Rhododendron -buds turn into leafs- no flowers?
Question:I planted a 2 ft tall Rhododendron catawbiense 'Album last year in zone 5 and was looking forward to its flowers this year. It had big buds for the last week, but now the buds are open and there only are green new leaves. Leafs on the shrub look healthy- what is going on? The Rhodo a few feet away is in full bloom.
Answers:
Usually when this happens, the Rhody was pruned too late in the year. Maybe the nursery or if you pruned it back before planting in the fall you have cut off the next years blooms. Any pruning needs to be done right after the flowering period, because the plant sets its flowers at this time for the following season, which would be now. Any blooms that fail to develop turn into a leafy segment. After the blooms are done, you can grab the spent flower heads after they dry out and gently wiggle them from side to side, snapping them off cleanly. There should be bud unions around and below this area waiting to develop flowers for the next year. The thing about Rhody's is that you can unknowingly ruin the next years flowers if you don't follow strict pruning practices after a blooming period. Same holds true for Azaleas. Let the plant go until next year and you should have a few beautiful flowers. Hope this answers your question...
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...Billy Ray
Sometimes a newly planted bush won't produce flowers the first year. Try giving it some Miracle Grow or a vitamin specifically for a Rhodo.
One easy thing if you're a coffee drinker... Sprinkle leftover coffee grounds around shrubs - Makes shrubs healthy & vigorous & REALLY bloom!!
Also ou can use a well-balanced fertilizer (5-10-10) & feed shrubs by sprinkling 1/4 lb Epsom salt on soil beneath them then water in with *Shrub Stimulator in Spring.
*4 T instant tea granules, 4 T bourbon or 1/2 can of beer, 2 T liq dish soap, 2 gallons warm water - Mix & sprinkle over shrubs --
If mulched, pull back mulch, scatter fertilizer, then replace mulch.
Feed this recipe every 3 wks during growing season:
1/2 can of beer, 1/2 c fish fertilizer, 1/2 c ammonia, 1/4 c baby shampoo, 2 T hydrogen peroxide - Mix all & spray plants to point of run-off.
Good Luck!
this is normal the first year of planting! i had the same problem. it'll look better next year though, once it's established! do not fertilize next spring till after they've bloomed on their own!
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