The photo of the leaves in the catalog were very enticing. But the reality is somewhat different.
Now, I'm not accusing anyone of false advertising. I have since found that there's a good deal of variation in Rhododendron maximum 'Curly leaf seedling' but this looks more luck 'yucky green seersucked leaf seedling'.
Anyone else pick up anything lately and had that "What was I thinking?" moment?
Is that seaweed for mulch? If yes, I'd suspect it is probably a bit too rich in lime for Rhodies, which could make them chlorotic like this.
Resin
Yes, it is seaweed. I didn't realize that seaweed sweetened soil.
It was only put down last autumn and the plant was already exhibiting this color by the time I put it down. Another possibility I was thinking of was that the mulch is still young enough to be taking nitrogen form the soil. I let it age about 2.5 years before I spread it but that may not have been enough.
I'll probably buy some blood meal on the way home. I use it as a source of nitrogen and as a deer repellant (one of several in the arsenal) and see it that doesn't help.
At the very least, I am convinced that it's a symptom of something abiotic.
This message was edited Apr 20, 2007 10:29 AM
I didn't realize that seaweed sweetened soil
Ah, very good. I was really wondering about that and was going to investigate further. Still might, for that matter. It never hurts to put a finer point on something.
We were raking the turf grass today and there were more crustacean an bivalve shells on the lawn than I've seen before. Maybe they'll have sweetened up the lawn too!
It looks more like someone got wayward with the 2,4-D.
Great way to disguise operator error: "It's supposed to look like that."
I have asked the folks in the Rhody forum about this. From their input, I think I'll just move the whole plant to a new site. It is in a very sunny and windy enviroment. I'll stick it in the woods with the other Rhodies.
Oh, Baaaambi.......!
