rhododendron

Rhododendrons should be watered thoroughly but only when their soil is dry to the touch. A good rule of thumb is to water this plant once every 5-7 days during the warm season, and once every 10-14 days in the cooler months. For best growth, supplements such as rainwater, misting, and compost teas can also be used during periods of drought. It is important not to overwater, as this can lead to root rot and plant death. Watering should be done early in the morning to avoid promoting the growth of disease-causing fungi. In addition, Rhododendrons will benefit from monthly application of compost or well-rotted manure diluted in water.

Rhododendrons prefer to receive moderate amounts of sunlight throughout the day. For instance, Rhododendron smirnowii, a species of rhododendron, usually thrives in partial shade or filtered sunlight for 4 to 6 hours a day. That being said, a location that receives some morning sun and some afternoon shade can be ideal for this plant. When providing too much direct sunlight, Rhododendron smirnowii can suffer from sunburn, leaf scorch and dry soil.

Rhododendron smirnowii should be pruned just after the flowering season, which usually falls between late spring or early summer. Since this species can become large over time, older rhododendrons may need to be pruned more heavily than younger plants. To promote health and flowering, lightly prune the outer branches back by about 1-third of their size in order to shape the plant and open up the center to light and air. It is also important to remove any dead, damaged or diseased branches and each winter lightly prune some stems back to just above a healthy growth bud.