Here's a photo of my healthy Rhododendron - Purpureum Elegans.

Most likely, the original rootball is dry. Stick your finger in it to determine is that's so. If dry, you may need to set a drizzling hose directly on the rootball every several days.

Even better, dig up the ball, soak in water for a couple hours and replant. Once the root ball dries out, it is very difficult to get it wet again. If you didn't open up the roots with a knife before you planted, you need to do that. The Rarefind Nursery site below has good directions for that.

It looks like you have a red clay soil. If so, you may need to use a raised bed with a good garden loam.

Too much water is worse than not enough water. Only water when the leaves start to droop in the morning. All rhododendrons will droop in the heat of the day, don't worry about that. But if they droop early in the morning that is a problem. If watering doesn't help, then dig up and replant.

Besides the website below, check out my "How To" site at: Culture: How To Grow Rhododendrons and Azaleas

Here is a link that might be useful: How To Plant (Rarefind Nursery)

Thank you for the advice. I'm going to try intensive water every other day, first thing in the morning. I've already seen less droopiness. And, one bud finally opened.

I realized that the area I planted it in must have tons of roots from all the trees around the plants so there's a lot of competition for the water.

If I start to see the plant go downhill again, I will definitely dig it up and check the root ball.

What's really odd is that I remember when planting it, it didn't have much of a root ball. The other plant, the healthy one, did have a tight ball, and I had to cut it down the side to open it up. And the healthy plant has like a moss/spongey top of consistency on the top, which makes water penetration really difficult. But, it's the one doing fine.

Again, thank you.