A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum Shrubs and Trees Help with Rhdodendrons

I have 4 rhododendrons on the front of my house, facing west, mostly shade but good evening sun. We live in the North Carolina mountains where these things grow wild in the forest. I have had these for about 3 years and they never bloom. They look very healthy, but each year, instead of blooming, they just grow more leaves. Because of this, they are getting quite large. What can I do to induce blooms next year? Should I cut them back? If so, how?

I am not a good one to answer this because all I have had were on the property when I brought the house. I know sometimes it take 3-4 years for some bushes to bloom. Rhodies love acidic soil. So you could try some Miracle Grow for acidic plants. It is called Maricaid I put that on a Hydrangea that had not bloomed for 3 years and it bloomed. Sorry I am not a lot of help.

i use holly tone on my rhodos and they flower AMAZINGLY every year this would be the right time to give them some go to the nursery asap

There are a lot of Rhododendron help pages on the Garden Helper and in the archived pages of our old forum...