Many rhodies have to be deadheaded, either by hand or by nature, to bloom every year rather than every other year. I try to twist off the old blooms before the leaves sprout on the sides so that I preserve growth, although I've been know to slide and destry too,

These are the native Rhodys. (rhodendren Maximum)
a naturalist came to speak at our garden club and she told us that these Rhody's you do not dead head. I thought that you should but she said no.