skip to main content

Azalea & Rhododendron

Pinching leaf buds on Rhodo

6 years ago

This may sound silly to someone with more knowledge but it seems logical to me. My rhododendron has eight blooms this year. All the other branches produced leaf buds instead of flower buds. Shouldn't I pinch off every leaf bud that I can see while the flowers are budding in hopes that next year they will be flowers instead? Or does a leaf bud mean it can only ever be a leaf bud?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
A leaf bud will always only be a leaf bud :-) Flower buds are set in mid to late summer........long after the current leaf buds have extended and developed into full leaves. All disbudding or pinching out the leaf buds will do is limit the growth for the current season but it won't promote any heavier flowering next spring. Don't prune, fertilize lightly, if at all, and make sure the plant is properly hydrated in late summer when the flower buds are being set.
Michelle Fox
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks for your prompt answer. Can I ask another? If I want my rhododendron to stay approximately the same shape and size, and if all the current leaf buds will only be leaf buds, how can I ever get it full of flowers? Sounds like I have to let it get bigger. I just don't want it to be "leggy".
Related Discussions
rhodo buds
Q
Comments (3)
Hello, wcaution. Oh how many times that has happened to me! I like to rescue plants and buy them cheap so I usually get no flowers on the first year. But in your case, I think inadequate care at the nursery may be the problem since most of the causes are things that happened "a long time ago". For example, if someone at the nursery fed the plant too much nitrogen-rich fertilizer; if someone at the nursery placed the plant in too much shade; if someone at the nursery pruned the plant after buds formed in late summer; if someone at the plant did not water the plant "correctly"; etc. What I would do now is forget about the flowers and concentrate on making the plant happy so it can develop a nice set of roots in preparation for its first winter at your home. Yes, flowers are very important but a good root system should receive top priority on the plant's first year. That happened to me once when I bought a camellia two years ago. I bought it a little too late as it had finished blooming. Oh well. Missed the bloomage that year but the plant is doing very well now. Choose a spot with dappled or part shade, with moist -but not wet- soil and mulch it good. Maybe feed it some Hollytone in case it has not been fed well. Whatever happened is in the past so let's concentrate now on the future. Keep the soil moist, specially on the rootball and specially during the critical bud formation period. Then prepare to enjoy the flowers next Spring. Good luck, Luis
...See More
Rhodo buds but no blooms
Q
Comments (2)
There are two types of buds: leaf buds and flower buds. In winter they look similar, but in spring the flower buds swell up like small golf balls. Leaf buds stay the same shape. Miracid may be the problem. It is high in nitrogen and nitrogen promotes leaf and branch growth and discourages flower bud production. It can also force late season growth that gets killed or stunted by frost damage. Phosphorus promotes flower bud production and hardiness. Potassium is necessary for well being. No fertilizer or an early spring application of HollyTone are better choices. Pruning after mid summer is also a problem. The buds are formed in summer and early fall so pruning then or later is not advisable since it will remove flower buds. New leaf buds will form in the spring, but new flower buds won't form until the next year. If you have flower buds that did not open they could bloom later in the season (up until mid July for some varieties) or if they are brown inside, the variety may be two tender for your area and the buds are freezing. If you don't have flower buds, then too much nitrogen or too much shade are the most likely culprits.
...See More
Propagating large leaf rhodos
Q
Comments (2)
The small fibrous roots would have to be intact for these shoots to grow. However you can use the tips of these shoots as cuttings and root them following the procedure for rooting rhododendron cuttings. Here is a link that might be useful: Procedure for Rooting Rhododendron Cuttings
...See More
cuttings -- pinch leaves & buds?
Q
Comments (2)
I am glad I asked first!!!! Thanks!
...See More
akamainegrower
6 years ago
You can control the size and shape of most rhododendrons - to a degree - by pinching and pruning. That, however, is not the same as avoiding legginess. Rhododendrons will generally set more flower buds and grow in an un-leggy manner if they receive a good deal of direct sun. This is always a balancing act. Direct sun - preferably in the morning - with enough shade in the hottest parts of the day to avoid leaf scorch and other problems. Tolerance of direct sun, naturally compact growth and the tendency to set lots of flower buds are also qualities that vary considerably from particular variety to particular variety of rhododendron.
Michelle Fox
Original Author
6 years ago
Wow! Are you a professional? That's great info and summarizes everything I've heard and should know. I just get frustrated when I don't see results. Thanks very much for the info!
Candid Legal
15 days ago
y

Related Stories

REGIONAL GARDEN GUIDES Southeast Gardener's February Checklist

By Gardening with Confidence®

Pinch, prune and prepare this month — springtime's riches in the garden will be here before you know it

GARDENING GUIDES 4 Herb Container Gardens for Fabulous Global Cuisine

Tingle your taste buds with the unbeatable taste of fresh herbs in your Italian, Asian, Mexican or French fare

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Garden Musts for May

Mid-Atlantic Gardening Guide: Plant summer bulbs, pick off those stinkbugs and enjoy the flowering trees, wildflowers and more

FALL GARDENING 11 Trees for Brilliant Fall Color

By Marianne Lipanovich

Give your landscape the quintessential look of autumn with the red, orange and yellow leaves of these standouts

GARDENING GUIDES Great Garden Combo: 3 Wonderful Plants for a Deer-Resistant Screen

Protect your privacy and keep deer at bay with a planting trio that turns a problem garden area into a highlight

CONTAINER GARDENS 8 Easy Container Plants to Grow From Seed

Get beautiful blooms and herbs in summer by starting these choice garden picks from seed in spring

FRONT YARD IDEAS Before and After: Front Lawn to Prairie Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

How they did it: Homeowners create a plan, stick to it and keep the neighbors (and wildlife) in mind

EDIBLE GARDENS Summer Crops: How to Grow Tomatoes

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant tomato seedlings in spring for one of the best tastes of summer, fresh from your backyard

GARDENING GUIDES 8 Flowers That Dazzle With Fall Color

By J. Peterson Garden Design

From flaming orange to supersaturated purple, these blooming beauties will set your fall garden ablaze with vivid hues

HOUSEPLANTS 7 Favorite Indoor Plants for West-Facing Windows

By Marianne Lipanovich

These houseplants, and many more, thrive in the bright sun of a window that looks to the west

Sponsored