Most Wellington soils are the right pH for Rhododendron but you can dig through peat or add aluminium sulphate to bring it down. Enrich the soil with some compost and Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed before planting. Plant in semi shade, avoid Lime and mulch annually for best results. Rhodos don't like their feet to be sitting in water, so ensure that the soil is free draining. Breeding has created many compact forms for smaller gardens. Sorry, we're unable to determine your location. They combine well with Azalea, Camellia and Pieris and will look good with trees such as Cornus (Dogwood), Acer (Maples) and the range of Magnolia. Spray with insecticide at two weekly intervals. Rhododendrons have a few requirements: excellent drainage, a soil pH between 4.5 and 6.0, and protection from hot afternoon sun. A lovely Rhododendron with deep green foliage and a neat and tidy habit. Avoid weeding or cultivating around your Rhododendron as this can break the fine roots. Both Himalayan and tropical varieties grow best in a moist, well-drained lime-free acidic soil. Spray early spring and summer to break the cycle, ensuring you get underneath the leaves. Having evolved near the equator where the daylight hours are constant, vireya rhododendrons can flower at any time of year. Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Choose a well drained spot in the garden that gets dappled sunlight during the day and protection from the afternoon sun. Spray with insecticide at 2-3 weekly intervals through summer. Rhododendrons must have plenty of water. They prefer full sun in winter, and part shade in summer. Shear your rhododendrons in the winter when you are doing large cuts. Growing them is easy, this guide will show you how. Try not to prune during a freeze. They have leathery leaves and are available in large and small flowered varieties. Do not use lime. Rhododendrons and their relatives such as pieris and azaleas are very easy to move because they have a dense mat of fibrous roots very near the surface. There are over 100 varieties to choose from so see in-store for your preferred variety. Mulch sparingly over the roots and feed with a rhododendron specific fertiliser in spring after the first flush of flowers. Please try again. These varieties require plenty of water when new growth appears after flowering has finished. The sub-tropical vireya rhododendrons thrive in our warmer humid regions. Winter pruning is better for more shocking trims because the plant is dormant, so its energy is not in its leaves or flowers. Spots enlarge to form irregular blotches until whole flower collapses. Here is a quick guide to pests and diseases that Rhododendrons can be prone to. Position in full sun to dense shade. Rhododendrons & Azaleas. Like many groups of plants these are definitely one that you start to collect. The best time to plant is from winter to early spring before the new growth appears but they can be planted at any time of year as long as they are well watered through the summer months. Improve drainage or lift up plants in wet soils. On the whole Rhododendrons are really hardy, so if something looks amiss use ageneral insecticide or fungicide, or come and see us in-store. When we started in the plant business back in the early 80s, rhododendrons were a hot ticket item. How to Plant Rhododendron & Azaleas Plant in spring or early fall. We were but one of several rhododendron nurseries in Taranaki and to … Please try searching by suburb or postcode. Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. (06) 368-5025. Keep mulch away from the plant’s stem as this can lead to rot and pests. When planting, dig a hole that is roughly twice the size of the root ball and loosen the removed soil. Spray with insecticide at two weekly intervals. Keep the pot in shaded conditions until roots start to form – usually within about six weeks. They do not like having wet feet and benefit from having a mound created for them to sit up above the soil level to improve drainage. Tropical: Position in full sun to dense shade. These Rhododendrons grow best in cooler climates with deep soil and high rainfall. Mites are minute sucking insects found on the underside of leaves in a fine webbing causing distortion, speckling and silvering of leaves to cause the leaves to go yellow (stippled or mottled) and dehydrated in hot dry weather. They work well in most styles of gardens especially oriental and woodland. These plants form a branch of the ericaceae family and can offer a wide variety of plant sizes, flower colours, foliage types and plant forms, as well as lending themselves to interesting groupings. Likewise other rhododendrons can be shifted into the backyard for the summer after they have finished flowering. Pinch out leggy branches after flowering to encourage shrubs to bush out. Some tropical varieties are reasonably cold tolerant, but almost all of them dislike frost. Usually hardy and easy care, they can be affected by Aphids and Mites which are easily sprayed for. Enrich the soil with some compost and Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser before planting. Move the plant to a more sheltered position. Posted by on 18 November 2019. If garden soil is poor, feeding rhododendrons is one way to provide the plants with nutrients. Best planted from September through to March. In the first few years make sure they don’t fry out in summer. It’s a good idea to buy them when they are in flower, that way you can see their colour. They come in unusual colours like orange, salmon and red. ... ©2020 New Zealand Plant … Well suited to Auckland’s climate, most varieties produce stunning bursts of flowers multiple times a year. After flowering is also the right time for pruning. Brown-black specks on the underside of leaves. Brown edges on the leaf can be stress caused by dehydration from wind, sun or dry soil. Fertilizing rhododendron bushes isn't necessary if the shrubs are planted in fertile soil. Wet or alkaline soils can cause a lack of vigour and yellowish leaves. Click on this article to learn how to fertilize rhododendrons. Water each shrub deeply through the drier months. Look carefully on old wood to find growth buds. Rhododendron specific fertiliser in late spring after flower finishes and just before new growth starts. Noted for its abundant flowering, the quality of its foliage and its pleasant fall colors, Hamamelis x intermedia 'Pallida' is one of the most popular hybrid witch hazels and one of the finest winter-flowering shrubs. A comprehensive information resource covering all aspects of Vireya Rhododendron culture, including cultivation advice, background history, classification & distribution, together with complete listings of named hybrids and Photogallery containing over 900 images. Spray at two weekly intervals fungicide. They have a very shallow root system so they can be easily grown in the garden. Make sure they are not shaded too heavily over the summer as this could inhibit flower bud set for the following season as well as encourage the plant to grow leggy and become sparsely foliaged. Sorry, this page is unavailable right now. Small black sucking insect that cause the leaves to go silver and dry. If the plant cannot be transplanted immediately, it can be put in a container with plenty of mulch to keep the roots from dying in cold temperatures. In favorable climates the transplanting can be done at almost any time when the plant is not in soft growth, except at the very hottest times. It is more important to make the planting hole wide rather than deep as Rhododendrons produce only limited deep anchoring roots but … When transplanting rhododendrons, the root ball must be as big as possible to ensure getting all the roots. These Rhododendrons grow best in cooler climates with deep soil and high rainfall. In early spring, the rhododendron buds swell. Use a Rhododendron specific fertiliser immediately after flowering. Clusters of small sucking insects that appear on new growth. PLANT HEALTH. Pruning is best done after flowering in late spring, this gives the plants the best possible chance of flowers for the following season. In cold climates early spring transplanting is recommended. Without enough water in summer rhodos shut down their flower production for the following spring. Cut the leaves in half to reduce water loss and stick in potting mix. Most varieties hold their leaves for two years and then in the third year, as summer progresses and autumn nears, the lower leaves drop off the stems. They prefer full sun in winter, and part shade in summer. An acidic (no lime), well draining but moisture retentive soil is preferred. Balling is when the flower bud starts to show colour but does not open and turns brown. Improve drainage or lift up plants in wet soils. Rhododendrons must have plenty of water. As flowering approaches add 5 ml teaspoon of 9 month Osmocote Plus per 200 mm pot or 5 litres of mix. Prune young plants and old plants to create the shape you like. Rhodo tips: Plant … Azaleas and Rhododendrons are versatile evergreen shrubs, popular for their vivid displays of flowers from late winter to early summer. One of the best time to take cuttings is after flowering and when the new growth has started to harden (semi-hardwood cuttings) - usually sometime around November but it can be earlier or later depending on whether the plant flowers early or late. Besides the dazzling displays of flower, it is the variety of foliage and growth forms that make them such valuable landscaping plants. This also helps suppress weeds and reduces watering need. (04) 564-8391        Levin (Ohau), 132 McLeavey Road. As you travel around New Zealand you will notice rhododendrons growing in certain environments that you might not recognise as being particularly textbook conditions. Rhododendrons enjoy a cool spot in dappled shade but will tolerate full sun if well watered during dry spells. At planting time, use 10-10-6 fertilizer before you water the plant in. Wainuiomata, 285 Moores Valley Road. Deep watering is more effective than light sprinkling. Most Wellington soils are the right pH for Rhododendron but you can dig through peat or add aluminium sulphate to bring it down. Generally, the conditions will have one of the above three points going for it. Rhododendron Fertilizer Schedule You’ll want to use a particular fertilizer composition for the different stages of your rhododendron growth. In hot areas, fall planting is recommended, as this allows the Many varieties keep a naturally tidy habit but pinching off the new shoots at the end of the stems will encourage more buds further down to burst away. After planting put down a layer of mulch to conserve moisture and help keep the weeds down. Scale Insects suck the plant sap and appear as small brown lumps on the stems and foliage. Click here for more info. How to grow rhododendrons in a garden. Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and 2 times as wide. Rhododendron are appealing and colourful shrubs that are available in a wide range of sizes, leaf textures and forms and in shades of pink, red, white, yellow and blue. Here are a few varieties to consider: PLANT TYPES Himalayan (cold climate) Rhododendrons. Named to commemorate 100 years of nursing in New Zealand, it forms a reliable and floriferous mid-height shrub at 1.5m. There’s a broad range of mature plant sizes and temperature tolerances among rhododendron varieties. Caring for my Vireya . Rhododendrons have fibrous root structures which are masses of tiny hair like roots that stay close to the surface. Space plants 2 to 6 feet apart, depending on their estimated mature size. These are evergreen shrubs, which flower from late autumn to early spring. In heavy frost climates prune in summer/ autumn. Adding compost, potting mix or coir fibre will help. Wet or alkaline soils can cause a lack of vigour and yellowish leaves. As a rule of thumb, the smaller the leaf, the more sun tolerant they are. Avoid overhead watering. Plants grown in shadier spots tend to be less compact than in full sun. They can grow from 50cm up to 4 metres. Site: Plant the rhododendron out of the wind and in dappled shade, preferably from a high cover of limbs that will give filtered shade all day. Plants grown in shadier spots tend to be less compact than in full sun. Prune just above the bud and new growth will appear there. Most rhododendrons and azaleas in the landscape, even large ones, can be moved using proper care. They make fantastic container plants with thick shiny leaves and waxy flowers. How to grow rhododendrons in a garden Choose a well-drained spot in the garden that gets dappled sunlight during the day and protection from the afternoon sun. Move the plant to a more sheltered position, increase watering and mulch around the shrub. Advanced symptoms - Petals feel slimy. R. macgregoriae is still going strong in our garden after 60 years It is commonly thought that Rhododendrons only grow in a cold climate, but tropical varieties are also available that prefer more temperate climates. When pruning, look for a growth bud on the stem that you are wanting to cut. First published in the April issue of NZ Gardener and reprinted here with their permission.   0800 4 MITRE 10. Slow, stunted growth. Learn how to grow rhododendrons in your garden with the RHS expert guide on choosing, planting, feeding, pruning and propagating plants. However, they don’t like their feet to be sitting in water, so ensure that the soil is free draining. Without enough in summer they will shut down their flower production for the following spring.