Camelia has never flowered

norderhove · May 2020

Hi, I'm new here and have only been gardening a few years so please bear with me. I have two camelias in pots of ericaceous compost that never flower. They flowered when first bought but never since. They are in light shade, top dressed every year and well watered when buds should be forming and are fed from about May onwards. I'm wondering if moving them would help along with repotting. Presently they face roughly north west.

Fairygirl · May 2020

Are they only in compost? It's not adequate I'm afraid, for long term potted plants.
Also - what size are the pots? Camellias don't do very well in containers unless they're huge.
Some photos would help, if you can manage some

norderhove · May 2020

The pots are about 2ft 6" across the top. Afraid I have no photos and now it's chucking it down LOL. I think it was just compost they were put in; can't remember now but they are top dressed every year. Right now the leaves are yellowing and desperately in need of feeding. I just haven't bothered with them as they don't do anything. Husband has just made two bigger wooden planters so they will get repotted. What would you recommend? (If I can get hold of compost or soil.)

Fairygirl · May 2020

You need a soil based compost. Compost alone doesn't have any sustenance. Some of the JInnes ones are ideal, and you may need to have a look for those if you don't have suitable soil in your garden. It's not something I ever have to do, as our soil here is suitable, and I never grow them in pots, but you should be able to find ones which are appropriate

You would then mix that with some ericaceous compost. They need good moisture, but they also need good drainage. The containers need to be deep as well, to give enough volume to sustain the top growth.
Don't keep feeding them - it doesn't help plants when they're struggling. A feed is fine now and again, but when the plant is already happy enough though.
The water you use is also a factor. If you don't live in a suitable area for tapwater, you'd need to collect rainwater for watering them. Don't rely on rain either - the leathery leaves will tend to shrug it off, so very little gets in. Always water in at the base of the stem - at the soil level, as watering from overhead isn't good for the foliage, especially if it's sunny. Apologies if you know all that already

North west is fine, but if they're also near a house wall or similar, they will tend to be drier. A good mulch of something like bark is beneficial, to help avoid too much moisture loss. Keeping them up off the ground is also good, especially if they're on a hard surface. Little pot feet, or anything similar is ideal

norderhove · May 2020

Thanks I knew about watering but will have to collect rainwater. Our soil is not suitable for them. They are not a plant I would have bought but my husband came home with them. He knows NOTHING about plants. They are well drained and raised up on bricks but I will have to try to get some John Innes before they are repotted. Fat chance just now. We are shielding and just finding a half decent seed and cutting compost was nigh impossible. Our family run garden centre may open but I obviously can't go there. It will be heaving anyway. They'd sold out of compost before this started. Thanks for your help.

Fairygirl · May 2020

It's very difficult - and I understand that. If you can just keep it in a shady spot as far as possible, that will help for now,and any water is better than nothing.
I believe garden centres are opening up in England, so if you're there, that will help soon, even if you can't go for a while. There are some online sites which deliver, but I think it's expensive if you only want one or two bags of something.

Bl**dy husbands eh?

norderhove · May 2020

Right, they stay put until I can get decent soil. I will have to see whether our garden centre will deliver. They are less than 1/4 mile away.Oh yes, husbands. He turned up with a tree peony that we had no home for; stuck it in a very damp, dark spot and wondered why it died. He reads all about gardening but never does any and hasn't a clue. He sees a plant, likes it and buys it but indoor azaleas just don't do well outdoors! and I don't do houseplants. As for a colour scheme- forget it.

Bijdezee · May 2020

Does it get buds but they fall off or don't develop? If so, it's a lack of consistent water. Had this problem myself but mine flowered well as long as I kept it quite moist throughout the summer while the buds were developing.

Have you pruned it and maybe cut off the shoots that might have developed buds?

If no flower buds are appearing despite all this then I'm out of suggestions.

Maybe it's concentrating on developing its root system and you will get flower buds appearing next year which should open the following season. Let's hope so.

norderhove · May 2020

No, no buds at all. First think I thought of was watering. It just doesn't do anything and hasn't been pruned.

Fairygirl · May 2020

I get the impression you're doing all the right things as far as is possible @norderhove but without some photos, it's hard to give any further advice.
I hadn't thought to ask you if you had pruned either, so it was good that @Bijdezee asked that question. I think I was presuming they were on the smaller side anyway.
I think they're just struggling a bit in the conditions they have.
Hopefully, you can get to grips with it in the next month or two - and your hubby too

norderhove · May 2020

Thanks. I've never taken photos as they just weren't worth it. Leaves are now turning yellow, a sure sign of lack of nutrients which is probably the cause of everything. As soon as I can get compost I'll repot them completely and give them a bit more sun. I see huge bushes growing in gardens not far away, absolutely covered in flowers so these really annoy me. I'm sorely tempted to just bin them but "he" won't have it! I wish "he" would look after them.

Camelia has never flowered

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