rhododendron

Rhododendrons should be watered deeply and regularly to maintain their lush foliage and beautiful flowers. Rhododendron 'Lodestar' should be watered once a week during Spring and Summer, and once a month in Winter. Be sure to water in the early morning, and ensure that the soil is consistently moist, but not overly saturated or flooded. If the leaves of the Rhododendron start to curl or wilt, it is a sign of dehydration and the plant has been over- or under-watered.

Rhododendron 'Lodestar' is best suited to growing in partial to full sunlight. Depending on the climate, the plant should receive 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day. When possible, it is best to place the plant in a location that has morning sunlight and afternoon shade. This will prevent the leaves from burning, as Rhododendron 'Lodestar' prefers sheltered spots and will benefit from the cooler breeze in the afternoon.

Pruning Rhododendron 'Lodestar' should be done carefully once each year, in late winter or early spring. Start by removing any dead, damaged, or crossed branches that do not have any green buds. After that, remove any branches that are heading in towards the center from the outside of the plant while lopping off a few older branches for healthy new growth. Avoid pruning more than 30 percent of the plant in 1 year to avoid stressing the plant. Make sure to sterilize your cutting tools after and never use anything that was recently used with diseased plants.