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Category: Gardening Articles

Why are the leaves on my azalea drooping?

Why are the leaves on my azalea drooping?

The azalea leaves may be drooping due to disease or environmental conditions. The most common reasons are lack of water, especially in pot grown azalea, which need watering regularly. Be careful not to overwater, as this can also cause the leaves to droop and is usually an issue in poor draining soils. Evergreen varieties can also get drooping leaves caused by frost and cold weather, especially if it’s been mild for a while and then you suddenly get a sharp…

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How to revive a dying azalea by identifying symptoms and treat

How to revive a dying azalea by identifying symptoms and treat

Are you sure your azalea is dying? Many pests and diseases cause non-fatal issues to azaleas and I cover them here. This guide assumes you have watered your azalea as needed (not let it dry out) and is not too wet such as being planted in poorly draining soil, which leads to root rot or is planted in a container with no holes or is root bound and just needed potting on. But if your plant really is on its…

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Why is my azalea not blooming?

Why is my azalea not blooming?

If you’re not getting the glorious two-week display of blooms on your azalea, it may be due to disease or environmental factors. Here are the most common causes for your azalea not blooming and what to do about them. Too much nitrogen in the soil encouraging foliage only Your azalea may not be blooming because its environment has too much nitrogen. Maybe you’ve overdone this micro-nutrient in the fertiliser you fed your plant. Nitrogen is great for lush foliage growth…

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How to propagate rhododendrons from cuttings

How to propagate rhododendrons from cuttings

The best way to propagate rhododendrons is to take cuttings. It’s easy to take the cuttings, but it’s a long and fairly difficult process to grow them successfully. But that’s OK, just take lots of cuttings. Here’s how to do this. When to take rhododendron cuttings I have found that the best time to take rhododendron cuttings is during the warmer summer months. Aim for between the end of July and the middle of August in the UK. Taking them…

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Growing rhododendrons in pots

Growing rhododendrons in pots

Growing rhododendrons in pots can be done very successfully, especially if you carefully choose the variety you grow. Here’s how to have a display of these glorious plants in containers. Choose your rhododendron variety Look for a dwarf variety of rhododendron. I like ‘Ostbo’s Red Elizabeth’, Rhododendron yakushimanum cultivars, and the deciduous Rhododendron ‘Lutescens’. You can grow any Rhododendron in a pot for a shorter period of time, but they will quickly outgrow their pots, so choosing a smaller variety…

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Why is my rhododendron dying?

Why is my rhododendron dying?

It’s quite difficult to kill rhododendrons, so are you sure that your rhododendron is dying? Many problems with rhododendrons can be fixed, so don’t give up on your plant yet. Here are some of the common problems with rhododendrons and what to do about them. Growing environment Planted in the wrong environment in the wrong soil PH rating Rhododendrons like moist but well-drained soil and to be in partial or dappled shade. They do need sunlight but not hours of…

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Why is my rhododendron leaves turning yellow?

Why is my rhododendron leaves turning yellow?

The reasons that your rhododendron may be going yellow are primarily linked to its growing environment and how you are treating the plant. Here are the main reasons for this problem and what to do about them. Firstly, I have found the most common reason for rhododendron leaves turning yellow is the soil not being acidic, which leads to yellowing leaves. I recommend testing the soil ph with a soil testing kit, and you need a soil ph of below…

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What’s eating my rhododendron leaves and buds?

What’s eating my rhododendron leaves and buds?

Are you sure something is eating your rhododendron leaves? Pests and diseases, the weather and the plant’s growing conditions can all make your rhododendron leaves vulnerable. While some of these problems do actually eat the leaves, the others just make it look like the leaves are being eaten. Here’s what to look for and what to do about the problems. First of all, check out my article Rhododendron pests and diseases. This gives an insightful view of the most common…

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When and how to prune rhododendrons

When and how to prune rhododendrons

Rhododendrons don’t need a lot of pruning; even as a professional gardener, I’ve not pruned rhododendrons too often, with the exception of cutting back overgrown or dead sections. You can prune rhododendrons to keep them in shape, remove spent flowers to serve energy, rejuvenate the plant or remove diseased or dead bits. Most pruning is best down bwteen late winter after the first frost and right up to the last frost in spring. This is when they are technically dormant…

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Why are my rhododendron buds falling off?

Why are my rhododendron buds falling off?

The main reason that rhododendron buds are falling off is usually drought or lack of water when grown in pots. Usually, they develop buds around June and July, so ensure they have enough water during this time as they form. More on this below. Drought is not the only cause of bud drop, so in this article, I also identify other causes and what you can do about all of this. Not getting enough water Rhododendrons usually develop flower buds…

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