How Often Should You Water Rhododendrons? A Complete Guide

While I study plant biotechnology, I often think about how bad it is for nature when people don’t know enough about it or spread false information. That is why I am so passionate about bringing people and nature closer together again. Favourite fruit: raspberries, strawberries and pineapple Favourite vegetables: courgettes, broccoli and cucumbers.

Rhododendron blooms are a favourite among many gardeners. However, to ensure lush flowering it must be properly cared for and protected from disease. Find out all about rhododendron care.

Rhododendrons (Rhododendron) are one of the largest genera within the heath family (Ericaceae). With more than 1,000 species worldwide, the rhododendron is geographically represented almost everywhere. Therefore, it is not surprising that it can be affected by a variety of pests and diseases. We give you advice on how to take good care of your rhododendron and keep pests and diseases away so it can keep blooming beautifully.

Rhododendrons are relatively easy to care for. However, they do require some attention from you at certain times of the year. We reveal what you should pay attention to when caring for them. Before we start, though, there are a few things you should think about before you even plant a rhododendron. Rhododendrons prefer a slightly acidic soil and detest waterlogging. However, many soils, especially in southern Germany, tend to be neutral to slightly alkaline. So, it might be best to make a big hole for planting and fill it with special rhododendron soil.

Rhododendron plants require regular watering, particularly when they are still small. But waterlogging should not happen because the rhododendron is a shrub with shallow roots and is very sensitive to it. There is less need to water a rhododendron as it gets bigger and older because the roots are stronger. Signs of the need for watering may be drooping buds during flowering, or else curling leaves.

Note: water your precious plant at slightly longer intervals but with a little more water. During dry spells in particular, too small amounts of water can evaporate quickly before penetrating the soil.

Rhododendrons are especially happy with long-term fertilisation. The best time for this is in the spring, which means shortly after planting for freshly planted shrubs. Work the fertilizer into the root zone from the top down so that the nutrients can be better absorbed by the soil. To help the plants grow, mix bone meal, compost, and/or coffee grounds with the soil you dug up and then put it back in the hole you dug. All of these fertilizers are completely natural, make the soil a little more acidic, and help the plants and animals that live there. While coffee grounds lower the pH of the soil, they are not a great source of nutrients. Compost, on the other hand, provides nutrients over a long period of time. Bone meal does not affect soil pH but also provides long-term nutrient release with a high nitrogen content. If you’d rather not use slow-release fertilizers and instead fertilize your plants regularly, stop fertilizing in early October to make the plants go into dormancy.

Giving your favorite shrubs that are already well established in the garden a mix of mineral and organic fertilizer a few weeks before they flower is what experts say you should do. Learn more in this video.

You can also buy rhododendron fertilizers that are made just for this plant. These fertilizers have all the nutrients it needs and also add back some fully organic nutrients over time. A plant-based fertiliser such as our Plantura Hydrangea Food is also suitable for rhododendrons. The rhododendron gets its nutrients from the slow-release fertilizer over a longer period of time. It also gives the plant iron.

Note: Under special circumstances, a second fertilisation may also be carried out in the summer. This is only needed if the plant’s leaves turn yellow and die because it doesn’t have enough nutrients.

In principle, rhododendrons do not need special pruning to bloom profusely. But over time, the shoots will become more lignified, so it makes perfect sense to do rejuvenation pruning as needed. You should do radical rejuvenation pruning on your rhododendron before it flowers so that you don’t waste its energy and so that nesting birds aren’t disturbed.

Cut off any old shoots with sharp rose shears so that the bush’s bare interior can get light again. It is important to make sure that you cut the shoots at an angle. If this happens, dew or rainwater won’t be able to gather on the shoots’ open parts, which could let diseases in. You can do a full maintenance pruning right after flowering if you don’t want to do a radical rejuvenation pruning but still want to keep the shape of your rhododendron. This means cutting off any shoots that are unsightly, sick, or hurt until you are happy with the way your favorite plant grows again.

You want to know who’s behind Plantura?

While I study plant biotechnology, I often think about how bad it is for nature when people don’t know enough about it or spread false information. That is why I am so passionate about bringing people and nature closer together again. Favourite fruit: raspberries, strawberries and pineapple Favourite vegetables: courgettes, broccoli and cucumbers.

Rhododendron blooms are a favourite among many gardeners. However, to ensure lush flowering it must be properly cared for and protected from disease. Find out all about rhododendron care.

Rhododendrons (Rhododendron) are one of the largest genera within the heath family (Ericaceae). With more than 1,000 species worldwide, the rhododendron is geographically represented almost everywhere. Therefore, it is not surprising that it can be affected by a variety of pests and diseases. We give you advice on how to take good care of your rhododendron and keep pests and diseases away so it can keep blooming beautifully.

Rhododendrons are relatively easy to care for. However, they do require some attention from you at certain times of the year. We reveal what you should pay attention to when caring for them. Before we start, though, there are a few things you should think about before you even plant a rhododendron. Rhododendrons prefer a slightly acidic soil and detest waterlogging. However, many soils, especially in southern Germany, tend to be neutral to slightly alkaline. So, it might be best to make a big hole for planting and fill it with special rhododendron soil.

Rhododendron plants require regular watering, particularly when they are still small. But waterlogging should not happen because the rhododendron is a shrub with shallow roots and is very sensitive to it. There is less need to water a rhododendron as it gets bigger and older because the roots are stronger. Signs of the need for watering may be drooping buds during flowering, or else curling leaves.

Note: water your precious plant at slightly longer intervals but with a little more water. During dry spells in particular, too small amounts of water can evaporate quickly before penetrating the soil.

Rhododendrons are especially happy with long-term fertilisation. The best time for this is in the spring, which means shortly after planting for freshly planted shrubs. Work the fertilizer into the root zone from the top down so that the nutrients can be better absorbed by the soil. To help the plants grow, mix bone meal, compost, and/or coffee grounds with the soil you dug up and then put it back in the hole you dug. All of these fertilizers are completely natural, make the soil a little more acidic, and help the plants and animals that live there. While coffee grounds lower the pH of the soil, they are not a great source of nutrients. Compost, on the other hand, provides nutrients over a long period of time. Bone meal does not affect soil pH but also provides long-term nutrient release with a high nitrogen content. If you’d rather not use slow-release fertilizers and instead fertilize your plants regularly, stop fertilizing in early October to make the plants go into dormancy.

Giving your favorite shrubs that are already well established in the garden a mix of mineral and organic fertilizer a few weeks before they flower is what experts say you should do. Learn more in this video.

You can also buy rhododendron fertilizers that are made just for this plant. These fertilizers have all the nutrients it needs and also add back some fully organic nutrients over time. A plant-based fertiliser such as our Plantura Hydrangea Food is also suitable for rhododendrons. The rhododendron gets its nutrients from the slow-release fertilizer over a longer period of time. It also gives the plant iron.

Note: Under special circumstances, a second fertilisation may also be carried out in the summer. This is only needed if the plant’s leaves turn yellow and die because it doesn’t have enough nutrients.

• For lovely hydrangeas in pots with lots of blooms
• Prevents common deficiency symptoms & supports healthy plant growth
• Child-safe fertilizer that lasts a long time and doesn’t contain any animal products

You can find out more about how to properly fertilise your rhododendrons here.

In principle, rhododendrons do not need special pruning to bloom profusely. But over time, the shoots will become more lignified, so it makes perfect sense to do rejuvenation pruning as needed. You should do radical rejuvenation pruning on your rhododendron before it flowers so that you don’t waste its energy and so that nesting birds aren’t disturbed.

Cut off any old shoots with sharp rose shears so that the bush’s bare interior can get light again. It is important to make sure that you cut the shoots at an angle. If this happens, dew or rainwater won’t be able to gather on the shoots’ open parts, which could let diseases in. You can do a full maintenance pruning right after flowering if you don’t want to do a radical rejuvenation pruning but still want to keep the shape of your rhododendron. This means cutting off any shoots that are unsightly, sick, or hurt until you are happy with the way your favorite plant grows again.

We have put together more tips and tricks for pruning your rhododendron here.

After flowering: deadheading rhododendron flowers

After you have done a comprehensive pruning, you can still continue to do something good for your rhododendron. To do this, simply deadhead all the withered flowers on the remaining shoots. This promotes bud formation the next year and eliminates spore foci, which prevents infestation by fungal pathogens.

The rhododendron genus is especially prone to fungal diseases, but animal pathogens can also do a lot of damage to its evergreen leaves.

How Often to Water Rhododendron: Your Ultimate Guide

Do rhododendrons need a lot of water?

If the weather is unusually hot and dry, you may need to water your rhododendrons more often. Pay close attention to the soil and if it feels dry, water it immediately. Finally, make sure to water your rhododendrons at their roots and not on their leaves. Wet leaves are more prone to disease and can damage the plant.

How often should you water rhododendrons?

Here are some tips on how often you should water your rhododendrons during the growing season. First, it’s important to know when the growing season for rhododendrons is. Generally, this is from late spring through late summer. During this time, your rhododendrons should be watered deeply and regularly.

Should rhododendrons be watered in the morning?

Water your rhododendrons early in the morning. Watering your rhododendrons in the morning will allow the water to soak into the soil before the hottest part of the day. Rhododendrons will be able to absorb the water more quickly and efficiently. Check the soil before watering. Before you water your rhododendrons, make sure to check the soil.

How do I know if my Rhododendron needs watering?

The best way to gauge rhododendron watering needs is to check the moisture level of the soil by inserting your finger about an inch deep. If the soil feels dry, it’s time to water. However, if the soil feels moist, hold off on watering until it dries out a bit. Take into account the rainfall in your area during the fall.