Is the soil very dry where it's sited? They like moister soil if they're in a sunnier site. Also, like Camellias, if they get sun on frosted buds, or wind/weather damage, it spoils the flowers. Do the buds go rotten and fall off?
A pic would help if you can manage it
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
Looks like it good do with a good feed and a mulch and I'd remove all the other stuff around it to give it a chance of recovery nodlisab. There's evidence of pest damage there, but a strong growing, healthy shrub would normally shrug that off. Is the soil a bit alkaline too? They need neutral to acid soil to thrive so perhaps that's a big part of the issue there. I've never had problems with rhodos not flowering even when Camellias have suffered - they're very tough shrubs on the whole, but they do need the right start to get them going. We have heavy rainfall and neutral soil on the whole up here, which is why rhodies, azaleas, pieris and camellias do so well with very little attention. If the soil's wrong, you might be better removing it and replacing with something else rather than struggle to give it the right conditions.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
Thanks everyone especially Fairygirl,maybe I will put it in a pot and give it new compost. So depressing when you can see the buds about to burst but never do,but I wont give up.
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Is the soil very dry where it's sited? They like moister soil if they're in a sunnier site. Also, like Camellias, if they get sun on frosted buds, or wind/weather damage, it spoils the flowers. Do the buds go rotten and fall off?
A pic would help if you can manage it
Water well towards late summer, mulch well and keep the root area covered.
is it in lime free soil? they will not grow well if in the wrong soil.
I agree with Mrs Garden. Many early flowering plants " set" their buds in Autumn.They must have plenty of water then.
Yes - but nodlisab has said there are always plenty of good buds on the rhodie.
they'll form, but they'll not flower, and invariably turn brown and fall off
The buds do not turn brown and fall off,and I always give it plenty of water.I dont think the frost has affected them.
Heres another pic.
That's a very unhappy looking rhodie
Looks like it good do with a good feed and a mulch and I'd remove all the other stuff around it to give it a chance of recovery nodlisab. There's evidence of pest damage there, but a strong growing, healthy shrub would normally shrug that off. Is the soil a bit alkaline too? They need neutral to acid soil to thrive so perhaps that's a big part of the issue there. I've never had problems with rhodos not flowering even when Camellias have suffered - they're very tough shrubs on the whole, but they do need the right start to get them going. We have heavy rainfall and neutral soil on the whole up here, which is why rhodies, azaleas, pieris and camellias do so well with very little attention. If the soil's wrong, you might be better removing it and replacing with something else rather than struggle to give it the right conditions.
Thanks everyone especially Fairygirl,maybe I will put it in a pot and give it new compost. So depressing when you can see the buds about to burst but never do,but I wont give up.