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Azalea & Rhododendron

What Is Correct Sequence of Blooming on Rhododendron?

westes Zone 9b California SF Bay

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

What is the sequence that a rhododendron goes through when it blooms? Does it send out the new growth of stem and leaves and then flower at the end of that? Or does it flower first, and the new stem and leaves follow? You would think Google would answer this question but I was not able to find anything.

I have only five rhododendrons so far, and I used those as my test bed to learn what kind of soil, watering, location, etc these plants need to thrive. One of these has a nutritional deficiency and is not blooming. Three are very slow to bloom. The photo below shows the one plant that is shooting out new growth. I'm hoping there is a flower to be found somewhere at the end of this new growth. This plant is a Seaview Sunset rhododendron.

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Comments (4)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
Generally, the flowers will appear before the new growth emerges. But sometimes you will see the unopened buds of both flowers and new growth on the plant at the same time. You will get to be able to tell the difference between them with some time and experience :-) They look somewhat similar but are distinct.

I spent a good portion of yesterday afternoon removing the spent blossoms on the rhodies closest to my entry. I really dislike seeing the old faded flowers....at least on those plants most visible. Others in the garden are far too big to be that meticulous :-) And when removing the spent flowers, you have to be careful that you do not also remove or damage the new growth that appears around the flower trusses. Stems that do not produce flowers generally will extend the new growth a few days to a week or so earlier than those that do produce flowers.

I see no signs of flower buds on the plant in the photo. And it is getting a bit late for any flowering on most rhodies.....it is definitely the end of the season up here!!
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay
Original Author
5 years ago
@gardengal48 Well shoot I have no rhododendron flowers this year. I did recently start a once-a-week MiracleGro acid-loving fertilizer on them, and these are all container plants. I am adding some Epsom salt to the fertilizer to supply magnesium as well since MiracleGro does not appear to have much magnesium and my acidic soil may make magnesium relatively unavailable to the plants. I am not sure why they are not blooming.
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Picture linked to on this page shows something else. (Don't know the plant, can't say if photo is correct - it doesn't really look like what might be expected. Picture might have been taken at a collection where the plant has the wrong label or sign on it). Greer's Guidebook to Available Rhododendrons says only (in the narrative) that "Exceptional, very late flowering pink flowers are held in large trusses. This is one of the most difficult plants to propagate." Here is a link that might be useful: beautifulbotany.com - Botanical R-S - Stock Photography by Janet Davis
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I'm thinking those "dots" (and darker area in the petal center), are just the natural coloration on the flowers. :-) If your buds are dropping, it could be that they are not getting enough moisture (maybe the air is too dry) or the tree is just naturally thinning itself for various reasons. I noticed that these lemons are so floriforous. They sortof go overboard. LOL I know you are in your fall season and going into winter there, so the cooler temps may help if it is dry. One thing you can try to keep ants at bay is a product called "Tanglefoot" (if they have it there), which is a sticky substance that you can spread on a surface that the ants can't cross without sticking to it. Some people wrap a small piece of cardboard or aluminum foil around the base of the trunk and spread the stuff on. This will help keep the ants off the top. A cheaper solution would be to use petroleum jelly to do the same thing. I think that once you can keep the ants down, then any aphid problem will be reduced. If you think there are ants colonized in the pot, I have seen recommendations to soak the container in a big bucket of water to try to remove the ants (they will bail out). Then you'd have to let the soil dry for a bit. After this, maybe prop the container off the ground and consider putting a piece of hardware cloth (window screen material) or cheese cloth over the drainage holes to keep the ants out. Just some thoughts!
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Thanks for the info! We didn't trim them at all this year, and the deer haven't been at them, so hopefully they're just late bloomers. The bush is in the front yard, facing east, about four feet out from the house. It gets some light and some shade depending on the time of day, and it's pretty sheltered from the wind there. I'm not sure if that type of location is good for rhodies, but the other things that were planted around it seemed happy enough. Anyway, thanks again, and I'll let you know if the rhododendron starts to bloom. Wish me luck!
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Hi Philip! I agree with Fred, if you can grow the plant outdoors, it could help prepare the plant to bloom next season. I've been to Brighton (it's lovely), but not Sussex. Even with cool, coastal weather, your plant will get more sunlight if it's outside. You'll need to bring the plant indoors when the weather starts to worsen in the Autumn. Assuming your plant has foliage now, it would be a great time to gradually move it to brighter outdoor light. Again, assuming it has leaves and roots, it would benefit from fertilizer at this point in the growing season. As you get further into the growing season, you'll want to make sure you're not giving too much nitrogen, since that can cause the plant to put its energy into lots of leaves but prevent the plant from developing next year's flower bud within the bulb. Even under good conditions, sometimes you don't get a bloom! -Tina
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
Because flower buds on rhodies are set the previous season (late summer into early fall). Nothing you can do now will encourage flowering this year.

btw, I fertilize my container rhododendrons once a season only and with Osmocote Plus. I rarely even use an acid lovers fert on the inground plants. They just do not require much.

Don't love 'em to death. They are really very easy plants to grow.
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay
Original Author
5 years ago
@gardengal48 I am reading that too much fertilizer can prevent rhododendrons from blooming and encourages leaf growth. I wonder if my previous use of Osmocote Plus on these plants encouraged leaf growth over blooms.

Once I take care of the chlorosis in one of my rhodies I will cut back on the acid-loving fertilizer to maybe once a month until Winter, then leave them alone during dormancy. Next year, I might be better off not fertilizing them at all until after the blooms have started. Maybe that would encourage healthy leaf growth without short-cutting the blooms?

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