Anyone growing Rhododendrons? – Page 2 – Other Plants of Interest – PalmsNorth.com

dukeofdoom · 2012-10-20T17:36:37Z

So far I have about 5 different kinds including some azaleas. I like how glossy their evergreen leaves are, and in bloom, they look tropical to my eyes. The problem I have is that they seem to bloom for a very short period in the spring only. I came across this link, claiming that you can get different varieties to get blooms through out the year.'m on the east coast, so I'm a bit sceptical, as these plants seem much happier in a west coast climate. Does anyone have experience with Rhododendrons blooming in summer, fall or winter on the east coast?[edit]Rhododendrons in a tropical settin

DesertZone

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Here's a good read on PH scale. 😀
http://ag.arizona.edu/cochise/mg/pdf/Jun10.pdf#VG

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Posted : 10/11/2012 9:08 am

lucky1

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Thanks for that interesting link, Aaron.

Barb

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Posted : 10/11/2012 11:45 am

TimMAz6

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I'd incorporate sphagnum peat moss into the soil. Sphagnum PM has a pH of 4.0 or so and will keep the soil moist. I'd also place 1" depth of SPM under the wood chip mulch so any rain water will percolate through the SPM prior to entering the soil. Rhodo's are worth it. Great plants.

Also, I'm sure there is a web site out there somewhere which instructs Rhodo growers how to drop the pH of an alkaline soil.

Posted : 11/11/2012 5:23 pm

DesertZone

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how to drop the pH of an alkaline soil.

Try coffee grounds. 😉

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Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

Posted : 11/11/2012 11:18 pm

seedscanada

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Duke, WOW! to the King's Naval Yard!! Beautiful.

Adam
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Posted : 12/11/2012 9:14 am

andym

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My soil is around 7.2. It is in fact a sub soil. Currently I am replacing around 3ft of sub soil with lime free sandy soil which i have already done with my Yucca border. Everything grows well in this soil. It is just a slow progress. Pieris, Camellias, Azaleas grow well.
I have found that Cocoa shell is extremely acidic and is useful to maintain acidic conditions. It was used in the UK to act as a mulch to maintain moisture in the ground... when we had much warmer summers 🙄 Virtually dissapeared from garden centres now.
Regarding the thread title I will try a Rhododendron but not the large leaved tree varieties with deep roots.

<span style="display: block !important; width: 180px; text-align: center; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.wunderground.com/personal-weather-station/dashboard?ID=IOXFORD1" title="Oxford, United Kingdom Weather Forecast" target="_blank"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/cgi-bin/banner/ban/wxBanner?bannertype=wu_bluestripes_metric&pwscode=IOXFORD1&ForcedCity=Oxford&ForcedState=United Kingdom&language=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Oxford, United Kingdom" width="160" /></a><br><a href="http://www.wunderground.com/personal-weather-station/dashboard?ID=IOXFORD1" title="Get latest Weather Forecast updates" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px" target="_blank">Click for weather forecast</a></span>

Posted : 12/11/2012 8:38 pm

DesertZone

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Some photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33535417@N05/6998791406/in/photostream/

Thanks for sharing, very nice! 8)

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Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

Posted : 12/11/2012 9:51 pm

TimMAz6

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I was driving today and noticed a couple Rhodo's which are out of control......most people don't let them get this large so close to the house.

This house is next to the house in the first photo. I actually drove by the Rhodo's and turned around to take the photos.
<img src= >

Posted : 19/11/2012 4:52 pm

lucky1

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Wow...there's a house in there? 😆 😆

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 19/11/2012 7:01 pm

DesertZone

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I had no idea they got that big. 😯

Shoshone Idaho weather
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Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

Posted : 19/11/2012 8:32 pm

canadianplant

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Aaron, Rhododendron Maximum can get 30 feet in ideal conditions:

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/r/rhomax/rhomax1.html

"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien

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Posted : 19/11/2012 8:35 pm

TimMAz6

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I've seen much large Rhodos...........I'll try to keep an eye out out for the really large Rhodos. Most of the time people rip them out since they are most commonly planted near building foundations.

Posted : 19/11/2012 9:14 pm

TimMAz6

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I was at the University of Rhode Island botanical garden yesterday. They have 50+ different Rhododendrons. A few 'unusual' looking Rhodos which were drop dead gorgeous.

Great looking leaves....no name:
<img src= >

back sides were fuzzy:
<img src= >

Huge leaves:
<img src= >

Close up:
<img src= >

Name of the huge leaf Rhodo:
<img src= >

Another R. fortunei......really cool in person:
<img src= >

Posted : 14/12/2012 9:05 pm

DesertZone

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Those are amazing, I wish they grew better in this part of Idaho. 😀

Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniWeather06_both/language/www/US/ID/Gooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

Posted : 15/12/2012 1:26 pm

lucky1

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You went to a BG and only took Rhodo photos? 😉
😆

Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 15/12/2012 1:36 pm