Rhododendrons

Q. Several Rhodie plants I put in last year...2 are rather small one is about 3-4 feet tall and nicely bushed out. First I live in the state of Washington at about 1800 ft. elevation the trees are planted under fir trees in a park like setting nicely spaced apart (the trees) to let in adequate light but are protected from heavy snows.

When I planted them last summer they were already in bloom. We have pretty good soil fairly loamy and rich and I don't believe I fertilized them but once or twice. The trouble is that in looking at them this spring I realized that not one single plant had put out a single new flower bud. My two older plants on the other side of the house in a flower bed against the house have both set blooms....they get the same care and are actually in poorer soil. Is there anything I can do at this point? Plus what about getting buds to set for next year?

A. You know this happens from time to time. First off the bat the bushes are new to their locale and must adjust to a different condition to what they had wherever they were before. The soil light temp and moisture are all different. It takes time for most flowering perennials to adjust.

Many times they send up a couple flowers just to tell you that they are alive. Remember that the flowers you see this spring were initiated in the tips last late summer and fall. By winter the amount of flowers is already determined by the plant. Therefore it is obvious that you can do absolutely nothing right now to get flowers but you have to think about the care of the bushes and getting flower set this year!

I would like you to start feeding them monthly with MirAcid fertilizer [good for lowering the pH of the soil making it more acidic]. Follow the directions on the label. I am pleased with the description of where you have them growing including the fir needles which will keep the pH of the soil acidic which is what they need.

Please water them this year too. I know they are protected and cool but slow deep drenches are so valuable for perennials.

Q. This summer the leaves on some of my rhododendrons in Indiana are curling. Why?

A. Rhododendron leaves begin to cup and curl at the edges when temperatures rise but the water source is lacking. The leaves will be curled very tight and begin to droop. This problem is not caused by insects or disease but is a way the plant reduces water loss from its leaves during dry windy weather.  Carefully watch their watering as you can prevent this with additional waterings when the climate is hot and dry. A two inch mulch would keep the top feeder roots cool and moist so consider this.

Gardeners who don't believe our climate is changing haven't been paying very close attention. Either that or they aren't growing rhododendrons and azaleas! Whether we're simply going through a warming cycle dominated by higher temperatures and less precipitation.