I'll check and see if there is a better forum for this, but I suspect I'm not the only Texas gardener with a camellia, so...
When and how do I prune it, and what's the best organic snack for it? It's just coming into bloom and is so pretty, but it's scrawny. The one book I have that includes camellias just says it shouldn't need to be pruned. I've only had it where it is for a couple of years, so maybe I'm just impatient, but I know I need to feed it and feel I need to prune it.
Thanks in advance!
Camellia question
It grows slow and only needs light organic snack at the start of growing season, which is also the best time to shape it. They do love good mulch that breaks down slow and aids in feeding.
I had a number of them in my garden back in San Jose, CA. You are in the right part of the state for growing camellias. Do you know what species you have or the name of the cultivar? When young most camellias look a little scraggly. The small sasanqua is more compact and looks neater while still young. Camellias are acid loving plants so the fertilizer should say so on the package. Plants don't have the capacity to differentiate between sources as long as theit needs are met. So I tend to buy what meets their need. If it didn't cost an arm and a leg to ship, I would buy Peter's fertilizer for acid loving plants.
Regardless of camellia species, wait until your plant has bloomed then prune. Compared to other plants, Camellias are relatively slow growing so patience does help. :-)
http://www.camellias-acs.com/display.aspx?catid=3,9,109&pageid=7
http://members.cox.net/vacs/pruning.htm
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/newsletters/hortupdate/jan01/art10jan.html
http://www.plantanswers.com/garden_column/jan_03/3.htm
Thanks! I also read the article on camellias in this week's letter. I need to acidify, which I can do. It's close to the foundation of the house, so that's going to be a constant battle. Oh, well!
And I'll prune when the blooms are gone.
Thanks again!
Do not prune until frost danger is over. Sometimes pruning encourages new growth and you do not want that until frost danger is over.
Thanks for that reminder. Down here we can have an 80 degree Christmas and a freak freeze in March. Those ups and downs have messed up more than one azalea, I can tell you!
Thanks for the thread. I also hae my first Camelia. She is blooming right now, and we've had 24-26 degree lows the last two nights. I have covered her with a nice fitted light weight breathable bag. Saw her blooms two days ago, and they looked just fine.
She's only been in the ground for 2 months, so I just don't want to lose her. She does have some protection with a fence on the north 5 ft away, and some overhang from 15 ft photinias above.
If you loose your Camelia, it probably won't be from the cold. It takes a real cold snap to even hurt the blooms. We never cover any of ours and they just do wonderful. What they do not like is real dry conditions, but they have a waxy leaf that does not loose lots of water. I am a composting fool and after I plant one I just about forget about it until it's time to see the blooms.
hi im new to dg i have one camellia, lady clare i keep 3 inches of pine needles on it and my azaleas, la iris ,they like it. the needled keep them fed,lets water through i have never give them anything but pine needles. they will work for all plants that like the acid they make as they break down. works for me every time.