New convert to Rhodos

[rhodofan]

Hello from a newbie 

I am a novice when it comes to gardening and a fairly new convert to Rhodos.  Having said that, I've got lots in my garden now, both planted out and in tubs, so there are a few pics of them below. 

Having experimented, I find that the large leaved ones are my favourites so will definitely be buying more of those.

Rothschildii and Praestans ..



Van ...



Marcel Menard ...



Firelight ...



Golden Gate ...



I don't know what this one is, but I love the colour ...



Don't know what these are, I bought them last year from B&Q because they looked so sick I wanted to nurse them back to health ...





Does anybody know what could have caused this on my Golden Gate?  I noticed it once it had finished flowering not long after I bought it.  It's under guarantee though so if it's some sort of disease I can take it back and change it.

[johnw]

Rhodofan - Golden Gate is highly susceptible to rhododendron powdery mildew. Flip the leaf over and see if there are any signs of it directly under the purple patches.  It can drop most of its foliage here in the autumn from this.  Methyl blue is said to get rid of it but mb is unavailable here.

johnw

[Maggi Young]

Rhodofan... welcome to one of the finest obsessions known to gardeners... the Rhododendron and further, the Ericaceae!

 Here are a few useful links re powdery mildew and rhodo problems - there are plenty resistant plants out there though, don't panic!

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=573

http://plant-disease.ippc.orst.edu/ShowDisease.aspx?RecordID=969

http://www.rhododendron.org/v53n2p73.htm   advice from American Rhodo Society

http://www.seattle.gov/util/groups/public/@spu/@csb/documents/webcontent/cos_005326.pdf

[Lesley Cox]

And a warm welcome to the amazing SRGC Forum.  For a novice gardener, and someone new to Rhododendrons, you've made a very impressive start.

[rhodofan]

Thank you all 

I took the Golden Gate back and was told by the woman in customer service "There's nothing wrong with it, all Rhododendrons go like that". 

Stood firm and got a credit note anyway and bought some shrubs to plant along the back fence.

I do have space for another Rhodo now though, am thinking the kesangiae will do nicely