How to take care of the Rhododendron after the flowers fade

Cut off the branches after the Rhododendron flowers fade

Plants consume a lot of nutrients when they bloom, and even when the flowers fade, the growth of the flower stems also consumes nutrients. Therefore, when the Rhododendron flowers are about to wither and have no ornamental value, the flowers and branches should be cut off in time. This can save nutrients and promote the growth of the bulbs.

If there are many leaves and they have begun to wither, you can appropriately cut off some of the dead leaves at this time, but do not prune too heavily to avoid having too few branches, which will affect the accumulation of nutrients in the bulbs.

Preservation of the bulbs of Rhododendron sabdariffa

After cutting off the flower branches, the above-ground parts will gradually weaken and wither. Just leave them aside and let them wither. When all the above-ground parts have withered, you must protect the bulbs. There are two methods: the first is to overwinter the bulbs in the original pot in a cool place with a temperature of about 10°C on the winter solstice; the second method is to dig out the bulbs, wrap them in newspaper, and place them in a dry and ventilated environment for maintenance.

During the bulb-raising period, check the condition of the bulbs once a week to avoid root rot or other adverse phenomena. Wait until the temperature rises in spring and replant.

How to plant Rhododendron sabdariffa in spring

Take out the preserved bulbs, cut off the rotten and blackened parts, dry the wounds in a cool place, and then apply a layer of wood ash to prevent root rot.

When choosing flower pots and soil, it is best not to use all of last year's old soil. Instead, put a layer of large-grained gravel on the bottom of the pot as drainage material, then replace it with 1/3 of new soil, and plant the bulbs after disinfection.

After planting the bulbs, keep them in a cool place for a week to allow them to adapt to the new environment, then water them once to help them take root and maintain them normally.