Many people focus on watering and fertilizing rhododendrons, forgetting about one key element, which is the right neighborhood. Meanwhile, it is often what determines whether the bush will bloom profusely or slowly fade away.
Plants in the garden do not function in isolation. They share soil, water, nutrients and access to light. When we compare species with extremely different requirements, sooner or later a problem will arise. Some will grow at the expense of others, and the more sensitive ones will quickly lose their condition. This especially applies to rhododendrons, which are extremely sensitive to soil conditions. Even a slight change in the pH of the substrate may affect their appearance and flowering.
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Rhododendrons do best in the soil sour, caries i stale slightly damp. They like it penumbra, protection from the bright sun i quiet positions without strong root competition. In such conditions, they can grow and bloom for decades, becoming a decoration of the garden for many seasons. The problem arises when we plant plants with completely different needs in their immediate vicinity.
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One of the worst choices near rhododendron is boxwood. Although at first glance it seems to be a successful combination, because both plants tolerate partial shade, in practice it leads to problems. Boxwood prefers neutral or even alkaline soil and often requires liming. For the rhododendron, this is a direct path to weakening. Increased pH makes it difficult for the bush to absorb nutrients.
Symptoms appear sooner than many gardeners expect. The leaves are starting to glowsometimes turn yellow, a flowering is weak or does not appear at all. In extreme cases it happens chlorozyi.e. disorders in iron absorption. The bush stops growing and looks less and less attractive from week to week.
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Instead of risky combinations, it is worth choosing plants with similar requirements. They are excellent company for rhododendrons azalea, heather i briars. They also like acidic soil and do not compete aggressively for nutrients. Cover plants are also a good idea as they help maintain moisture in the soil and protect the root system from drying out.
