Rhododendrons

[kloofnek]

My Rhododendron flowers are dying off,does one cut them off(de-head) or just let them shrivel away?

[shoota]

It is customary to deadhead Azaleas which are the same family so I would say that if it is possible, lop them off!

[shoota]

That way the plant doesn't use energy resources producing seeds that are unwanted.

[kloofnek]

This is a bush,so there are no seeds so to speak...I do have to prune it from time to time.I usually let the flowers die of but wondered if I am doing the right thing

[shoota]

The flowers become seedheads as they decay. This takes energy from the plant which would otherwise be used in producing new growth.
It will do no harm to leave them unless the plant is weak but they can look unsightly so the choice is yours.

[tamborine]

dont cut as thats where new growth is

[shoota]

This seems to say everything:

http://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/homegarden/article/Deadhead-and-prune-your-rhododendrons-1271982.php

[ummmm]

Tambo, read Shoota's link.

[kloofnek]

Thank you Shoota,the link is very useful.My bush is small and leggy...doesn`t seem to grow in stature but keeps giving out flowers every years....don`t know what to do...whether to leave it or give it a hard pruning in the hope it will grow stronger.....what to do...what to do ???????

[shoota]

You are welcome kloof.
Producing flowers and seeds can really take it out of a plant, especially if it is not very vigorous to start. What I do with my azaleas is wait until the flower either drops off or will come away with the gentlest of pressure.
This leaves a stem, a swelling which is the forming seed and a long thing like an aerial. I then cut through the stem bit, being careful not to cut into the wood as Tambo says unless you want to prune at the same time, with a delicate pair of bonsai scissors. I also sprinkle dried blood and bonemeal on the surface of the soil and water it in with a dilute mix of Miracid and rainwater.
If you do that you should see a healthier plant but it may be a dwarf species and may not grow very large anyway.

[shoota]

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.theazaleaworks.com/images/azaleas/schlseedpod.jpg&imgrefurl=http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/seed/msg0412413824731.html&h=768&w=1024&sz=337&tbnid=b0YAIKK5SZ-FQM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=120&;prev=/search%3Fq%3Dazalea%2Bseeds%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=azalea+seeds&;usg=__Vm-8U4Hz8ucr3gQB8P0X-W_HDt0=&docid=4Y51Of14pt3OEM&sa=X&ei=-UCvUbXMEanM0QXS3oGYBw&sqi=2&ved=0CGUQ9QEwBA&;dur=261

[pixie373]

Sorry. While you're on the subject, my puppy keeps trying to eat rhododendron leaves. I keep taking them off him. Are they poisonous?

[shoota]

I'm sorry Pixie, I don't know offhand.

[woofgang]

places who grow loads of rhodies and azaleas don't deadhead as they would need a staff of millions! I leave mine and it doesn't seem to do any harm but its not very tidy.

[shoota]

Apparentlt so.....

http://365steph.wordpress.com/2007/05/07/rhododendrons-are-poisonous-to-dogs/

[pixie373]

Thanks, shoots. I'll watch him x

[shoota]

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/04/02/dogs.poisonous.plants.mnn/index.html

[pixie373]

My phone did a spell check on shoota. Sorry!

[kloofnek]

Thank you,thank you so much for all your responses...sorry did not get back to you sooner..had to go shopping.

[shoota]

:-)

[Chipchopper]

Just pinch out the seed-heads with the thumb & fore-finger to stop energy being wasted on seed on seed production.
This should result in more blooms for next year