I'm fairly inexperienced with this plant. I have two specimens that have been planted in ground for two years now. One is sporting new healthy spring growth and small blooms, but the other one, planted just a couple of feet away, has no new growth, smaller and drier looking blooms and the leaves look like they're infected with rust. Any ideas as to why only one of these (originally identical) plants would be ailing?

The one sporting the rust spots gets more direct sun than the healthier plant. Too much sun, maybe?

Is this plant an exceptionally heavy feeder?

Bumping this up to see if someone grows it and knows. I haven't grown Pieris japonica since I was in CA but I don't remember it being a particularly heavy feeder. But I could be wrong. Hopefully someone else will know.

I only grow one. It's in part shade, and I never water or feed it, and it does fine.

Wonder if something got to the roots, Chele? I might be tempted to dig it up if it was small, and make sure the roots were spread out, and not nibbled on.

I was hoping someone would answer this. I have four or five around my yard. If you feed it needs to be with rhododendren food. I don't do any thing with them other than prune for shape. Never had a problem with them and some are 20 years old. My guess is it got a bit dry last summer or something ate the roots. They like a more acid soi.

Thank you, both!

I've checked around the planting area and I don't see signs of voles or moles. I had thought that perhaps some soil stabilizer for acid lovers might help; I'll try it!

Our well water here is alkaline, so I do try to just give these guys just rainwater, but sometimes it's a bit scarce.

Beautiful, healthy-looking plants, spring. I think you've been holding out on us.

I meant to thank you earlier for bumping this up, Tee. Thanks!

I gave my plant some Holly-tone®, some compost and two buckets of rainwater - we'll see if that perks it up.

Tee,
Rodies, Pieris and azaleas are very common around here in Western Washington. They are in all the commercial plantings and a staple in NW gardens. We have acid soil and mostly filtered sun most of the year. . Not very offen do we get to 90 or above in the summer.

I lived just outside of Seattle for a few years. My yard had Rhodies that were already quite large ... and gorgeous. I love them cut and dried for wreaths and arrangements. I had the big azaleas too ... different from the Southern indica and other varieties of azaleas I have here, of course. Good growing conditions for the acid lovers, that's for sure.

Thank you springcolor, I killed one last year and never did figure it out. I did order one from mamajacks and was hoping I would learn how to take care of it.

Wish you the best of luck with the plants. The sun is out today! We had a wonderful Easter weather wise. Spring is here.

Yes!! And it feels good.

Chelle, it may be getting too much winter sun and/or wind. If it's very exposed you might try spraying with an anti-dessicant early winter.

Thanks, Evan.

It is more exposed than the other one.

Do you have a favorite? I never know what I'm looking at when I search for one.

No favorite. What I have are older, maybe 30 years old. The more exposed one is much smaller partly from pruning back dead branches due to winter drying. I find them more sensitive to this than large leaf rhodo's. In full bloom now. Will take some pics tonight weather permitting. I seem to remember my pops telling me they can get some kind of fungus, will look that up.

Sorry, Evan; I meant, do you have a favorite anti-dessicant? I've never used one, and don't have a clue what to look for.

I can't wait to see your pictures!

You know Chelle, I buy whatever looks best on the shelf. Usually I buy it when autumn has been drier than normal, otherwise the broadleaf evergreens are all in protected spots now. I've become really good at moving them. Wouldn't you know it we have rain after being in fire stage red for the past week. Got a few shots anyway.

2 branches are tied up due to October snow storm. Fingers crossed. Note all the Rose of Sharon seedlings lower right.

Chelle, Wilt-Pruf is a product I've used. Works well. Here's a link to a rhodo. page as well. http://www.rhododendron.org/ne... (look at left sidebar for anti-desiccant.
Wilt-Pruf http://www.wiltpruf.com/

Wow, that's lovely!





Here's mine for comparison.


I'll check out the Wilt-Pruf and the other page tomorrow. Thanks!