By Gillymilly
United Kingdom 
when I bought my rhododendron I was advised to pinch out the new buds when it had finished flowering; this year it has failed to flower at all and has elongated buds growing out of the tops of the stems. Will it flower next year or at all?
7 Jun, 2013
Answers
The elongated buds at the top of the stem will be new leaf buds so leave well alone. There is advice about removing the dead flower heads but we don't; life is too short! We have some 40 odd rhodos in the garden, some now quite venerable, and none have suffered from not having the old flowers removed.
7 Jun, 2013
Good gracious, Bulba! That would really be a marathon task. 40 rhododendrons! Of course, there's no-one there in the wild to dead-head, is there, and the foothills of the Himalayas are covered in flowers, I believe. I deadhead because it looks untidy otherwise, and I'd always been under the illusion that it made a difference to how well the new buds developed. You live and learn. :o)
7 Jun, 2013
I have to agree with BA. I don't bother to deadhead. It does look a bit tatty, but you don't risk damaging the new shoots. Is it a young plant Gattina? I find they often flower biennially to begin with, so you may get a good display next year. I find the same with young camellias too. Even one I had for 15 years was noticeably more floriferous every second year.
7 Jun, 2013
Well, youngish, KS - I bought it 4 years ago, and it was in flower then. The following two years there were flower buds but no flowers, and I potted it on into it's own acid-lover's heaven and this year the big fat buds it had last year have opened. You could be right about the biennial bit. I didn't know that.
8 Jun, 2013
Thank you so much, I,ll look forward to next Spring!
8 Jun, 2013
It's just something I've observed over the years :)
8 Jun, 2013
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Welcome to GOY.
I think you may have been given muddling advice, Gillymilly. When rhodies have finished flowering, you are supposed to pinch off the OLD flowering head, carefully leaving the small, developing buds which you find around it. These will be the next year's growth and flowers.
I think it will probably flower again - try encouraging it with a special rhododendron and azalea liquid feed. It could just be two years before you see results. Last year I transplanted a rather sickly specimen into a special, big tub, with special compost and put it in semi-shade, fed it and held my breath. The big fat flower buds stayed exactly the same for a whole season, but this year has rewarded us with the most amazing display of flowers and new growth. Good luck!
7 Jun, 2013