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Camelia has never flowered

norderhovenorderhove Posts: 33
in Plants
About 5 years ago my husband who never gardens bought 2 camelias and put them in tubs with ordinary compost. They were in flower when the got them but have never flowered since. I'm not allowed to touch them. Two years ago I persuaded him to use ericaceous compost in new tubs and to keep them well watered in summer but they have still never flowered. They get sun from about 11am  to 3 pm when it moves round. Will they ever flower?
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  • norderhovenorderhove Posts: 33
    I see that I asked about this 2 years ago.He's done everything suggested They've been repotted in John Innes with ericaceous compost mixed in are in very big containers, well drained and well watered in summer. The leaves now look very healthy  but no sign of any buds. No sign of vine weevils either. It's in semi shade.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited March 2022
    Is it possible to move the pots to a spot with more sun?

    Are you sure they are camelias?

    Can we see some pics?
  • norderhovenorderhove Posts: 33
    NO they can't go anywhere else. The rest of the garden is far too hot. They have light shade where they are from a rose covered trellis. Afraid photos not possible as I can't get out there now. Absolutely definitely camelias. They were in flower when he bought them. I'd like to get rid of them but if my husband's bought something, it NEVER leaves.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
     Try giving them a bucket of water at regular intervals through the summer, with an ericaceous feed once a week.  If they dry out in the summer, they won't flower the following spring.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited March 2022
    Do you ever notice tiny buds on them in the autumn or winter? They are renowned for getting too dry when putting on nascent buds, the buds drop and you get no flowers. Maybe trying adding a layer of manure and a John Innes 3 ericaceous mix for long term planting, this should help the pot hold more water - over a regular MPC.

    I would put good money on the odds that the shrub should be in a much larger pot. Try doubling the size of the container.
  • norderhovenorderhove Posts: 33
    They get well watered in summer but admittedly  were not fed last year but he did repot them. Thanks Fire, I'll try that. I tend not to use manure because the dog eats it LOL  but she shoudl leave it alone in these planters. No I've never  seen any buds. They are in John Innes ericaceous and well watered. I couldn't double the container size, they are huge.- over a metre square. Husband built  big wooden planters and lined them with plastic ( with  drainage of course).
  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    If it is a white flower Camelia, how far North are you?
    I read on the Glendoick nursery website that they often get asked from people why the Camelia they bought from another GC hasn't flowered, and it turns out to be a white flowering Camelia. Glendoick say that white Camelias struggle to flower in Scotland.
    Sunny Dundee
  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    Lack of flowering is discussed here.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvoGtb10J1k&list=PLhr01Lyo64KYhQRBtpBSYMcFpheNpkLA-&index=29
    Sunny Dundee
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I had a similar problem with a camellia I bought. After 5/6 years I was so fed up with no flowers I gave it a severe talking to and told it if it didn't flower that year, it was going on the compost heap. 
    Amazingly, it flowered and flowered every year after. I think it may just not have reached flowering maturity.
    As your husband sounds as if he likes a challenge leave it to him. Stop stressing about it and find something to nurture that you love as much as he loves his camellia.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The pale pink ones are fine here, but the whites are generally not great - unfortunately. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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