rhododendron

Rhododendron 'Mary Fleming' does best when the soil remains consistently moist. Water well when they are first planted, and water every 2-3 days there after for the first few weeks. Once they are established, water them once a week but make sure the soil stays evenly moist through-out the summer months. During flowering season water more frequently. During dry hot spells, water more often but never allow the soil to be waterlogged. Make sure to check the soil around the root ball daily during hot spells to ensure the roots are not drying out. In cooler weather, water only when the plant shows signs of wilting or if the leaves start to curl.

Rhododendron 'Mary Fleming' prefers bright, indirect sunlight for optimum growth. In spring and summer, at least 4 to 6 hours of sunlight are ideal. During the fall and winter, the amount of direct sunlight can be reduced to 2 to 4 hours, or preferably filtered light throughout the day. Keeping the plant out of direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day is important in order to prevent overdose of sunlight.

Pruning Rhododendron 'Mary Fleming' should be done in the spring, after the threat of frost has passed. Prune dead or broken branches all the way back to where they emerge from the main trunk. Cut back 1-third of the long stems, and remove 2-thirds of intersecting branches, to promote a healthy growth. Prune away any suckers coming from the base, and trim off any stems growing away from the desired form. Keep the rhododendron's canopy from becoming too dense by removing inside branches. Finally, remove any dead or decaying foliage.