Camellia Buds

Alfie_ · February 2023

Hi people,

First year growing a camellia. I bought it in the autumn as a fairly established plant. During the very cold spell we had a fleeced it but took this off a few weeks ago. Buds look a bit brown. Wanted to know how bad they are and if they are likely/unlikely to flower? What should I have done to prevent this? Thanks

Fairygirl · February 2023

As long as it was adequately moist during late summer, and has a suitable site, it should be fine. They don't appreciate an east facing site where any morning sun might defrost frozen buds - west-ish facing site is best, or somewhere it has decent shade from strong sun for several hours in summer. They're woodland plants.
The fleece nay actually have done more harm than good, but as long as they aren't soft and squidgy, it should be ok.
Fleece, like any insulation, can hold moisture in just as much as it can insulate. They really don't need protection of that kind

Alfie_ · February 2023

@Fairygirl thanks for this. Do you know why the leaves have lost a bit of life? When I planted it all the leaves were lovely dark green and glossy. They are a bit paler and a few leaves have black bits on them.

Alfie_ · February 2023

Here it is on the day I planted it

Fairygirl · February 2023

It may not have suitable nutrients in the soil or your soil might be too alkaline. Neutral to acidic is the ideal, and you can beef that up with rotted manure or suitable compost. A bark mulch is also useful, as long as it's not going on dry ground. They need moisture, good soil, and good drainage to thrive

I think you can get specific feeds for them - iron based, but I don't have to use them so have no experience of them. I'm sure any GC or DIY store will have a suitable one.
However, if the soil's wrong, it's a bit pointless to keep feeding artificially. You may have to review the site.
Alternatively, you may need to keep it in a container, and that will have to be big enough to accommodate it well. They don't tend to be brilliant as container specimens.

bédé · February 2023

Are any buds dropping off? If so it will be lack of water in the summer when they were forming. Yours look as though they are swelling up nicely. The brown cover has a name, calyx? It goes brown and falls off as it ages.

Your tired looking leaves: that's old age. (I won't post a pic of me.). They will go yellow, perhaps a bit spotty first, and then fall off. Or pick them off early if they are spoiling the flower display and if your plant is small enough.

Marlorena · February 2023

That Camellia, which is a japonica hybrid, has chlorosis.. these types need quite acidic conditions to thrive.. the leaves are yellowing towards the edges and generally have a paler, sickly look overall..
From March it needs to be drenched at the base with sequestered iron tonic, also spraying the foliage with it..
If your soil is not naturally acidic, you will always be fighting this problem but if your soil is nearer neutral, it can be kept in reasonable condition with monthly feeding..

Some buds on these turn brown and drop off if not grown in ideal conditions.. but you should have enough left for some flowers this Spring..

bédé · February 2023

This camellia does not have chlorosis !

Leave it alone, don't pamper it, don't feed it until after flowering. And even then only a little, it won't necessarily need it. Believe me, your plant is healthy and doing well. Don't worry. Enjoy

Do you know the variety? I would like to see a pic when it is flowering.

Fairygirl · February 2023

@Alfie_ - I meant to say to you yesterday - your shrub has only be in situ five minutes. It's just starting to establish and that takes a while.

If your soil isn't suited, as I said at the start, you may need to rethink, but for now it should be fine.
It might be a bit dry being so near that fence, but again - I don't know your site and conditions, especially your climate. We never have to water Camellias in the ground here, so just bear it in mind if you're in a drier area.
Tap water can be a problem in many areas of the country [again we don't need to worry here where I am] so if you can, use rainwater if you need to water it.

I hope it does well for you

bédé · February 2023

I can only see the surface of your soil. It looks alright to me. Can you describe your soil so that we can put non-fact based sniping in its place.

I can't see any problem that would have been caused by what I see. Your camellia may be living off its intial compost; of course any problem from yoyr soil may show up later. But let's not panic too soon.

Alfie_ · February 2023

Thanks to all for such detailed advice. To give some extra info on how I have cared for it so far. It was a Birthday present in November so that’s when I planted it. I dug a hole twice the size of the root ball and filled it in with ericaceous compost and also mulched it with a layer of this on top.

The camellia is Marie Bracey. The only snag is that it was root bound. The main thick root was in a circle around the root ball. I made one cut to open it out and tried as best I could to spread the roots outward. I then gave it a good watering in using rain water. I haven’t done anything since except fleece it during that mega cold spell where we had heavy snow and temperatures as low as minus 8. 🥶

I will post a picture of the soil tomorrow. I planted it there because it gets some sunlight but not full sunlight and it’s fairly sheltered.

Camellia Buds

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