Spray paint?

Espona Holly Tone perhaps, I can't remember if it has chelated iron in it or not. I know Miracle Gro Acid fertilizer in the blue box does.

There are probably different reasons for one or more of these shrubs being discolored. What will work for one may not help another. The sweet box may need magnesium (or more shade), the camellia nitrogen. Products like Holly Tone and chemicals like chelated iron I think are useful in areas with alkaline soils or other mineral situations not usual in this region.

Thanks for the info. With all of the rain falling today, I don't think even the green paint would work. Bboy, does this rain leach out too many of the nutrients? The rhodie that is suffering IS improving. I moved it out of the sun into more of a shady area and last year worked dilligently to make sure it had a good supply of nutrients and it does look better.

The most common deficiency in plantings in this region is that of nitrogen.

Perhaps t he soil is still cold and wet. One or the other or a combo will slow root function -- thus plants look a tad said early on.

If that's the case, the plants will green up of their own accord when temps -- soil & air - are appropriate -- that is, warmer than they are now.

It sure is cold and wet!!! And it seems that the sun shines on non-gardening days. I think I will pep them up with a little nitrogen, it can't hurt. I think that the rhodie and the sweet box are both in saturated clay soils are likely the root cause. Thanks all.

As the roots go, so goes the top.

Growth is happenin' here, cold weather, or otherwise.
I'm way behind because of an ice storm that hit the foothills here.
Mike

Actually, iron deficiencies can be rather common in this area because our typically only mildly acidic soils tend to bind or hold this element. Bumping up the acidity or applying a chelated iron product can help a lot. That's why most acid-lovers ferts include an iron chelate component.

While I am not a huge fan of MiracleGro in most of its disguises, MirAcid (or MiracleGro for Acid Lovers) is a rather impressive "green-up" tonic for just about any broadleaved evergreen shrub. One should notice extremely rapid results.

While I agree that I used it far more often in Phoenix with it's gawdawful alkaline caliche soil, I do keep a box of Mir-Acid in my shed for the occasional chlorotic rhododendron and it does work, fast. Which is why I recommended it....:D

I also agree that our three years of worse than normal rainfall have caused many plants to suffer. I've lost several established dwarf rhodies to drainage issues even though I've been amending for over fifteen years with compost. When I have dug them up the roots were severely rotted....