By Katarina
Slovakia 
I informed some time ago about my rhododendron, which leaves started to be "really sad". I added fertiliser and in previous 2 - 3 weeks, when we had lot of sun and no rain, I watered it each evening. Even cut the branches with the "sad leaves", take off the bark around and add a new soil for azaleas. It seems, my rhododendron got crazy. On one side, new branches with sad leaves appear, on the other side, it has lot of new buds. What is wrong?
3 May, 2012
Answers
This particular variety likes sun, or dappled shade, so maybe the shade is contributing to its condition. Otherwise, as you only bought it this year, it might just be that you've got a duff (or dud) plant.
3 May, 2012
@moon growe: We had mild winter until the end of January, then we had frosts minus 19 Celsius. It lasted almost three weeks.
@Bamboo, I have had this rhododendron for 3 years, and each spring it was full of flowers, no problems with leaves, even growing and spreading branches rapidly. This thing happened to it this year...:-(
3 May, 2012
It might not like so much shade then - presumably you've checked the plant all over for signs of infestation or disease.
3 May, 2012
@Bamboo, it is oriented to the south, so majority of the day it is on the full sun. Only during the midday it is shaded for two or three hours by nearby bush.
Infestation? Nothing. Only I noticed something like spider webs on new buds (seen also on the photo above).
3 May, 2012
The new leaf buds also look a bit contorted - I don't know what it can be, but it might be worth spraying with some sort of general pesticide that covers most infestations.
3 May, 2012
That is about all I can think of too Katarina - sorry. Unless it has accidentally been sprayed with a weed killer?
3 May, 2012
Thank you very much to both for comments.
3 May, 2012
Have you been having heavy frosts at night?
3 May, 2012