Camellia Plant Care

Camellia plant care

Camellias prefer a position that is in dappled or full shade. An area that gets morning shade is best as direct sun in the morning can dry out the developing flower buds too quickly. Camellias are woodland plants and do not cope well in a sunny, south facing spot.

Do camellias grow well in pots?

Camellias are easy to grow in containers and will thrive with the right care and conditions. Follow these simple steps for vigorous container-grown camellias throughout the year.

Do camellias do better in sun or shade?

Light. In general, camellias grow and bloom better in light, partial shade, with shelter from hot afternoon sun. This is especially true for young plants, which thrive under the shade of tall trees or when grown on the north side of a house.

How often do camellias need to be watered?

If it feels dry 2 to 3 inches down into the soil, you should water. In general, if you planted during the fall, you'll need to water only about once every week or two, assuming you haven't had any rain. If you plant in the spring, water deeply once a week for the first month, then cut back to every other week.

Do camellias spread?

Mature Height/Spread. Common Japanese Camellia (Camellia japonica) is a broadleaved, evergreen shrub, which may grow to a height of 25 feet, but more often to 6 to 12 feet. It has a spread of 6 to 10 feet.

Do camellias grow fast?

Camellia is a rapid grower and will reach 6 to 14 feet high by 5 to 7 feet wide. The plant requires full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils with a neutral to acidic pH. It will grow in clay, loam, or sandy soils and is slightly salt tolerant.

How long do camellias live for?

Life span: Camellias are long-lived plants, with some living more than 100 years.

What is the best fertilizer for camellias?

Best Fertilizer for Camellia The nutrient mix will have consistent levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, such as 8-8-8 or 10-10-10. As mentioned above, enthusiasts find or make mixes with high nitrogen for spring, a blend of moderate nitrogen/phosphorus for mid-season, and a potassium booster for late summer.

What is the best fertilizer for a camellia bush?

Azaleas and Camellias Fertilizer N-P-K The best fertilizer for azaleas and camellias will contain a slightly higher ratio of nitrogen to help maintain soil acidity and phosphorus to encourage blooming. A 9-8-7 N-P-K or a 30-30-10 is ideal. Fertilizer labels display a three-numbered ratio, known as an N-P-K.

Are camellias low maintenance?

Low-maintenance and shade-loving, Camellias throw themselves into spellbinding bloom from late fall into early spring. Available as trees or shrubs, Camellia flowers can be as simple as a wild rose.

Can camellias stay outside in winter?

Camellias should remain outside until temperatures fall below freezing for extended periods, or at the latest until they fall below -5 °C. After that, the plants need to move to bright winter quarters.

Do camellias lose their leaves in winter?

Camellia leaves are evergreen, meaning that they don't drop in the fall, and winter burn or frost can damage them. Normally, yellowing will self-correct as spring rolls around, but any foliage or branches that die off should be pruned away in the spring.

Can you overwater a camellia?

This excess water ruptures the cells, particularly on the undersides, and leads to water-soaked patches that turn corky and unsightly. Make sure the plant isn't waterlogged or overwatered.

Should I remove dead flowers from camellias?

Camellia. For shrubs that bloom only once in a season, such as camellias and lilacs, removing the old flowers helps to conserve the plant's resources so it can maintain healthy leaf and root growth. Just pinch off old blooms.

How do I make my camellia bushier?

To make a camellia bushier, home gardeners need to prune some branches back to the base of the most recent growth. Buds below the cut will grow into several new stems. Remove any scraggly, unattractive drooping or crossing branches. Huge old camellias can be renovated into an attractive tree in one year.

What month do camellias flower?

Flower for April – Camellia Plants Camellias are delightful evergreen shrubs with dark, smooth and glossy leaves with tapered ends. The most common varieties of Camellia have flowers in white, pink, red and blooms can be single or occasionally double.

Should camellias be cut back?

For the best results it is recommended that you trim and prune your growing Camellia's every year during the spring. The best time will be when the flowers have faded. You should prune any leggy, crowded, crossing, rubbing, dead or damaged Camellia. This will keep the flower healthy and stop it from overgrowing.

How many times a year do camellias bloom?

2. They bloom in three seasons. By choosing varieties with staggered bloom times, your camellia flower display can last for months between autumn and spring.

Do camellia plants need a lot of water?

If you're worried about water usage, camellias only require medium watering during summer growth months and light watering the rest of the year. Overwatering, in fact, is dangerous for camellias, so be sure they are in soil that drains well and allow the top five inches of soil to dry out between irrigation cycles.

Do camellias multiply?

By far, most camellias are propagated with cuttings although some are multiplied with seeds and grafting. Seedling camellias vary widely, of course, and can take a decade or more to flower so they are only a method for the very patient gardener.