That's awesome news! Thank you!

A nitrogen deficiency will aggravate this condition. I would use a little Hollytone now at half the recommended rate and just now, not later.

Hi rhodyman, I transplanted it on Mother's Day and mixed in Osmocote 10-10-10 at that time. Shouldn't need the Hollytone? How many days is usual for new leaves to turn darker?

The leaves just need to mature. Rhody leaves are always a lighter green than mature leaves. It's not just rhodies either but take for instance, spruces, firs, hellebores, mahonia, etc, etc.

Rhody leaves aren't always a lighter green. Check this out on my Lem's Cameo.
These leaves are really healthy. They will turn green in a few weeks. The only fertilizer I have ever used is woodchips.
Mike

My 'Barmstedt' new growth will typically be 'whitish' like it was blanched and does not exhibit any green with new growth. I also have 'Redwood' which shows this type of new growth, Miketann. They're pretty aren't they?

Yes, the leaves are pretty. So are the blooms.
Mike

The emergent leaves of 'Barmsteadt' are covered with whitish indumentum. Rub this off and the leaf surface beneath is light green. Indumentum is a characteristic inherited from species ancestors, especially yakushimanum, but also pseudochrysanthum, pachysanthum and others. Brown or reddish brown indumentum comes from bureavii, taliense and others. The color of 'Redwood' leaves comes from rhododendron insigne. Rhododendron hanceanum has chocolate brown new leaves. For many years, hybridizers concentrated almost exclusively on blossom size and color. In more recent times, attractive and unusual leaves have become more of a priority.

Wow, that is beautiful Miketann! Thank you for correcting me on the colors of newly emerging rhody leaves. I guess I should have said they are 'commonly' a lighter green. That's a very nice plant you have there though.

It seems there's always an exception to an absolute. We all know what you were saying though.
It sure has been dry here in the PacNW. We sure can use some rain.
Mike