Cherries and Merlot Rhododendron (1 Gallon) - Extra bright cherry-red blossoms appear among dark bicolored foliage!

Pick a spot with filtered sun, or morning sun and afternoon shade, since deep shade weakens growth. The soil should be acidic, about pH 4.5 to 5.5, and drain well, because the shallow roots die quickly in soggy ground. Set the top of the root ball an inch or two above the surrounding soil, never deeper than it sat in the pot.

Some yellowing is normal: older leaves inside the plant yellow and drop as new growth shades them. Yellow between green veins on the newest leaves is different. It usually means the soil isn't acidic enough for the roots to take up iron. Test your soil before adding anything. Soggy soil and planting too deep also cause yellowing.

This page lists the size for this plant. Rhododendrons range from compact types to shrubs 6 to 8 feet tall, so plan for the full size, not the pot.

Right after the spring flowers fade, because rhododendrons and azaleas set next year's buds soon after they bloom. Keep it light. On Encore azaleas, take off no more than a third of the plant, and skip pruning later in the season, which cuts off the buds for fall.

Encore azaleas do. They bloom in spring and again from late summer into fall, with a few scattered flowers in summer. For other varieties, this page lists the bloom time.

It's the size of the nursery pot the plant ships in, not the plant's height. A 1-gallon plant ships in a 1-gallon pot. The plant itself varies by variety and by season.

A few days in a dark box is stressful for a leafy plant, and some yellow or dropped leaves are common. Water it if the soil is dry, give it a few days in bright shade, then move it into more sun over a week or two. New leaves usually follow. If it looks damaged or unhealthy beyond a few leaves, contact us that day with photos.

Plant when the ground isn't frozen, and not during a heat wave. Loosen any roots circling the root ball, and set the top of the root ball level with the ground or slightly above it. Water it in well.

Check the soil every few days for the first few months. A new plant's root ball dries out faster than the ground around it, so feel the soil at the root ball itself, not only the surface. Water when it's dry, and let it drain.