Rhododendron Lord Roberts

Pflanzen Sie den Rhododendron 'Lord Roberts' an einem halbschattigen Standort, geschützt vor kalten und austrocknenden Winden, in einem frischen, humusreichen und leichten Boden mit einer tendenziell sauren oder neutralen pH-Wert. Wie alle Pflanzen aus dem Heidekrautgewächs verträgt er keine kalkhaltigen Böden oder schwere, im Winter wassergesättigte Böden. Wenn der Boden im Sommer feucht bleibt, verträgt dieser Rhododendron auch eine nicht brennende Sonneneinstrahlung. Pflanzen Sie nichts zu nah an seinen Wurzeln, da seine oberflächlichen Wurzeln Konkurrenz von anderen Pflanzen, insbesondere bei der Wasserversorgung, nicht gut vertragen.

Grab the hole three times larger than the pot. Soak the root ball in non-limestone water and plant the shrub at the level of the collar, in a mixture composed of 1/4 peat, leaf compost, gravel or pumice and loam. Water generously and keep the soil moist in summer. Azaleas and Rhododendrons have a shallow root system. Therefore, they are sensitive to long periods of drought. That's why a humus-rich soil and abundant watering during dry periods are recommended. In addition, this root system is not very strong, which is why it is essential to lighten heavy soils with draining materials (gravel, pumice, clay balls) when planting. Apply a mulch of crushed pine bark at the base of the shrub every spring to keep the soil cool while maintaining an acidic pH.

Maintenance consists of cutting off faded flowers in summer and cleaning dead branches. Azaleas and Rhododendrons can sometimes be attacked by weevils that eat the edges of the leaves and the rootlets, as well as by the famous "rhododendron beetle" which does not often cause significant damage. The yellowing of the leaves (chlorosis) in Rhododendron indicates poor assimilation of iron in the soil and causes premature death of the plant. While limestone is often the cause, poorly drained soil or a deeply planted root ball can also explain the phenomenon.

"Rhodos" thrive in our Breton and Norman climates, planted in a limestone-free soil and in a humid environment. Their cultivation in our warmer and drier climates is often doomed to fail in the long run, despite all the efforts made to acclimatize them.