons fare for themselves and they’ve been fine - but now I want to make sure they keep looking good and am going to actively spend time on them.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@carole-f8x]

Hi Alexandra, thanks so much for this great video. We have a lavender one in full sun in front of our house over 30 years old. has always bloomed and we are lucky because I don't do anything special with it. I love the flowers and wish they would last longer. Thank you for getting all the info for us. Have a beautiful day!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@ellenm4839]

More detail packed into your videos than anywhere else on KZbin!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@Fi_EJF]

Thank you I live in the southern part of Australia my mum had/ has a beautiful garden bed of Rhododendrons and azaleas. I've just planted my own, next to my garden shed where they will have shade protection. This video was great timing for me.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@richardradford3051]

Very informative and helpful. Thank you

[@carmenbailey1560]

Fantastic video, I have two rhododendrons I had have already moved to a shader spot and now I know they like lots of water I hoping to get better results next year. Thanks for sharing 👍❤️😊

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@GardenDoodles]

We have a small rhododendron and an azalea that we planted last spring and they’re doing well this year. We made sure to add an acidifier to the soil this spring though to keep them happy.

[@ASH-kj9xt]

Excellent information about one of my favorite shrubs! Thank you for sharing this interview and hope you’re having a great weekend, Alexandra! 🌿🌺🌸💚

[@dr.f_h1255]

These flowers are abundant in our Village

[@juliejay5436]

Brilliant!

[@Flower_hoarder]

🌺🌸Always helpful‼️🌺🌸

[@Neldidellavittoria]

Anothe great video, Alexandra. Have a nice week.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! You too!

[@dougkelley2781]

My old place is fortunate to have a large surviving Rhododendron Catawbiense from perhaps the late 19th century. It actually had been much larger before being damaged while the house was rented. Being native to this area (New England), it is well suited to the rigors of winter and the beating winds off the water. I’d found that it rooted itself via low lying branches, and I’ve been able to cut and transplant to create many offspring. My goal is to cover the steep bank down to the cove with these, and others I may find from the same genus in other colors. My original begins as a light shell pink that fades to white, and it blooms quite late - even as late as July - but I have a bit of a cold spot. Many gardens can take non-native plants, but mine has taught me to use natives as much as I can.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Absolutely!

[@SirImran]

Talent means nothing, while experience, acquired in humility and with hard work, means everything

[@northeasthardytropicals541]

Agreed

[@justinspring3422]

very useful - thanks!

[@heatherstephens9295]

Brilliant ✅

[@leeannmansfield5254]

I've got 2 rhododendron in pots.i don't do nothing to them.They have massive blooms.

[@rosmitton2202]

Just my problem! I have a 40 year old rhododendron with pale yellowing leaves and very woody in places next to a large oak tree, which is probably taking all the water. Now I know to water it a lot and that I should prune it and when. Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@kerryjean2223]

I'm surprised to hear giving a non flowering acidic soil loving plant alkaline potash.....but good to know.

[@kathbiddle-dutton7069]

Planting in pots ok .. but in zone 7 Delaware USA .. winter freeze would kill them as pots would freeze, yes? ..thanks

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Yes, pots are colder. If you're planting in pots, it's sensible to consider that you're planting for a zone or two below yours. So if you plant something that's happy in Zone 4 in a pot in a zone 7, it'll probably be fine. However, that is how we look at it here, and I'm not sure what happens if you have prolonged very, very low temperatures. These are mountain plants so they're probably quite tough.

[@kathbiddle-dutton7069]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden thank you

[@Kurt.2000]

There’s a garden centre and website based in England that sells rhododendrons grafted onto a rootstock called Inkarho, a German creation that enables the rhododendron to grow on neutral to slightly lime based soils up to a pH of 7.5, I have 2 in my garden although my garden varies from pH 6 -6.5. They’re grown under license in Germany though but are available in England. Just thought I’d add that on as I’ve not seen many English videos talk about it. But definitely a good option for those without acid soils!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's useful to know, thank you!

[@marybachmann]

I usually see them sheared into a round shape, but if they are pruned properly, the stems can form a beautiful sculpture.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Yes, the older ones are beautiful when looked at for their stems.

[@TheJeanie11]

Really interesting thank you. I've been wanting to find out what I could plant in the shady part of my garden

[@dawn8542]

I have an old rhododendron that was h was here before I bought the house 12 years ago. It was probably over 10 ft tall. Last couple years giant sections are dead in the spring. Not sure why. It's a 3rd of the size it used to be.

[@Kurt.2000]

I have R. Catawbiense hybrids in my garden, all newly planted, do you know if these ones produce toxic nectar or are they safe for the bees? There is a lot of conflicting information online saying they are good and bad for bees.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

You're right that there's a lot of conflicting information, but there seems to be reasonable consensus amongst the more academic or research-based organisations that bees will only try the pollen from toxic flowers if there are no alternatives. There also seems to be less issue if the plants are indigenous to the area because the bees and other wildlife will have adapted to tolerate or avoid them over tens of thousands of years. So if you have other bee friendly plants in flower at the same time, and your rhododendron variety isn't on any list of 'invasive plants' or 'noxious weeds' in your state or country, then I think you'd be safe. I found some of the most dire predictions were somewhat sweeping - they just say 'rhododendrons are poisonous to bees', without being specific about where their information came from.

[@jagdishbahia9162]

Thank you so much for very informative video🌺🌸🌼🌺😍 I planted Rhododendrons Tortoiseshell in March this year. Place I planted Rhododendrons is morning sun until 3 o’clock in the afternoon, my Rhododendrons flowers gone brown after couple days😔 is my Rhododendrons is in the wrong place?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It's a woodland plant so that position might be a little too sunny.

[@jagdishbahia9162]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden thank you 😊💐

[@emmalavenham]

Thank you for sharing! Did he by any chance mention whether it is worth it to remove the spent blossoms? I think it does improve bud set, but I cannot imagine that it is possible with a garden of that size. BTW All of our rhodies are on drip to make sure they get enough water, but at the same time avoid wet feet which to my understanding is critical due to their shallow root system...

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

He didn't mention that, but I think you are generally right - also where he trims all over after flowering, then that would effectively be removing spent blooms.

[@emmalavenham]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Many thanks! I just think that many people are reluctant to prune their rhododendrons. But in my experience, they are happier if you help them grow, including more compactly (while maintaining their natural growth habit).

[@BCBRENDA]

Can someone please explain to me as a Floridian why can't we grow rodododendron in Florida zone 8a. We have plenty of azaleas, which is the sister of a rhododendron is what I'm told.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I'm sorry - I don't know. And yes, botanically an azalea is now considered a member of the rhododendron species!

[@r0x8ury]

The buds on our Rhoda havent changed since we got it last year. They look healthy - I think. Leafs look a bit droopy. No idea

[@colincruickshanks7578]

Rhododendrons are so easily moved as long as they are watered before and afterwards, mixing good compost and soil surrounding the rootball, then mulched and kept moist. I've planted them somewhat closer than their eventual size for a little bit of some instant effect. Compromising but not too closely together. They aren't very fast growers. I've moved them whilst in full flower and still they've forgiven me.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Interesting, thank you.

[@selfiopath1982]

Will my rhododendron thrive if planted outdoors in a neutral/alkaline garden clay soil, providing I water the plant with a seaweed fertilizer enriched with iron and feed it with ericaceous fertilizer? Will such treatment acidify the soil? Thank you

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It's quite difficult to 'acidify' soil over a long period of time. I think I'd suggest planting it and seeing how it does, feeding it with ericaceous fertiliser (don't overfeed, follow the instructions on the packet). It may work, it may not, but I think it's probably worth a try.

[@kencarsonsfangirl]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Thank you, Alexandra. I’ll be gentle on the soil life and see if it helps the plant to perform well

[@ellenm4839]

So the one thing I wanted to know most, incredibly in this wonderful fact packed video, was not specifically discussed. For rhododendrons in the ground (not pots) how and when and with what do I fertilize? I noted the comment about potash but further details would be SO HELPFULl. Also, will you be adding the Rhododendron names you mention? Thank you for the many extensive details!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

You can get specific rhododendron/azalea feeds if your rhodie isn't flowering, but generally they don't need feeding, and with both potash and specialist feed, follow the instructions on the packet. I think I tried to add the flowers that I had a name for but not all the information is available, sorry about that! But thank you.

[@carmenbugeja8722]

Does the does Rhododendron need much water when fully grown? I've got the one that grows 1.8 metres high? Is it ok for a filtered position? Thank you

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I think they do need a certain amount of water - in that they don't grow as well in very dry areas. But as they grow, their roots get deeper down, so depending on your rainfall, you may not have to give a mature rhododendron water. Generally, I think that if you need to water a mature tree or shrub, then it probably isn't an ideal fit for your garden. If by a filtered position, you mean filtered light, then they're good in woodland, I believe. Hope that helps!

[@carmenbugeja8722]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Thank you for your advice.

[@vin.handle]

I need a plant in my garden for a spot that gets only one hour of sunlight. Would a rhododendron fit there?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

If your soil is right, that may work. Otherwise look at epimediums or this video may help, along with its related video by the Horti-Culturalists on shade loving plants: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oX_Wg42wjJ16l6s

[@vin.handle]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Thank you. I'll take a look. I notice that a Gulf Stream Nandina does well in pure shade and has a nice green color there. I might go with that one again if I don't find something on the video.

[@aqueenabraganza3164]

Is it a good idea to grow it in Canada during summer?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It depends on whether you have acid soil or not, in acid soil it should be fine but if not try it in a pot wirh ericaceous compost

[@capital_of_cats_Istanbul]

🥰🌺🥰🌺

[@caryhowery2784]

The rhododendron in my yard is 15 ft tall and 8 ft across is that big

[@at1the1beginning]

Nop. Noooope. Nuh-uh. No way. Never! :p

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

:)

[@at1the1beginning]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Aesthetics and beauty is in the eye of the beholder right? =°)

[@MrAllenClemo]

So, this, so that, so, so, so, so. Don't u hear yourselves? Stop wiv the so at rhe beginning of every single answer😤

[@rory5780]

They are destroying British woodlands.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

There are common misunderstandings around this issue. There are two varieties which are invasive in British woodlands - Rhododendron Ponticum and Yellow Azalea. Both are on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act as an invasive species and these are the rhododendrons you refer to. However, all the other species of rhododendrons (and there are hundreds) are not causing problems and can safely be planted in UK gardens without fear of them escaping into the wild. It's explained in the video, if you get time to watch it.