Watering needs Summer vs. Winter

Most of what I know about landscaping and keeping my shrubs healthy is stuff I figure out for myself. I have come to the conclusion that my camellias have an extra strong need for water in the summer and their thirst slacks off during the winter. In the Summer, my camellias look droopy every week and I have to irrigate and water them regularly. Now it's winter, and they seem perfectly happy. Yes, it does tend to rain more in winter here, but that shouldn't account for all the difference. Every day they look totally happy and I figure that during the winter they just don't need as much water. Could someone please validate this conclusion or share with me your thoughts on the subject? Thanks.

You're absolutely right, plants don't need as much water during the winter. When it's hot outside, a plant goes through more water (sort of like how you sweat a lot more and would need to drink more water if you're exercising outdoors in the summer vs the winter). Plus most plants do more active growing during the summer which will also increase their water needs.

I agree with Ecrane also and would add that in your situation and hot summers, I would be inclined to give the Camellias a good few inches of mulch so that around the root area they don't dry out so fast when the temp is high.
Camellias like a little shade, no really early morning sun and a slightly acidic soil, the reason for them looking better in winter is because they are not struggling to cope AND grow in high temp's.
These plants /shrubs are like Rhododendrons in as much they start to make there tiny flower buds almost soon as the flush of flowers have died off, so I give mine a sprinkling of acidic plant food bought from the garden center, this helps the plant get energy after using up lots to make beautiful flowers and new leaf in spring. If you ever have to cut or prune your Camellias then do it right after flowering is over so the shrub has a chance to make the new buds for the following years flowers. Early morning sun can make the flower buds turn brown IF the night temp has fallen really below normal.
A good idea might be to dig a hole close to the root area and insert a clear plastic juice container upside down into the hole, you cut the bottom off the container as you are making like a funnel, then as you water the shrubs in hot summer, the water is getting right down to the roots where it is required instead of running off the top soil as it has developed a hard crust and water cant penetrate easily. I find this helps and the container can stay in place as long as needed, it is not seen.
Hope this helps, Weenel.

Another thing to think about along those same lines--if the camellias are established (been in the ground at least a year or two) and they're still regularly wilting in the summer it suggests that you may not have them in ideal conditions. They will definitely need to be watered in the summer, but unless you're really neglecting the watering, a well-established camellia in a location that's appropriate for it (not too much sun, etc) shouldn't be wilting on a regular basis. The other possibility is that you're not watering deeply enough--if you're giving them just a tiny sprinkling that doesn't penetrate down very far into the soil. It's better to water less frequently and for a longer period of time so that the plant's roots are encouraged to grow deep rather than staying near the surface where the soil dries out quickly.

I really appreciate your comments. Thank you. In response to how deeply I'm watering . . . Her's how I water. I have rigged up a series of four hoses leading to one master hose. I put the 4 hoses at the base of 4 different camellia plants and turn on the master hose to a slow trickle. I watch to make sure water in all 4 hoses isn't coming out so fast that it runs off the top of the soil. Once the appropriate trickle is established, I leave the water running for several hours. Then after several hours, I move to 4 other camellias. Does the water go deep enough? I don't know. Tell me if you have any thoughts on this.

That's deep enough. Lots of people just sprinkle things for a few minutes with the hose and think that's enough, and if you were doing it that way it could have explained the wilting. How long have your camellias been in the ground and how much sun are they getting? If they're established and in a location that's appropriate for them they shouldn't be wilting regularly in the summer.