Rhododendrons are perennial shrubs that can brighten up any garden. However, if you notice yellow leaves on rhododendrons, there could be a problem with your plant. Don't worry, there is a solution for this, but first you should know what the cause is. In this article you will learn both!
Yellow leaves on rhododendrons can be caused by various factors. Here they come:
Lack of nutrients affects flowering
If the appearance of yellow leaves is accompanied by a decrease in flowering, this is an indication of a nutrient deficiency in the plant.
- Notice: When does the rhododendron bloom? Since there are many varieties of rhododendron, the flowering time varies. However, the best known and most planted species bloom in the spring months (April and May). Before full flowering, remember to give liquid fertilizer together with the water or granulated fertilizers mentioned above.
Yellow leaves on rhododendron due to too much light
This is one of the most important rhododendron care. Although it requires good sunlight, it does not tolerate direct sunlight. It thrives best in partial shade or in a location where the sun only shines in the off-peak hours.
- If your rhododendron's leaves have turned yellow due to exposure to sunlight, you can use nitrogen to make them green again.
Extreme temperatures are the enemy of the plant
An excess of cold or heat is something you need to seriously consider when caring for your plant. Although the plant is not very demanding when it comes to climate and adapts easily, you need to be vigilant if you live in a place with extreme temperatures. But make no mistake. Rhododendron is one of the cold-resistant shrubs for the garden. However, you have to be careful and plant it protected from frost.
- If that's not possible, simply mulch it with mulch or dry leaves during the harsh winter months. Prevention is better than having to figure out how to restore a plant after a frost.
Yellow leaves on rhododendron due to too much water
Although the rhododendron is a water-loving plant, it does not tolerate excess water in its roots. What's more, exposing it to this excess water will only result in the death of the plant. Without good drainage, your rhododendrons will have yellow leaves. So make sure the soil is adequate. If it doesn't have good drainage, you can improve it by adding perlite.
- Important! Acidic soil is one of the most important factors in the care and development of your rhododendron. Only if you provide it with acidic soil can it grow and bloom healthily. Fertilizing rhododendrons regularly, with natural or mineral fertilizers, is very important, otherwise you will get yellow rhododendron leaves.
Rhododendron Diseases – Chlorosis, the most common cause of yellow leaves
Rhododendron has yellow leaves? Rhododendron has yellow leaves? Most likely, your plant is suffering from chlorosis, that is, a lack of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the pigment that gives plants their green color and allows them to capture light for photosynthesis. Leaves affected by chlorosis show yellowing between dark green veins rather than a uniform yellow color. The youngest foliage is the first to be damaged, and the entire plant is eventually unable to produce flowers. In severe cases the plant may die.
Most commonly, chlorosis is caused by iron deficiency, but sometimes it can also be caused by a lack of manganese, nitrogen, or zinc. Typically the problem is not a lack of nutrients in the soil, but rather that the soil in which the shrub was planted is so alkaline that the iron is chemically bound to the soil and is therefore unavailable to the plant.
- Rhododendrons thrive when the soil pH is between 4.5 and 5.5.
How can you measure soil pH yourself? You can do thatfind out here!
What can you do about chlorosis?
If the chlorosis is severe, you should apply foliar fertilization. This means that the leaves are briefly supplied with iron again. If possible, only foliar fertilizers should be used as regular fertilizers are too concentrated and can cause leaf burns.
In addition to foliar fertilization, normal fertilization can also be used, but in this case the iron should be added in chelated form. The chelate in combination with the iron is absorbed much better by the plant. In both cases, however, you will only get rid of chlorosis for a short time. If the soil pH is too low, you will always have problems with chlorosis in your rhododendrons.
Also read:Rhododendron gets yellow leaves in autumn: 3 possible causes
