My question is whether anything can be done to help my rhododendron, or should I remove it. For at least two years in a row, a dwarf rhododendron in m...
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My rhododendron is not blooming #337841
Asked June 29, 2016, 4:49 PM EDT
My question is whether anything can be done to help my rhododendron, or should I remove it. For at least two years in a row, a dwarf rhododendron in my front area has failed to bloom. Both this spring and last spring, the plant produced buds, which then turned brown and fell off as the season progressed. In each spring a couple of blooms did emerge, but overall the plant failed to bloom, in earlier springs I remember the plant did bloom. The plant was transplanted from a nursery five years ago, two other dwarf rhoddies (different varieties) were bought and transplanted at the same time. These two others are planted within two to four feet from the ailing one, and they have bloomed beautifully (they both tend to bloom earlier in the season than the ailing one). What may be wrong with this rhododendron and what action should I take?
Multnomah CountyOregon
Expert Response
Any buds that turn brown and fall off should be bagged and placed in the trash, not compost. It may be bud blast, which is a fungal disease. If it is, there is no known treatment for it. Bud blast is characterized by the buds turning hard and then forming a fuzz. See attached photo. If it is bud blast, you will want to remove the plant.
At first I thought bud blast might be it, but when I looked more closely at the buds, I did not see the fuzz that seems to be a distinctive characteristic. The buds I have are hard and desiccated--I attach an image.
Is this plant allowed to dry out more than the others? Buds will not open if the soil is too dry. If the other plants have more overhead shade, they may be retaining their moisture better.
Did someone apply a nitrogen-containing fertilizer too late in the season? Avoid giving the plant nitrogen after late spring. You can give it phosphorus and potassium spring to summer and then allow it to harden off as fall approaches.
This can also happen with a late or early frost. I would deadhead your spent flowers or wilted blossoms. Have you done a soil test recently? If your soil is acidic, amend with dolomite lime. If this bush is closer to the lawn, the lawn fertilizer (nitrogen rich) could be impacting the plant.
Thanks--I don't fertilize much, and in any case the two nearby plants get the same treatment (and they haven to had this problem). I also don't have a yard, but this plant is nearer to the street than the other two and is more exposed to sun and other elements, so perhaps that is the problem. I will test the soil.Thanks very much for your answers! As long as these environmental problems seem to be most likely, I will keep working on this plant.
