Rhodos

[buster]

I just couldn't pass up a bargin. I bought 2 Rhodos yesterday and planted them. I know it's Nov. in Minnesota, but it seems like spring-60deg. I must be nuts! Maybe I'll get lucky and they will be fine. They were only about $3.75 so I took a chance. Does anyone have any ideas that might help? Our ground is still warm and i'm still watering some things. Connie

[DandyLioness]

3.75????? WOWZERS!!!! You got another bargain! I bet they'll do just fine for ya! :wub:

[MrSeedy]

Just make sure you give them a good watering all the way up to the time the ground freezes up for the winter. Being evergreens they need all the water they can get this time of the year, so the leaves aren't so prone to winter burning , when they can't take up any water because the ground is frozen, then with any thaws , if that's possible in Minnesota in midwinter, be sure to water them then if possible and I think they're be fine til spring, and of course some very heavy mulch as well for extra protection of those roots.

[Marimum]

Absolutely, positively protect them from the wind! I bought a rhodie on sale last year, and planted it just off the south-west corner of our foundation, and it died due to the wind. We only found this out after checking with a nursery, who informed us (albeit too late) that Rhodies do NOT like wind.

[Sneezie]

:rolleyes: Wow Connie another great find for you. Good goin girl!!!

[PRH]

buster -
I to agree that you got yourself a good deal! Follow MrSeedy's post and Marimum's post about protection!
I'm sure they will be/do just fine for ya!!!
Phil :-) ;)

[gardenlady]

one thing i always recommend especially because in our zone because we get so darn cold here (z 4) is to make sure you plant it up so that the top inch or so of the 'root ball' is above ground and then give it a good mulching. if they sit down in the soil and stay wet it is almost sure death. the wind is another factor --some people wrap them and some people spray with an antidessicant...either way, the wind can do a number on them.
this is how we professionally plant them here and it really helps to ensure their survival thru our brutal winters....
now you only have to keep the deer away <_<
.....its always something!
good luck

[MrSeedy]

gardenlady, by "keep" watered , I did not mean "soggy" and they do need some moisture in the winter. I'd agee that they don't like soggy soil any time of the year, but do need some moisture in the winter, and the planting slightly "higher" is meant to insure good drainage, since as mentioned they hate soggy soil. Shelter is utmost for most varieties where winters are brutal, and exposed ones do suffer.

[buster]

I planted tge Rhodos in front of the house. Hopefully that will keep some of the wind away. I wanted some bloomers there instead of evergreens. I'm hoping they will be fine. Connie

[gardenlady]

oh hey mr seedy, i didn't think you meant drown them! ;)
sometimes when, well most of the time my customers think that if they make a sink hole for the plant and it collects water there, that it is a good thing <_<

thats all :rolleyes:

[buster]

I have another Rhodo on the NW corner of my house. It's very, very windy here today and I wondered if I could wrap this other Rhodo? It isn't looking good. It is covered with snow and it's leaves are drooping terribly. My poor baby, it's such a great bloomer, I'd hate to lose it. What could I wrap it with?Connie

[MrSeedy]

I must say ,ever since I lost nearly all my shade for my big rhoddie, it tends to get quite yellow leaves in the summer, but I guess since it was a well established plant already when it lost it's shade, it still goes on to flower well every spring. I just wish it weren't too big to move however, or I'd almost consider building a shade arbor or something similar over it, so it's leaves would be as pretty as the flowers, when it blooms. By the way for any of you first time rhododendron growers out there in cold zones, dont' freak when the coldest weather hits and those poor rhoddies will often curl up their droopy leaves and the leaves can almost look black and dead. By some miracle as soon as the weather warms a bit again, those leaves bounce right back up and look green again. I swear they look burned or dead when our nights drop into the minus numbers for a few nights or the days don't warm out of the teens, and sometimes I'm shocked when I look in my garden to see that ,til I remember it's perfectly "normal"!

[buster]

Thanks, Mr. Seedy, I sure hope it perks back up. Connie

[PRH]

Sounds like you got some good feedback from MrSeedy concerning your problem!
Good Luck!
Phil :-) ;)

[Hooked on gardening]

I have two Rampala rhodies that are about 4 years old. They were exactly the same size and very healthy when I bought them. Currently, one of them is doing great. The other looks terrible. I have done nothing different to them. They are planted next to the same plants and one on each side of the same brick stair. The yucky one does get new growth and does flower, but very little compared to the nicer one. What can I do? 1788

1789

[Ginny42]

Maybe some food for acid loving plants. There are spikes you can buy or the stuff by miracle grow called Miracid.

[MrSeedy]

One thing that should be kept in mind when growing plants anywhere near some concrete product such as in brick work, is that some of the lime in that can slowly leach out to turn the soil quite alkaline, which is bad for the acid loving plants. However, since both plants are growing under similar conditions , that's most likely not the problem. Seems some plants are just stronger than others for no obvious reason, even if they're identical clones with the same genes most likely, or perhaps one side of the steps gets more sun or snow loads on it perhaps. Also if you use any deicing product such as salt on nearby sidewalks? Cant recall where you live so disregard, if you don't get ice and snow! I'd assume that sun and wind exposure is equal on both sides of those steps, and if not that could be a reason.

[Hooked on gardening]

One thing that should be kept in mind when growing plants anywhere near some concrete product such as in brick work, is that some of the lime in that can slowly leach out to turn the soil quite alkaline, which is bad for the acid loving plants. However, since both plants are growing under similar conditions , that's most likely not the problem. Seems some plants are just stronger than others for no obvious reason, even if they're identical clones with the same genes most likely, or perhaps one side of the steps gets more sun or snow loads on it perhaps. Also if you use any deicing product such as salt on nearby sidewalks? Cant recall where you live so disregard, if you don't get ice and snow! I'd assume that sun and wind exposure is equal on both sides of those steps, and if not that could be a reason.

Actually the brick walkway runs next to the sick-looking one, so it is around more brick than the other. Also, I bet it gets more snow thrown on top of it too. I think I am going to get some Miracid for it. Thanks everyone!

[Hooked on gardening]

I have to say that my rhodies are growing quite a bit this year. Even the sickly one has new growth. They had hardly any flowers in May - I don't know if that is why they are growing so much thsi year. I did give them some Miracid after they bloomed and will feed them a couple of more times this summer.