Rhododendron insigne

Poor Rhododendron... any ideas why it’s so yellow? I’ve tested the soil and it’s around 5.5pH. The other side of the garden measures 3.5pH. Would it be healthier over that side? #help #rhododendron-help #rhododendron

@shelleysnyder I hear you might be able to help? It does look like chlorosis but the soil says good pH?!

Hi Laura!🙋 Wow! I never seen a rody that yellow, I do know they are acid loveing plants, other than that I think I'll see if we can find some more help for you! @pelly @suerichards @cyndi @rachelbrooks @mrsflowerpot @columbiariver @juliesgarden I know there's lots more but my senior brain just kicked in!💘😍

It could be suffering still from last year's drought, I have noticed a lot of shrubs in clients gardens that are looking worse for wear this year due to the stresses they were put under last year. I would give it a good liquid feed with a good quality rhododendron feed and a good mulch and see if it perks up over the next 4-6 weeks. 👍

Also Rhododendrons love dappled shade and don't do well in full sun so it could be something to do with its aspect. If you have a nice sheltered semi shaded area I would suggest giving it a new home there and still give it a good foliar and soil feed with a chelated iron based food. 👍👍

A pH of 5.5_6 is ideal so I'll just add don't move it to the other side of the garden 👍👍

@ShelleySnyder @mrsflowerpot @pelly Thank you all! It does get half sun / half shade where it is. There’s two others along the same row, all there before we moved in. They flower well but no growth and not many leaves left - they seem to be reducing per year. I’ll give them a good feed and mulch - thank you 💕

Good luck Laura 👍👍

Glad you got some good advice! Good luck!💘😍

I don't think it looks like iron deficiency but it's some kind of nutrient deficiency, maybe nitrogen or magnesium (I think nitrogen). I wouldn't rush for a fertiliser though until you check the causes of deficiency in the first place. Soil pH is good so perhaps the problem is with waterlogging or the rhodo is planted too deep. Check soil is not soggy/wet and you can see the top of the rootball. Perhaps @moore.794 might be able to advise too 😊

Oh, no need to add chelated iron as the soil pH is fine.

@ublaszko Thank you!! You might be right there... a couple of weeks ago I noticed the soil a bit sloppy there. Today it’s not too bad but my soil tester did flick as far right on the ‘wet’ scale as it possibly could. They’re in raised beds and we have drainage pipes on the outside so not sure how to fix it 😞