Rhododendrons are a bit of a mystery to me so I use a special strategy for encouraging this one. I ignore it completely. This is what I get in return. You can also see my peonies starting to bloom. All this disguises the fact that Anchovy World Headquarters is hidden in a cave deep beneath this unassuming Longbranch residence.
I agree with your rhodo method. Ours are doing great by the same method.