Small rooted cuttings frequently need some protection from winter sun and winter wind the first couple years since they were grown in a greenhouse. However a good plant from a local nursery will have been field grown and may need not protection if it is a hardy variety. These are usually bought balled and burlaped. Many nurseries are not growing their own stock, and may be shipping in stock from milder areas and they are usually in pots, many times in Monrovia pots. These that are purchased in pots should also be considered as more tender and protected from winter sun and winter wind the first winter.

If you want perfect foliage in the spring and don't care that your plants will look like a piece of burlap all winter, then wrapping the sides with burlap and using the stakes to hold up the burlap will give you better spring foliage. You should leave the top open to allow air, light and water to enter.

Thanks, rhodyman. Years ago we had a couple that never grew upright properly because of the weight of snow in winter.

i have a question, i recently purchased 3 rhodys on clearance they are very healthy but i was wondering if i could keep them inside for the winter and then transplant them outside in ther spring. i live in massachusetts. thank you

Karen, that is probably a bad idea. It would be best to place them in a protected place outside. You may need to protect them from winter sun and winter winds. Fall is the best time to plant rhododendrons. If they are large field grown plants then they will do fine on their own. If they are small potted plants they may need some help. You can do this by placing a wind break up on the side of the prevailing wind and a sun shade on the south side.

Here is a link that might be useful: How to Grow Rhododendrons

Rhodyfan, I recently purchased 6 small rhododendrons which were started from cuttings. They are between 1 and 1.5 feet tall. They were greenhouse grown & I have planted them in containers. I want to overwinter them indoors & plant them next spring. Is that a bad idea? If so, why? A couple of the species I have are apparently not super cold tolerant, and I assumed wintering inside would be better for them.

In the past I have used burlap to wrap young or new rhodos, but last year I tried Wiltpruf (an antidessicant) and it worked great. I sprayed the leaves in Nov/Dec after we had frost, but before the leaves had started to droop and curl as they do in the very cold. I made sure the leaves were well-coated. All winter they looked great and in the spring the leaves were all green and healthy, no burning. I highly recommend this product, but it is a bit expensive if you have a lot to do (I now plan to use it on all my rhodos and on my climbing rose canes. I'm in US Zone 5, so you might not need as much protection.

chipotle fan, your house, if you meant inside your home, will be too dry and too warm to please your rhododendrons. Do you have an unheated porch, cold frame, or someplace just semi-protected where you could winter rooted cuttings during the harshest weather?

Yours don't sound especially young to me at that size, have they always been in a greenhouse or have you had them outdoors?

" In the fall after new growth has matured, transfer cuttings to a cool, (35°F to 41°F) environment to induce dormancy."

I don't really have a good semi-protected place for them, but I guess I could build one.
I purchased the 5 different species of rhododendrons through mail order from the Rhod. Species Foundation, & I assume they were kept in a greenhouse. The size of the rootball is about 5" long & 5" wide (a couple of the rootballs were even smaller). A couple of the species are not especially cold tolerant, & I'm a little worried about the effects of the coldest part of winter on their root systems.
The high temp. today will be 79 degrees. So, it would be hotter for them if I put them outside (very abnormal fall weather, obviously) I agree with you on the humidity issue.
Do I have to induce dormancy? I'm really not concerned about them blooming next spring. I prefer that they get a strong start establishing good root systems & healthy leaves. So they will grow as much as possible during the growing season.
Thanks for your advice.

Not knowing exactly what you bought, why don't you email RSF and ask -

rsf@rhodygarden.org, or nursery specifically dennis@rhodygarden.org

I just bought a rhododendron and I live in zone 4 I'm from Michigan state and love them. I would like to know if planting them in the fall is wise. I also need you to know I have a great place under a pine tree that is protected. Please help a lover of rhododendrons

There are differing thoughts on this. Some say to plant in the fall so the roots get established before the stresses of the growing season, especially heat, drought, and too much water. Others say to plant in the spring so the root system gets established in the soil to prevent freezing and thawing from causing root heaving. If you do this you need to guard against drought, blistering sun, and other stresses.

You can plant it now if you can monitor it and protect it from blistering sun, drought, and drying winds. Otherwise, plant it in the fall, but mulch well, especially after the ground freezes to keep the ground frozen. If it is exposed to winter winds, put up some kind of a wind break. If you wrap in burlap, always leave the top open. Also, be sensitive to winter drought. If the winter is very dry and if temperatures moderate, the plant may break dormancy and suffer drought damage. Watering in winter is sometimes necessary on new plants. Keep a watch on it and if you do get root heaving, just replant it.

Experienced nurserymen I know all recommend planting in the fall.

In Z5 and colder, I would definitely plant now rather than wait for fall. The stresses of summer heat and the need to keep watered when necessary are minor compared to the stresses of winter sub-zero cold, sun and wind. Recent winters have also been very inconsistent, mixing spells of warmth with plunges into deep cold. this is difficult for many plants, rhododendrons especially. In cold climates, and Z4 is about as cold as practical for any attempt to grow rhododendrons, you want to establish a good root system as quickly as possible. That's much more likely to happen with spring planting. You will need to make sure the plant goes into winter well watered and protection from sun and wind with a burlap screen, evergreen boughs, etc. is a very good idea. Anti-desicants such as WiltPruf can also help.

rhododendrons are pretty durable plants and extremely low maintenance