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Camellia problem

Edward.francisEdward.francis Posts: 123
edited March 2023 in Problem solving
Hi everyone,

I saw yesterday that our camellia which has bloomed nicely in previous years, now doesn't seem to look so good and doesn't appear to have and buds on it yet? It also has a strange brown discolouring (see photo). Any idea what it is and how to get rid of it?

Many thanks,

Ed

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Posts

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Lack of water at flower bud-forming time will lead to buds either not forming, or forming and aborting before their time.
    The leaf damage could be from a variety of reasons, but is probably only a one-off.  It looks ugly, but is not a problem.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Edward.francisEdward.francis Posts: 123
    Are they buds in the middle of the leaves? Or is that new growth?
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    That’s new growth in the middle of the leaves,  you can get rid of the brown leaves in your council compost bin or dustbin. You have lots of fresh leaves coming. 
    Maybe it got too dry last year, lots of plants have suffered. That could account for no buds this year. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Edward.francis said:
    Are they buds in the middle of the leaves? Or is that new growth?
    Buds, yes.  But branch and leaf buds, flower buds are much fatter at this time of the year.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Edward.francisEdward.francis Posts: 123
    Lyn said:
    That’s new growth in the middle of the leaves,  you can get rid of the brown leaves in your council compost bin or dustbin. You have lots of fresh leaves coming. 
    Maybe it got too dry last year, lots of plants have suffered. That could account for no buds this year. 
    Yes it was a hot, dry one last year and maybe I neglected to water it enough. So should I cut the brown leaves off now and discard?

    Ed
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Camellias, rhodos, azaleas all need plenty of rai during monsoon time - late July thru mid autumn - in order to form and set flower buds or they abort them in favour of consevring energy.   You need to make sure yours is well watered this coming summer, especially if there are more heatwaves.

    You can snip off the unsightly leaves and I would then give it a liquid feed for ericaceous plants to promote leaf health and resore vigour.  Give it a slow release feed for roses or tomatoes to encourage flowe bud production.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Lyn said:
      you can get rid of the brown leaves in your council compost bin or dustbin. 
    No mention of that essential, your own compost heap.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited March 2023
    Obelixx said:
      Give it a slow release feed for roses or tomatoes to encourage flowe bud production.


     Why does everybody go straight for the food.  No wonder we are a nation of fatties.

     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    There are a few pests which can cause that damage/browning @Edward.francis , but most of the time, Camellias are adversely affected by weather, so that's more likely. Very wet, then very sunny ,or sunny following a freeze are a few of the situations that can cause it. 
    If it's a pest - aphids or scale, you might see some evidence on the underside of the leaves. There isn't much you can really do if that's the case, except removing the affected ones. 
    As @Lyn says, it's better to put the in your council bin, if you aren't sure which reason it is.  :)

    If the shrub is otherwise happy and healthy, don't worry too much. Keep mulching with good compost -ericaceous if you have it. Leaf mould or bark are the ideal additions though.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    Did you get snow in December?    that wet snow that then froze did a lot of damage to a lot of plants. That said if the flower buds were there they would probably be brown and mushy by now if it was the snow damage.  I  volunteer at a garden and a whole bank of Camelias have been affected this way. Buds were there but they've gone rotten on the plant.
    AB Still learning

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