When does rhododendron bloom?

The rhododendron is a shrub that is characterized by being a bushy evergreen plant that produces relatively large flowers with brightly colored petals. These are so beautiful that when we see them in a garden or in a nursery, it can be hard for us to avoid looking at them; What's more, if we dare to buy one, we probably want to do everything possible to make it bloom every year.

Achieving this is not really difficult, but as we are going to explain, it is a plant that has somewhat special needs. So We will not only tell you when the rhododendron blooms, but also what to do to make it bloom.

When does the rhododendron bloom?

El rhododendron It is a shrub native to Southeast Asia, although there are some species that are from other places, such as the Rhododendron ponticum, which is native to Europe. It usually grows in places where temperatures are mild, that is, neither too high nor too low, and almost always in areas where the sun only shines for a few hours.

In addition, in order for it to flower, it needs temperatures to remain between 10 and 20ºC. In other words, it will only produce flowers when winter is ending, and spring begins to show.

What is the rhododendron flower?

The flowers of our protagonist are quite large since they are about 2-3 centimeters wide. They appear grouped in clusters, and their petals can be pink, lilac, white, or red depending on the variety.

As it recovers well from pruning, you can even think of having several specimens in the same planter, for example.

How long do rhododendron flowers last?

Flowers they stay on the plant for about 20 days or so (between 15 and 25 to be exact), as long as the conditions allow it, because if, for example, temperatures exceed 30ºC, or if, on the contrary, they drop below 0 degrees, then they will suffer damage and may fall.

That's why if you live in an area that is prone to late frosts, protect your plant if it begins to flower before the risk of frost has dissipated. To do this, it will suffice to put it under a roof, or if you prefer, wrap it with an anti-frost cloth such as this.

What do you need to flourish?

Rhododendron is a plant that is said to be very easy to care for, but this is only half true. It's easy if the climate and growing conditions are right, but if not... things change. Thus, while in Asturias or Cantabria it will be able to grow in luxury, in Almería or even in my area, the south of the island of Mallorca, it will have many problems.

Therefore, it is important that we know what the needs of our protagonist are, so that we can do what we can to make it bloom well, without costing you to do so:

Climate

We will start talking about this, because it is the most important thing. The climate must be temperate, with temperatures neither too high nor too low. Ideally, summers should be mild (up to 30ºC), and in winter, if there are frosts, they should be weak or moderate (up to -15ºC).

Likewise, ambient or air humidity must be high, higher than 50%, because it is a plant that cannot live in places where the environment is dry or very dry. If it rains frequently in your area, or if you are near the coast, a river or a swamp for example, you will not have to worry about this; but if, on the other hand, you are more indoors, and/or if you have doubts, I recommend you purchase a domestic weather station with an outdoor sensor such as this in order to know at all times what the percentage of humidity is in the place where you have your rhododendron.

Earth

The earth must be acid, or in other words, it has to have a low pH, around 4-6. The rhododendron cannot grow in clay soils, since in these the iron, which is an essential nutrient for photosynthesis, is blocked and therefore inaccessible to it. That is why, if you are not sure if the soil in your garden is suitable, find out what its pH is, for example with a meter.

But if you already know that it is clayey, then I advise you to plant your plant in a pot with a specific substrate for acid plants such as this.

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We want it to flourish, so one way to help it do so is by fertilizing it from late winter through summer. For this we can apply a fertilizer such as guano (ecological, without mixing with fertilizers, such as this) that contains many nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

But yes, it is very important that we apply it well, following the instructions on the package, since although it is natural it is so concentrated that if we overdo it, the roots will burn.

With these tips, your rhododendron will flourish, for sure.