Sad looking rhododendron- what have I done wrong?

[KateMularkey]

I got this rhododendron just over a year ago. It did fabulously, lots of blooms for a really long period. I googled what to do regarding deadheading etc and It then looked great through autumn/winter and developed lots of buds. But the last few weeks it's just looked awful, so droopy, and hasn't bloomed. It's well watered and I presume it likes its position given it seemed so happy last spring/summer. So I'm not sure what I've done wrong, or what I can do to help it recover. Any ideas?

It could be vine weevils in the soil, they eat roots.

Are you sure you havent over watered it?

It needs feeding. Get some rhododendron food (I have granules which I dig in plus liquid which I also use). In a pot it will have used all the nutrients, give it food, don't overwater and it will perk up again.

i'd say soil and watering issue. they like acid soil, shade and even water not dry in between.
the pot looks a bit small for a plant that size. it's potted a bit deep as well.
i don't mean to sound so discouraging though.
can you buy a good acidic soil? maybe a brand with water retention properties?
if you can, i'd pull it up, more (new soil). and cover from the base to the edge of the pot.
i've had success buying moss (even if it dries out) and covering the soil to the base with it.

The notches at the edges of the leaves are adult vine weevil damage so you likely have vine weevil grubs in the soil eating the roots. Take the plant out of the pot, clean off the soil looking for little c shaped white grubs with a a brown head. Gently wash the roots if you can and repot in ericaceous soil. Potted plants, and especially Rhododendrons are prone to them so they may return, so consider planting out in the garden if you have the right soil. Alternatively you can buy vine weevil nematodes online. These are microscopic worms that parasitise and kill the vw grubs, you just mix them in water and water them in. Good luck with your rhodi.

I posted about mine yesterday so following with interest!

I'm aware they like moisture so have been watering every day but I'm wondering if that's too much. We only got them in April and one is flowering nicely but the other two not so much. I've moved them in to a more shady spot to see if that helps!

How often would people advise watering them?

Sorry to jump on OP!

This is so helpful, thanks to all of you for the replies. I'll try and work out if repotting or moving to a bed is doable and investigate soil type and feed. The weevils isn't something I'd heard of so will also research that a bit. I'm only just getting going with gardening so learning as I go, I'm definitely not green fingered by nature but I'm hoping to improve! Hopefully I can at least revive the rhodi, will post a pic in a few weeks if I succeed.

good luck@KateMularkey slow and steady and that green thumb will appear!!

My first thought with that drooping was vine weevil so I'd do as @Helianthus23 suggests.

So after digging it out I can confirm the vine weevil diagnosis. I've followed suggestions and just hope I didn't destroy the root ball but the bugs were so deeply hidden. Didn't find a huge number of them, but several white grubs and more of the crawly weevil things. I pulled it apart as much as I dared and washed it. It's gone back in the barrel but with completely new Ericaceous soil. And I bought some feed so fingers crossed it perks up and survives. Thanks again for the help.

You've had a visit from the ticket inspector. @@Helianthus23's advice was spot on but I bet you haven't got them all. I'd go with nematodes while the weather is warm (they do better in the warm).

Posting in solidarity with op. I treated my rhododendron about a month ago - I used bug clear as too cold for nematodes.

While no flowers this year it does look like the plant has recovered. It's put out a mass of new leaves and they haven't been nibbled yet!

Fingers crossed for yours. I hate the wee feckers.