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Post by Mr Grinch on Mar 10, 2009 10:59:57 GMT
Hi all,
Ive seen a Rhodo that i really fancy BUT i think the soild condition may prevent it from doing well. I want to plant it in a spot that gets a little morning sun and light shade for the rest of the day. The soil is neutral to slightly acidic. The soil itself can get very wet in winter with staning water in prolonged rain. In the summer it remains damp, but in periods of dry gets dry.
Would this plant do ok ?
G
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Post by Tig on Mar 10, 2009 14:32:37 GMT
I've had a look in one of my books for you and the information is varied dependent on the type and origin of the plants. Little sun and light shade seems fine for most of them. Slightly acidic soil is good. They appear to like damp soil (not sure about the standing water though), and if it is only dry for a short period it should be OK (I have one which is often very dry in the midst of summer - when we get one!), or you could water it of course. If you like it - go for it  x Tig |
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Post by nightowl on Mar 11, 2009 8:58:56 GMT
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Post by Mr Grinch on Mar 11, 2009 10:31:22 GMT
Thanks all
G
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Post by Mr Grinch on Mar 21, 2009 17:24:54 GMT
Bought and planted today.
I thought i'd run the risk re the drainage. Loads of Ericacious and a deep hole.
G
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Post by Tig on Mar 21, 2009 19:48:11 GMT
What colour / variety did you buy Mr G?
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Post by Mr Grinch on Mar 22, 2009 7:09:55 GMT
Its called 'Rocket' Tig, Coral pink flowers.
G
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Post by Tig on Mar 22, 2009 16:00:12 GMT
I 'found' it Mr G, very purdy - similar to the one in my garden which was here when we moved and was the only 'shrub' worth keeping. Hope it performs well for you.
x Tig
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Post by Plocket on Mar 22, 2009 18:33:00 GMT
I don't see why your rhodo won't do ok given the tlc and conditions you've provided. How big is it expected to grow?
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Post by Mr Grinch on Mar 22, 2009 19:16:06 GMT
They reckons 6 feet in 10 years. Its about a foot and half at the moment !
Have you got Rhodo's in poor drained soil Plocky ??
G
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Post by Plocket on Mar 23, 2009 12:48:01 GMT
Yes I've got a few little ones and some azaleas too. I've not got them in the really boggy bit though, just in the clay. If you've put sand and stuff in though that will help.
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Post by torontotrini on Mar 24, 2009 14:51:32 GMT
I've got 3 of them around the garden; each in slightly different conditions but generally in clay, some sun during different times of the day for each, and light shade. they're all doing quite well. The only problem I have with one that is more exposed than the other 2 is winter-wind burn. The wind "scorches" the buds/turn them brown and dry, and then they don't open into full blooms. I deal with that by wrapping burlap around that particular plant over winter.
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Post by Mr Grinch on Mar 24, 2009 15:17:21 GMT
Ive never heard of Rhodo's needing this kind of protection. I think maybe your winters over in Canada are a bit colder than ours.  Mines in clay, usally damp in condition but in prolonged rain can get VERY wet. Ive put it in a corner of the fence and my daughters wendy house, a position thats north facing. Its pretty well sheltered there and hopefully get a bit of sun in the afternoon. G |
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Post by torontotrini on Mar 24, 2009 15:35:19 GMT
Yes; our winters are more severe than what you folks get in the UK. It's not so much the cold that gives the buds a rough time though. It's the drying effect of the cold wind if the plant is in a very open/exposed spot. The plant itself is quite hardy and reasonably trouble free. The only other problem I had a couple of years runing was with a squirrel that seemed to like the idea of just biting off the newly opened blooms, partly eating them and leaving the rest on the ground. That used to get me so mad. But lately that hasn't been happening. Probably was just one particular squirrel with a weird sense of humour or odd eating taste, and he/she might have moved on, hopefully never to return. My 3 rhodos are loaded with buds right now so I'm looking forward to a good show later in spring. Here's what 2 of them look like last year; their third year of planting and bought about the same size as the one you got.   |
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Post by Mr Grinch on Mar 24, 2009 18:20:07 GMT
Lovely plant Trni. Great flowers.
If you come over to the UK in April, take a trip to the lost gardens of heligon. Fantastic Rhodo's there, the size of trees.
G
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Post by Auricula on Mar 28, 2009 23:29:30 GMT
Some of my rhodos are in poorly drained soil and do perfectly well. Although my soil is the acid side of neutral I just mulch them once a year with a bit of peat ( I know...I know...but I figure one bag a year won't hurt  ). Yours sounds super ;D |
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Post by Ladygardener on Apr 2, 2009 6:15:22 GMT
TT those are lovely I especially like the first one. Hope this year's blooms are as lovely. |
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Post by Auricula on Apr 18, 2009 22:28:59 GMT
Mine are blooming beautifully this year - must be due to the very wet summer last year |
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Post by Tig on Apr 18, 2009 23:00:11 GMT
I don't know how old ours is, but it was here when we came 17 years ago, and is flowering its socks off at the moment, with more to come ..  x Tig |
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Post by Auricula on Apr 18, 2009 23:09:27 GMT
Lovely - I have one of that colour, but much younger so not as tree like. I do like rhodos - such a cheerful flower |
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Post by Ladygardener on Apr 20, 2009 9:48:06 GMT
It is lovely Tig, that colour really stands out does'nt it. |
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Post by torontotrini on Apr 20, 2009 19:13:29 GMT
Lovely Tig. Similar colour to one of mine. You guys are ahead of us as far as the season goes, so mine haven't started opening up yet. Lots of healthy looking buds though, so I'm looking forward to a good showing when they open up. I got a new one late last season called Rhodendron Cornell Pink. Lots of buds on it right now, and if it looks half as good in bloom as the one I saw at the GC last season I will be a very happy camper. It's of the decidious variety, and its leaves look very un-rhodo -like, but it blooms lovely. Here's what "Google" has to say about it. www.easternplant.com/epsdetail.asp?ID=256&name=Rhododendron+Cornell+Pink&cat=specimenrhodo |
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). Yours sounds super ;D