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Sick camellia

geejaypgeejayp Posts: 5
in Problem solving
Any ideas what's wrong with this camellia japonica? It was planted this spring and, once settled, it started to thrive and had lots of new growth. But then the new growth went soft, and since then it seems like the plant is dying. Over/underwatering? Disease/pest? Soil pH?

Please help!



Posts

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Not soil pH. Can't see any pests or diseases.  Could be either over or under-watering.

    New leaves are more vulnerable.  My guess the plant dried out before or just after planting.  Strong sun won't have helped.

    I doesn'r look terminal.  I would leave and watch,
     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."
  • geejaypgeejayp Posts: 5
    bédé said:
    Not soil pH. Can't see any pests or diseases.  Could be either over or under-watering.

    New leaves are more vulnerable.  My guess the plant dried out before or just after planting.  Strong sun won't have helped.

    I doesn'r look terminal.  I would leave and watch,
    Okay, thanks. Should I try to water it more often? We had 5-6 weeks of hot weather with no rain, but it was being watered regularly during that time. It gets some direct sun where it is, but only 2-3hrs max.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's very close to that fence, which can often be much drier.
    When you say regular watering, what exactly do you mean? A newly planted  shrub, especially that sort of size, needs a can of water every few days, right in at the base, and for the next few months until cooler, autumn weather makes it easier for it to settle.
    Shrubs take up to about a year to establish.  :)
    A small amount of direct sun is ok for established plants, but it makes it much harder at the start as they can scorch very easily, even if it's not a particularly high temp. They're best suited to semi shaded sites, especially if you're in a very hot part of the country. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    They respond very well to hard pruning,  I would cut it back as far as the lower horizontal bar on the fence,  the top is growing sparce, not a good look for camellias.
    That will give it a better chance to get its roots settled as it’s a new plant,  it’s had a lot to do to sustain all that top growth in these weather conditions.
    I have cut them right back to the ground and they shoot out from the base with very strong growth.
    Dont be tempted to give it any sort of plant food/fertiliser,  that will just promote another lot of long thin stems.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • geejaypgeejayp Posts: 5
    Thanks all for the advice :)
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