Dear gardeners,
I bought a new rhododendron a few weeks ago and it was doing ok. I went for a long weekend away and yesterday came back and saw it was wilting. While I was away a lot of rain has fallen. My other plants around it are doing fine. Should I dig it up and put somewhere else? I have several other rhododendrons and they are doing fine and I give them a regular feed and once a year an iron feed.
Can I save this plant? Please advise?
Sometimes plants wilt due to lack of water, sometimes they wilt because too much water is killing the roots.
Resist the urge to water more, since you know the plant has been getting ample rain.
Question: does it perk up overnight, and first thing in the morning, but wilt late in the day? If so, it could be that the plant's roots are taking up water, but not fast enough to prevent wilting late in the day, when water is lost through the leaves (transpiration). If this is what is happening, the best approach may be to rig up some temporary extra shade, which may reduce transpiration water loss. As new roots grow, the wilting should diminish, and you can take the temporary shade down.
Unless the spot where you planted your Rhododendron is staying flooded and not draining at all, I wouldn't try moving it. That could damage any new roots that are trying to grow. If the location
IS staying flooded, moving to a new location mayy be an option.
If it is staying wilted all the time, despite moist soil, that suggests root damage may have already happened. The best you can do may be to wait to see if it recovers or not.
Good luck!
