Rhododendron

[Cherry]

I bought a cheap Rhododendron from Tesco in 1918 which flowered beautifully, but the next flowering season, it grew leaves where the new flowers should be. It is doing it again. The buds are there and the plant has really grown a lot, but the buds appear soft and I doubt if they are next year’s flowers at all. It looks really healthy. I have asked my son to get rid of it for me because I have no room for it on the patio if it doesn’t perform. The Rhododendron has no name, and I will never buy a cheap plant again. It has grown terribly fast - from a wee pot plant to a big plant a metre tall and across. Also, it has an EU passport and is not British. Has anyone heard of this problem? It is in ericaceous compost of course.

[roofgardener]

Did you REALLY mean 1918 ?

There's some stuff about non-blooming Rhododendrons here ? www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/rhododendron/rhododendron-not-blooming.htm

[grindle]

I have one in the garden that's been there for at least 5 years and never flowered which I'm getting rid of in the autumn,

useful info roofgardener thank you

[Cherry]

Thank you roofgardener. It is now definitely going. I think it is the bad breeding, especially as it is not named. This article helped me to make up my mind. Sounds similar for you too grindle and we know how to grow rhododendrons.

Roofy figures are my worst point and I made an expensive mistake in Brisbane airport by buying an absolutely beautiful large merino rug for the floor, and did not realize that I had got the price wrong until I was on the plane. It is too good to use. Isn’t that stupid?