How to Care for Camellias
Camellias, with their gardenia-like flowers and glossy dark green leaves, can be found in colors from white to the darkest velvety red, with a wonderful range of pinks, purples and bicolors in between. Like a number of beautifully-flowering shrubs, they have some definite preferences in growing conditions. Respect those, and your camellias will be beautiful and flower abundantly. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Camellia
- Peat moss and other soil enrichment
- Shady planting area
- Spade
- Water source
Instructions
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Establishing Good Growing Conditions
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Evaluate both your climate and suitable sunlight before planting (or transplanting). Camellias do best in moderate climates (summers in the 70s and 80s and winters remaining 10 to 15 degrees above zero at most times). Both heavy wind and high humidity put strains on camellias. If rhododendron and azalea do well in your area, there's a good chance camellias will as well. Although they are more susceptible to insects like aphids (hence the humidity caution). Camellias do well generally in climates such as the Pacific Northwest and the MidAtlantic states, the British Isles and Japan (their country of origin). Intense sun is another enemy.
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Plan drainage carefully. Like clematis, camellias like their "feet" cool but not wet. Prepare soil with peat moss, rotted organic matter and add some sand if you have any remaining doubts about drainage.
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Keep soil slightly to moderately acid. The lime that keeps your lilacs flourishing will send your camellias into immediate and possibly irretrievable funk.
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Water during dry periods. In addition to good drainage, camellias need a steady supply of water. By the time you see dry leaves and withered buds, it's too late.
Reviving Existing Plantings
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Check growing conditions from the ones listed above to plan your revival-strategy. Start with sunlight, wind and possible drainage problems. If your camellia is not enormous, consider transplanting to an area with richer, better-drained soil and filtered sunlight.
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Check for drainage by digging with a trowel or spade on both sides of your shrub. Holes should be at least 12 to 18 inches deep and 2 feet from each side of the camellia, to avoid root-damage. Go deep to determine what surrounding soil is like. A common failure in planting is to prepare good soil for existing roots without planning for growth. If your planting site is surrounded by heavy clay soil or lots of rocks, improve it with peat moss and organic matter on all sides of the plant--this enables roots to expand.
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Examine leaves and stems to determine whether the problem is caused by insects such as aphids or mites. Consult a professional to find the gentlest way to deter them--adding harsh chemicals to an already-stressed plant just makes things worse. Regular applications of soapy water or a nontoxic oily spray may be all you need to return your camellia to beautiful blooming.
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Tips & Warnings
If your winters are windy, shelter your camellia with a green-stick-burlap wind barrier. Remember to water during dry spells in spring and fall.
