This is how it thrives best

Perfect rhododendron care - watering how and when?

Small casting errors often cause major plant damage. Typical example: The total amount of irrigation water is needs-based, but is administered in unfavorable amounts and time intervals. It makes sense to inform yourself about correct watering.

Older, well-rooted plants regulate their water balance themselves under normal weather conditions. A freshly planted or cut back rhododendron must be watered thoroughly even in rainy weather. A watering rim piled up around the roots keeps the water on the roots. After rooting, it is sufficient to water once a week.

Too wet or too dry? Ask the spade or your finger

With the spade dig a small hole. If the soil is dry to a depth of ten centimeters, it must be watered thoroughly. To do this, depending on the weather, place the hose on the plant for an hour and slowly let the water seep away at low pressure. Too short watering only moisturizes superficially.

Mulching maintains and increases soil moisture.

With potted plants, your finger feels at a depth of 3 cm whether there is a need for water. Watering intervals that are too short wash out the nutrients quickly. Liquid fertilizer immediately compensates for any deficiency.

The plant needs moist roots but no waterlogging! Therefore, make sure that the soil or the ball of the pot is moist, but not in the water. The general rule for shallow roots is: Better more and not as often than just a little regularly.

Which irrigation water do rhododendrons prefer?

A rhododendron cannot tolerate calcareous water. Therefore rainwater or stale tap water. To soften the irrigation water, simply hang a bag of peat in the irrigation water for a day!

Perfect rhododendron care - but how do you repot?

Whether large or small - as a shallow root, a rhododendron can be repotted relatively easily.
The right time: With a full moon in spring or early autumn, in order to form sufficient roots in good time before the first sub-zero temperatures.

Repotting - what to do

A rhododendron prefers one partially shaded location and acidic soil with a pH of 4.0 to a maximum of 5.5.

Before repotting, cut back the rhododendron a little, break off any withered umbels and shorten the roots a little, this activates new root formation and stimulates growth. Water the rhododendron balls well. Insert the plant at the same height as before. In no case deeper otherwise the roots will suffer. Rhododendron earth Press lightly and water abundantly and a little in three weeks re-fertilize. Then wait for the Sherpas and drink rhododendron tea until the next lush bloom in spring ...

Cutting rhododendrons - when and how?

Rhododendrons cut when the moon is waning cannot bleed to death because the juices descend. The closer to the new moon, the better the effect. Cut rhododendron at the right time so that the plant recovers and new buds form over the summer.

Cutting rhododendrons - how?

Take care of one easily sloping Cut and avoid cutting horizontally! Not only to get your fellow human beings out of danger;), but so that rainwater does not collect on the cut surface and freeze at sub-zero temperatures.

Rhododendron pests - which pests are the worst?

Rhododendrons attract numerous insects. These rhododendron pests attack the plant particularly often.

• Aphids
• Whiteflies
• Black Weevil Beetle
• Bed bugs
• Cicadas

Why yellow leaves?

Just like humans, plants turn pale and yellow when they lack something or with diseases. Yellow leaves and pale green indicate deficiency symptoms in the rhododendron. Another sure sign of this is that the rhododendron does not bud and does not flower.

Why brown leaves?

Despite proper care and an optimal location, the Rhododendron brown leaves and spots affect on buds. To take effective action, you need to know what the diseases caused. Insidious rhododendron pests are spreading: We will show you how to drive away the killer quickly and permanently and how to treat discolored leaves effectively.

Fertilizing rhododendrons - how and when?

In order to achieve dense growth and colorful flowers in the rhododendron, play the right fertilizing an important role. Because the roots of the rhododendron branch out widely on the surface, nutrients must be able to be absorbed directly in the soil. The best way to fertilize rhododendrons is to use them organic fertilizers or special rhododendron fertilizers.

Avoid calcareous fertilizers such as Primary rock meal. the most varieties of rhododendrons In addition to a pH value that is too high, they are sensitive to calcareous soils. On the other hand, like all shrubs, they appreciate mulch in loose soil.

Rhododendron in winter - what should be considered?

In our latitudes, rhododendrons overwinter in the garden. Only for those cultivated in the bucket less hardy species a protected location and additional covering of the roots with sticks is required. Important: In dry winter weather do not forget to water as long as the ground does not freeze. As evergreen plants, rhododendrons evaporate a lot of water through their large leaves.

Tips & Tricks

Rhododendrons are important scaffolding and structure builders in the garden. You can plant them not only individually, but also in groups or as hedges.