Early Blooming Rhododendron

Dave and Wayne Mezitt introduce you to two spectacular types of rhododendron that bloom early in the spring.

[Music Playing] Dave Epstein: Hi! I am Dave Epstein. This is growing wisdom and we are here today Wayne Mezitt and we are talking the early blooming rhododendron. And it is some spectacular plants that we have here tell me about this. Wayne Mezitt: We call them the early rhododendrons because they bloom a lot earlier than most people expect through the rhododendron to bloom. They are of the small leaf a variety like PJM. Dave Epstein: This color darker pink than what I expect the rhododendrons to look like. Wayne Mezitt: This is one we call red quest. We are very pleased with that because it is also compact grower. Dave Epstein: Where would this do well? What sort of environment? Wayne Mezitt: This likes to have a very little shade situation, full sun with is okay a little shade is okay, well-drain and soil and acid conditions. Dave Epstein: And this other one that we have got here looks fluffier to me the flowers. Wayne Mezitt: That is Weston’s pink diamond and that blooms a little bit earlier than almost any rhododendron and this area. That is double pink and that is very spectacular this time a year. Dave Epstein: And will lease hold their leaves when all winter long? Wayne Mezitt: This red quest holds all of its leaves or the majority of its leaves and Weston’s pink diamond losses about 75% to 80%, 90% sometimes. Dave Epstein: Where with you plant this? Wayne Mezitt: These are good into zone four for the most part. Dave Epstein: And how far south could you plant this? Wayne Mezitt: Oh! Quite away south, they are good down in New Jersey Maryland. So they will take quite a bit of heat as well. Dave Epstein: Tell me what you are seeing here with the root ball? Wayne Mezitt: We are going to see the roots that have established around the outside of a pot. And we really want to pull them apart. Take the trowel or a scratcher or just your hands and pull them apart so that you make good contact with the soil that is going into. Dave Epstein: So I did the hold deeper than it is than the bucket? Wayne Mezitt: You never want to dig the hole deeper than the root ball than the root mass is. But you always want to dig it wider because the roots had attempt and even spread. Dave Epstein: And anything else should I add into the soil when I plant this? Wayne Mezitt: It is a good idea that adds phosphate and super phosphate or something like that. Even though you do not want to use on your lawn, it is a good idea to put it with roots around the roots on of the plant. Because it does not go anywhere it stays right were it is and that is the only time you can really add it effectively to the soil. Then encourages root growth and makes for a stronger plant. Dave Epstein: How high will each of them get? Wayne Mezitt: The red quest gets probably 4 or 5 feet high maximum and wider than that, so it is more of a compact grower. The Weston’s pink diamond will get 6 or 8 feet high depending on where it grows and a little bit narrower. Dave Epstein: Wayne thank you very much and thank you for watching our video on early rhododendrons. Two really spectacular varieties, we hope you will comeback every week for all of our hints, tips and helps at growing wisdom. [Music Playing]