Rhododendrons hard to grow? Try these methods and they finally behave

Take you to see rhododendrons

 Take you to see rhododendrons

Yang Yuying 

00:00/03:38

Rhododendrons are considered a fairly difficult plant to grow! During the care process, the slightest misstep can cause flowers to drop and leaves to fall in mild cases; in serious cases, the plant just dies! But there is no way around it, who can resist how beautiful rhododendrons are! To get rhododendrons to "submit", we need a few tricks!

Rhododendron

Problems that arise during rhododendron care are generally caused by the following aspects:

Cause one: Not adapting to the environment

Rhododendrons bought at flower markets are generally cultivated in greenhouses. After returning home, they do not adapt to the new environment and easily drop leaves.

Cause two: Incorrect soil pH

Rhododendrons like acidic soil. Growing rhododendrons in slightly alkaline soil causes leaves to turn yellow and fall off.

Cause three: Wrong placement location

Rhododendrons cannot be exposed to strong sun. Too much light on a balcony will cause leaf drop. In addition, a location without ventilation for a long time will also cause leaf drop.

So what are the special little tricks for caring for rhododendrons?

Newly bought rhododendrons should not be repotted or fertilized in a hurry. Place them in a cool, ventilated spot to acclimate for two weeks, letting the rhododendron gradually adapt to the new environment. Rhododendrons prefer acidic soil. For the soil mix, it is recommended to use decomposed pine needle soil (slightly acidic), garden soil plus a small amount of perlite. When potting, a small amount of slow-release fertilizer can be added as a base fertilizer. During the vigorous growth period, decomposed soybean cake water diluted with water can be used every half month, or a 1:2000 ferrous sulfate solution can be used to drench the roots. Rhododendron roots are fine and delicate, so when fertilizing, remember to apply thin fertilizer frequently and never use concentrated fertilizer! This prevents root damage, which can cause water in the plant to flow back into the soil and lead to root burn and branch shrinkage.

Rhododendrons are southern flowers and like a humid environment. Due to climate differences between north and south, when growing rhododendrons in northern regions, you should regularly spray water on the leaves and surrounding area to meet the required air humidity. Water accumulation in the pot is also a major cause of rhododendron leaf drop!

For indoor rhododendron growing, it is recommended to place them in a well-ventilated room with indirect light. A hot, rainy, humid, and poorly ventilated environment can easily cause rhododendrons to suffer from black spot disease! This appears as large black spots around the leaves, accompanied by large-scale leaf drop! This is caused by infection with the fungus Cercospora rhododendri. When this happens, it should be remedied promptly. It is recommended to first disinfect with carbendazim at 800 times dilution, then spray with Bordeaux mixture or spray with thiophanate-methyl at 600 times dilution, using it 2~3 times in a row, with about one week between each application, and it can generally be alleviated.

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