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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
I have found that Rhododendrons are quite hardy plants and except for drooping leaves caused by cold winters, mildew and even vine weevil can be an issue as discussed here. Usually, they are generally problem free. That being said, after growing rhododendrons for over 20 years, there is a selection of rhododendron pests including scale insects and vine weevils which can become a problem. There are also a number of diseases that can harm them which I’m always on the…
Powdery mildew is a common disease on many plants, and rhododendrons are no exception but there is one big difference. On Rhododendrons, the white mildew usually associated with powdery mildew often doesn’t develop like on other plants making it sometimes harder to identify. However, the leaves usually develop a yellowish-green or purplish-brown spots or blotches on the surface of the leaves. The good news is that it isn’t necessarily fatal to your plant and can be treated. If you have…
Over the years, I have been asked many times about rhododendrons where the leaves have turned brown and sometimes the leaves also appear to be drooping which is covered in a separate guide. Most of the time, having brown leaves on your rhododendron is usually the result of something known as leaf scorch and sometimes even powdery mildew. Leaf scorch is usually caused by very cold weather, especially wet weather where the soil is saturated but also by the complete…
From personal experence, I have noticed that alliums not flowering is usually caused by problems with the bulbs themselves, what you do with them and from pests and disease. Here are the main causes of non-existent allium flowers and how to deal with them. See also When and how to plant and grow alliums for more information on how to care for your allium plants. Allium bulbs Small and immature bulbs Young or small allium bulbs often do not flower…