I have pruned back a rhody from 15 ft. down to 3 ft. and it still has come back with no problem. I make sure it is watered well and give it a regular spraying of liquid fertilizer. I would do this after it blooms but realize that you will be cutting off all the new growth for next year and will not have flowers until probably the following year.

I like mine small and not over grown but pruning should occur after flowering. The buds for the next flowering year appear shortly after flowering..

If you need to prune a Rhodedendron the best time is in the spring. Dead-heading is done to improve flowering - pinch the dead flowers between your thumb and finger and twist off. It's sticky but washes of with soap.

Yes, you should remove dead flower heads. This is best done by twisting the old blooms at their base, they twist off easily. I have several rhodedendrens and it takes me a whole day to twist of all the flower heads but the display the next year makes it all worthwhile.

Rhodedendron that don't flower - my sister has one that has never flowered and a gardener friend told her to give it gallons of water and talk to it. It is now covered in brilliant pink flowers.

After blooming has finished twist off the dead flower heads, or what's left of them, this encourages a better flowering the next year.

Rhododendron seeds - the following is from the "Park's Success with Seeds" book for rhododendron species: sow outdoors in late winter or early spring, or indoors about the same time, maintaining a temperature in the medium of 55-60F during germination which takes 50-60 days. Do not cover the very fine seeds and keep shaded from direct sun.

Here is the best way to root a rododendrom plant..... A cutting should be taking at the beginging of spring when new groth is present... you want to cut about a 2-3 inch long section. (try to remove one that doesn't contain a bud) Let the cuting dry for about an hour... Dip the cutting in rooting hormone. This can be found at most garden supply stores. tap off any exess hormone. Place the cutting in a mixture of perelite and vermiculite (half and half) make a tent like structer out of plastic also give good ligt but be carfull not to let the cutting dry out. Keep cutting moist (don't let dry out, will hinder root develoment) it might also help to remove any leaves that will be touching your medium, they will might rot. Try about 6 to 12 cuttings.. after they root. transplant them to a soil with good drainage. you might want to get them well established before planting out side... Rhododendroms like acid soil so a acid based fert. should be used to establish a good root to shoot ratio.... good luck

Azaleas and Rhodadendrons are the same family and in upstate NY, they appear to like both some sun and shade. They can be propagated the same way as the hydrangeas by burying a low branch in the ground while still attached. Most soft wooded bushes can be propgated this way.

A white powdery substance on some of the leaves of a rhodedenron might be a fungus and it will kill you shrubs. I know I lost 4 before I got it stopped. You need to get an oil base fungucide to take care of the problem.

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