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It is impossible to imagine a garden without flowers. And if roses, dahlias and peonies are considered the most common plants that delight with their beautiful inflorescences almost all summer, then rhododendron, a rather rare and unusual shrub plant, is less common. It is easy to explain its low popularity among gardeners, because it is a capricious and heat-loving plant that requires considerable attention. And, unfortunately, rhododendron does not bloom in the absence of proper care for it. But having found an approach to it, for many flower growers, the cultivation of rhododendron develops into a hobby.
How rhododendron blooms
Rhododendron belongs to the Heather family. Under this name, more than 800 species are hidden, which are divided into evergreen, deciduous and semi-deciduous shrubs, and even trees.
Depending on the species, this shrub has various inflorescences, which differ not only in color, but also in size and shape. In different varieties of plants, flowers can be funnel-shaped, tubular, wheel-shaped or bell-shaped.
The most widespread among flower growers is a deciduous species called azalea. Its flowers are quite large and of various colors, often pink and lilac. No less popular are white, yellow and red inflorescences.
Azaleas of most varieties during flowering have an unusual, but very pleasant aroma.
When does the rhododendron bloom?
The duration and period of flowering of rhododendron is completely dependent on climatic conditions, proper care, as well as on the selected plant variety. But if you look at physiology, then many types of rhododendron are spring, their flowering period falls between April and June. Some varieties may bloom again between August and October.
With the correct planting of a young purchased seedling and with proper care, it will bloom no earlier than after 4 years. If an adult plant was purchased, then flowering can be expected earlier. But when planting seeds, wait for the flowering of rhododendron to cost only after 5-7 years.
How long does the rhododendron bloom in time
The timing of flowering of rhododendrons is different and also depends on the type of plant. But it is worth noting that the following factors can also affect the duration of flowering:
- climatic conditions;
- temperature;
- light hit;
- soil nutrition;
- plant age.
On average, rhododendron blooms from 16 to 20 days. More hardy types of rhododendron can bloom for a long time – up to 45 days.
How many times does a rhododendron bloom
Gardeners who are closely passionate about growing rhododendrons know that this plant pleases every year with its abundant spring flowering. At the same time, almost all species during the growing season bloom once before and during the period of leaf blooming, except for some species. For example, the pointed rhododendron may begin to bloom again in August, but this flowering is rather weak, unlike the first, spring.
Why the evergreen rhododendron does not bloom
Growing a rhododendron in a garden is a rather troublesome business that requires not only special attention, but also due experience. In some cases, amateur gardeners, fascinated by the beauty of this shrub, after planting, cannot understand when and how the rhododendron will bloom. And if this process does not occur for a long time, it is worth finding the reasons why the rhododendron does not bloom in the garden. In fact, there are many such reasons, and among the most common are the following:
- Wrong choice of landing site. Many gardeners, knowing the capriciousness of this plant, try to give it the best place under the sun. In fact, rhododendron grows naturally in the undergrowth, where it is protected from direct sunlight.
- Failure to comply with landing rules. The soil for rhododendron should be acidic, rich in humus and well saturated with oxygen. The depth of the hole for planting should not exceed more than 40 cm, and in diameter – approximately 60 cm. The root collar of the plant should be flush with the soil surface after planting. After planting, if the soil is dry, you need to pour plenty of warm water under the root. Be sure to mulch 5-7 cm with peat, rotted needles or leaves, chopped oak bark is also suitable.
- Incorrect dressing. Fertilizers must be applied to the soil at least 3 times per season. The first top dressing is carried out in early spring, then fertilizers are added at the end of flowering, the last top dressing is carried out in mid-July. As a fertilizer, it is best to use an acidic composition (superphosphate – 10 parts, ammonium – 9, potassium – 4, magnesium – 2).
- Too much nitrogen fertilizer. During the flowering period, excess nitrogen in the soil can lead to the growth of branches, but not to the laying of buds.
- Improper watering. Rhododendron requires special watering with acidified water. The use of ordinary water can lead to alkalization of the soil, which will adversely affect the plant. To properly acidify water, add 10-3 g of citric or oxalic acid to 4 liters of water.
What to do if the rhododendron does not bloom
There are cases when the rhododendron was acquired by a fairly mature seedling and, after planting, it bloomed well in the first year, but the subsequent years of flowering did not come. In fact, there are quite a few reasons for stopping flowering, as described above. And before you start applying any actions, you should first figure out for what reason the flowering was suspended.
First you need to check the acidity of the soil. After all, maybe in the first year the rhododendron bloomed due to the fact that it had enough nutrients obtained from the peat ball in which its roots were located after transplantation. As the root system grew, the roots began to develop the soil in which they found themselves. And with insufficient soil acidity, the plant ceased to receive the necessary substances for proper growth and flowering.
The norm of soil acidity for the normal development of this plant should be pH 3,5-5. Therefore, to improve the composition of the soil and increase its acidity, organic fertilizers can be used, such as:
- high-moor sphagnum peat;
- rotted leaves and needles;
- grass, straw or hay;
- loam, rotted manure.
If the soil is acidic enough, but the rhododendron still does not tend to bloom, it may not be suitable for the place where it was transplanted. It is important to choose not only a place with diffused sunlight, but also sufficiently protected from the winds. Particularly unfavorable places for the growth of rhododendron are open areas and the area near the corners of buildings, where through winds are always present. Also, the proximity of this plant to trees and shrubs with a superficial root system is undesirable:
- beech;
- maple;
- Linden;
- willow;
- alder.
If this planting rule has been violated, it is recommended to choose another place and transplant the plant.
The lack of top dressing can lead to starvation of the plant, which will certainly affect its flowering. Therefore, it is necessary to fertilize the soil in early spring and after flowering. This will encourage the planting of flower buds for the next year.
Protecting the plant from sunburn in early spring will also allow the plant to start flowering on time. To do this, after the snow melts, cover the bush with a spanbond.
And the most important thing is the wrong watering. For proper budding and good growth, the plant requires a large amount of water so that the root system can receive the necessary amount of nutrients from the soil. Therefore, the rhododendron needs to be watered intensively both during the period of growth and development, and during budding.
Conclusion
Rhododendron does not bloom for fairly simple reasons that can be easily eliminated. Subject to all the requirements for planting a plant and subsequent care, the rhododendron will bloom for a long time and delight with its beautiful flowers every year.
