Container grown rhododendron

[julia-mag]

I bought a 'percy wiseman' rhododendron last year, and after flowering I moved it into the next size container. It is just finishing flowering now and I wanted to put it into a half tub size container to save keep on moving it . Would this be right or wrong thing to do? Its spread at the moment is approx 2 feet , and I find it difficult to get under its canopy to water it properly.

[shoota]

It can be dangerous to go up too many sizes in container for some reason not fully understood by me - how much of a jump will this be?

[julia-mag]

Hopefully it would give it about 6 inches spare space all around the canopy

[shoota]

I used to keep Bonsai in a big way (still got a few), many of which were Satsuki Azaleas and miniature rhododendrons - I can remember dire warnings regarding moving up to a big container from a small one without intermediate steps but I cannot remember the reason why except that some 'trees' just didn't like it and failed. The recommendation was no more than two sizes of pot at a time (if my memory serves) and so, if the plant means anything to you I would say tread carefully if the jump in pot size is a big one.

[julia-mag]

Thank-you , you seem to confirm what I thought, (but didn't know why!),I wondered if it gave the roots too much space at the expense of the canopy and I wouldn't want to do that because it has been fabulous in flower and I don't want to hinder the flowering side of it at all.

[shoota]

You would probably find that it didn't 'look' right if the pot was bigger than the canopy anyway - might be worth reseasrching the visual aspects of Bonsai culture for a set of 'rules' which work equally well with larger trees.
We also have a forest of acers in pots which are grown to bonsai principles.