My Rhododendron is dying

Hi all.

well actually its not my Rhododendron that's dying, it belongs to my mam. It is in a very large container where it has been since she got it in the summer of 2003. It's always done OK until this year. All the leaves which are usually glossy and supple, are now dull and dry, even though the soil is moist.

Here's the thing, we now know its a miracle it's lasted this long. I went to look at the bottom of the container to see if I could see anything nasty through the drainage holes, and found that there were no drainage holes, so I suspect the bottom of the soil is probably rotten and nasty by now.

Also, the soil has never been changed, and the only feed the plant has had is an occassional top feed with fish blood and bone. I also remember when we planted it we used general purpose compost and now, having learnt a little bit, I suspect it should have been ericacious compost.

I have 2 questions for you all:

1. Does everything I've said make sense, ie should we change the soil and use ericacious instead, and at the same time sort out the drainage problem?

2. I've noticed in parks that sometimes the parky's cut the rhododendrons right down to leave a stump about 6 inches high. This then grows back really thick. Should I do this on my mam's rhododendron or will it kill it? Is there any special technique involved?

 

hi
i would personally repot it,fresh ericacious compost and a pot with drainage holes,i don`t think cutting it to a stump is the answer that i would think would do more harm

 

I agree, Pam. Clueless, if it can`t go in the ground, then it should be potted on into a bigger container, with fresh, ericaceous compost. It should be fed at least once a week with an ericaceous fertiliser, such as Miracid.

 

Thanks for the info guys. It can't go in the ground because my mam only has a yard, so everything she has is in pots and containers.

When we re-pot it, should we shake off the old compost from the roots or will that damage it? Also, for feeding does it have to be special ericacious feed or can she just use rotted manure or fish blood and bone as a top feed?

 

I would repot with ericaceous compost in a pot with good drainage.
While it's out of the pot have a look for root weevils common in pot grown Rhododendron.
We had them a couple of years ago.

 

Clueless while you have it out of the pot and once you have sorted your drainage holes dont forget to put some shingle or crocks in before you put in the ericaceous so as to help with drainage and root rot

 

As you can tell from this picture, I am the world's leading expert on pot grown rhododendrons. This is one I prepared earlier in a pot and then forgot totally. I have now shoved it in a border but more in hope then expectation.

 

Are you following me john?

 

I would never follow a Chelsea supporter Coub.:D