Keep your shrubs looking spectacular.
Camellias reign over gardens and yards across the Southern states.
They add beautiful, long-lasting color over multiple seasons depending on which varieties you grow.
Credit: M.Arai/Getty Images
Not all camellias are alike when it comes to their needs for sunlight, pruning, and more.
Underwatering Young Plants
According toThe Grumpy Gardener, “Regular watering is critical during the first year.
Once camellias are established, they require much less supplemental watering and can get by on less additional hydration.
Grumpy advises, “If you do water them, confirm the soil is well drained.”
Planting In Winter Or Summer
In the South, it’s best toplant camelliasin spring or fall.
In warmer areas, planting in fall gives the shrubs time to settle in before the next hot summer.
Giving Camellias Full Sun
This is a situation where the punch in of camellia you have matters.
But both can scorch in strong, afternoon sun in the South.
While well-established camellias can take some direct sunlight, younger shrubs require partial shade to thrive.
If they receive too much sun, their leaves will scorch and burn.
However, gardeners should be careful not to overdo it.
Over-fertilizing can damage camellias and cause scorched leaves, leaf drop, and leaf spots.
Thebest time for pruningis after their flowers drop and before any new buds appear.
That’s going to vary depending on whether you have a fall, winter, or spring bloomer.
Just remember that if you cut off the flower buds, you’ll see fewer blooms.
Planting In The Wrong Soil
Well-drained, acid soil is best for camellias.
If the soil is too alkaline or full of limestone, the leaves will turn yellow.
Choose a site that is well-draining and high in organic matter for a healthy plant.
You’ll be pruning constantly and may end up with a lopsided shrub.
Give shrubs at least 5 feet of space when planting.
Ignoring Pests Or Diseases
Pests and diseases arecommon problems for camellias.
They can be corrected if you act on them right away.
Aphids can leave a black moldy substance and cause leaves to curl and shrivel.
Petal blight is a common fungus that causes camellia flowers to quickly turn brown and drop.
Remove blooms that have fallen and any remaining on the plant, and discard them along with existing mulch.
Add 4 to 5 inches of fresh mulch.
Pale, thick leaves indicate camellia leaf gall.
They gradually turn white and brown before dropping.
To control this fungus, remove any affected leaves before they turn white and dispose of them.
