Encore azaleas not thriving--suggestions?
KMc_in_Atlanta
19 years ago
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19 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Encore Azaleas didn't 'encore'...
Comments (11)Yes: Roots aren't meant to be damaged. They aren't even very cold-tolerant, relative to the top of the same plant, with root damage to potted stock sitting above the ground occurring at about 20 degrees F. higher temperature than the tops. Balling in burlap and bare-rooting kill most of the small roots, that is why top growth is stunted the first year after these are transplanted. The roots run the show, if something happens to the roots the top has to wait until these recover before it can carry on as before. With container stock you are supposed to be able to slip the plant out of the pot and into the ground with little root damage. However, in practice growers generate much rootbound stock, making it necessary for the serious gardener to wash these of soil and inspect the roots for defects, correct them at planting time. Most stock I look at here has signs of having been left in a small container too long. This includes container-grown broad-leaved evergreens. I seldom buy camellias form local garden centers as the two giant California growers that supply nearly all of the material offered here are very consistent about sending up terribly rootbound camellias. I have even seen 5 gallon stock with a small square of roots on top of the potting medium, in full view and indicating the plant sat in a square pot for a (too) long time when small. Rhododendrons, azaleas and other heath family shrubs are a problem because their fine, dense sod-like roots do not lend themselves to bare-rooting very much....See MoreEncore Azalea Sparse Leaves...
Comments (4)Hi! I had the same troubles. Your picture looked like my original picture. My Encore Azalea would have more blooms than leaves. I had several azaleas struggling. I thought I just didn't know how to grow azaleas. I used Black Kow fertilizer, and that did help. It wasn't until I bought Azalea fertilizer by Fertilome that I noticed a huge difference. My plants then started to flourish! Leaves are plentiful now. I fertilize twice a year. I never used fertilizer on anything but I do believe there are some plants that really need it. Good luck!...See MoreEncore azalea type question
Comments (2)Are there two different colored flowers emerging from the same plant (which is what it looks like)? If so, check out 'Autumn Twist', which often throws solid purple flowers together with the paler, bicolored pinks....See MoreAzalea(encore) Rhody(pjm elite) issues...please help!
Comments (10)Yes you made mistakes. I have a collection of rhodies that has been praised for their health and I have never fertilized a nursery bought plant in the first couple years, at least. They have very low fertility requirements. Indeed, it could well have made them more susceptible to root rot; given that you are also planting encore azaleas, heavily marketed in the SE US, I'm going to surmise you are somewhere south of the Mason-Dixon where traditional rhodie varieties including the northeastern-bred lepidotes like PJM become difficult. You really need to state roughly where you are. Here's some good advice to newbies: if you see in your area, large, mature examples of something you are buying at a big box store or nursery, there's a good chance it will do well. If you don't, there's a good chance it won't. Consider I-95 corridor elevation under 500': If you live on the mainline of Philly, every 4th house will have an ironclad rhodie reaching to the second story windows. If you're in Richmond, VA, you are going to see a few here and there. South of that...I myself have never seen one but I know there are people down there who do collect them but those are enthusiasts willing to fuss over them. I'm not counting the Southgate/hyperythrum hybrids, which are in my opinion the only elepidote rhodies that non-specialists should be planting south of the Mason-Dixon and at low elevation. Or the special lepidotes bred to do well there, there are a couple but their name escapes me, one was bred by the Dodds....See MoreBumblebeez SC Zone 7
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