my poor Rhododendron

[Caprilaser]

Hi folks I am new to this forum I am looking for some advice on savings my 3 year old Rhododendron. Tried adding miracle grow to the water but no difference. Any advice would be very much appreciated. Kinross Scotland

I don't think it needs miracle grow it needs water. Is that under gravel? How do you get water down to the roots?

I have only added the gravel a week ago the roots are wet I am afraid I might drown it if I add any more. Thanks Alex

It needs ericaceous compost or something in the water to make it more acidic, you can buy special feed for acid loving plants. They won't grow in my very clay based soil.

Thanks for that information I will get some today and give it a try . Do you think the plant might be dead is there any way of finding out if it's still alive? Thanks Alex

No way to know if it is past the point of no return. Plants are resilient and even if it drops its leave it might sprout some new ones. Might be happier in a pot.

Usually it is one of 4 problems. Overwatered, underwatered, overfed, or underfed. Then if none of these, it is a drainage problem, not enough air getting to the soil .
If the roots are wet as you say it probably needs to be replanted , add gravel and sand to the bottom of the hole and replant. Don't wait.

Get some ericaceous soil and move to a pot, mine looked like that a few years ago, moved to pot and soil and fed with rhododendron feed soon bucked up, water well every week all summer. Mine looks stunning again this year

Looks like mine from my thread a month ago https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/gardening/5059236-what-is-wrong-with-my-rhododendron?reply=134743321.
It hasn't improved (and looking at my picture is probably worse).
Hope yours does better!

I did find this

Grumpynan is correct. Have you had the plant in the same place? We have a lot, some are 30 years old. You have to water a lot just after flowering for flowers the following year. The reason I ask about the same place,is because they are initially Japanese woodland shrubs,my back garden is NE facing and I have lost them to sun and wind damage, although the leaves went brown and crispy then. I had a couple in pots droop like yours and it was vine weevil grubs in the roots , unfortunately they died survive

Wow !! That looks amazing thanks for sharing 😉. One more question though where do I get the soil you mentioned I take it I can't just plant in a pot with just compost? Thanks Alex

What's that gravel made of - what sort of rock is it?

You can plant them in a pot of ericaceous compost. You can get it from Homebase, B and Q, wicks or a garden centre.

Managed to put the plant in a pot with the compost you mentioned. Had to cut the stems right back to remove all the dead wood the stems look like they have some life left in them .I found some little egg like things on the roots (photo attached) not sure if they are fertilizer that would be in the original compost .

Thanks to everyone who gave me lots of helpful advice regarding my Rhododendron 😉. I had to cut it right back to remove all the dead stems as the were brown and just like wood . Not sure if it will come to anything but will keep you all posted 😉.

I did exactly the same to mine (posted earlier in the thread with a link to a thread I started a couple of weeks ago) yesterday. I'm not hopeful for mine but fingers crossed.

They do need an acid soil, but that plant is showing no signs of the yellowing leaves that result from growing in too alkaline a soil

Yes, those look like fertiliser granules

I find pots in full sun get too hot. It’s not the same as having roots in the ground which will never get that hot.So try not to bake it. Dappled light might be good.

Any sign of life on your rhododendron yet ? Mine still looks the same but is only been a few days so 🤞 there is still time .

Nope, nothing 🙁