I suspect it is just botrytis, and it can and does often affect the buds of geranium. The leaves are usually most affected if dead plant material falls on them....so yes you can get botrytic destruction of the buds without foliar involvement.

See several of your other posts where I have responded. In summary, the drip system needs to run MUCH longer. Some of the other posts: 1. http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/calif/msg0320112831620.html 2. http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/calif/msg0419215129796.html 3. http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/calif/msg041926232171.html 4. Where I explain drip irrigation in detail http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/calif/msg0422314122326.html?1 Here is a link that might be useful: try #4

I notice that you are both concentrating on watering. Is this the cause of flowers and buds turning brown and falling off and leaves turning brown? I am new at this so please forgive my foolish questions. I respect your experience. The house is shaped like an L-shape. The camellia bed is in the inside corner of the L, with the bed facing north east. The plants are fertilized once a month with a regular fertilizer and are due about now. I hope to change to an acid fertilizer. I don't think I can count on winter rain being enough here in San Diego except maybe this past year. The drainage is a problem, since the property is inclined down toward the camellia bed from all directions. I suppose from your input that it could be the total cause of my problem. I can't figure out how to improve the drainage and neither have contractors come up with a solution. There doesn't appear to be an access for drainage downstream of the bed since it narrows significantly in that direction. Prior to modifying the camelia bed, adding mulch and changing to drip irrigation, I could readily see that the bed was always very wet with patches of moss on the surface. I could see that the soil was extremely wet and I often shut off the irrigation for long periods of time to help dry it out. Maybe I had better shut it off again. Being 82 years old and handicapped in a wheelchair I cannot readily dig down to sample the soil. Would you recommend that I brush away patches of mulch so I can see the soil and use my moisture meter attached to a stick? Perhaps gardening takes more effort than I can give it but I love my plants and will try anything.

there could be several options: if its a recent planting - my first thought would be water/sun combo. maybe they don't like where you put them? does the soil drain well? is it too dry? its possibly bugs. if you check out the pests section of hidden valley hibiscus, they have a great rundown on what damage they do.