sick rhody - Ask Extension
we have a rhody that's turning yellowish leaves, brown spots on many leaves, some leaves have wilted and died, some leaves being eaten. is that enoug...
Knowledgebase
sick rhody #900634
Asked May 08, 2025, 2:14 PM EDT
we have a rhody that's turning yellowish leaves, brown spots on many leaves, some leaves have wilted and died, some leaves being eaten. is that enough info? any ideas? do we need to move it to a more shady place? it's about 3 years old.
Lake County Ohio
Expert Response
Dear Mr. Taylor,
You did not indicate your soil type, pH, or the amount of sun this plant is currently getting. So, I can only give general guidance. Rhododendron need a well draining soil with high organic matter. They also need a soil pH of about 4.5-5.5 so getting a lab based soil test is a good investment. It is very easy to get the soil pH out of the proper range and difficult to correct it. Rhododendrons are fairly shallow rooted plants and wet soil conditions can lead to root rot issues. Based on your description of the foliage this might indicate a root problem. If you have a heavy clay type soil are noted for this type of problem. Rhododendron also evolved to prefer a partially shaded locations especially avoiding the harsh afternoon sun.
You did not indicate your soil type, pH, or the amount of sun this plant is currently getting. So, I can only give general guidance. Rhododendron need a well draining soil with high organic matter. They also need a soil pH of about 4.5-5.5 so getting a lab based soil test is a good investment. It is very easy to get the soil pH out of the proper range and difficult to correct it. Rhododendrons are fairly shallow rooted plants and wet soil conditions can lead to root rot issues. Based on your description of the foliage this might indicate a root problem. If you have a heavy clay type soil are noted for this type of problem. Rhododendron also evolved to prefer a partially shaded locations especially avoiding the harsh afternoon sun.
