Is my beloved camellia dying??
Diana Patel
8 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (15)
Diana Patel
8 years agoUser
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Camellia dying - please help
Comments (14)Hello, jenni reany. Camellias like well draining, moist, acidic soil and protection from the strong afternoon summer (so morning sun, afternoon shade is ok; dappled sun is ok too. I wonder if your soil is going thru periods of wet and moist and causing problems. Start by doing a soil analysis to determine how acidic it is and if it has any mineral defficiencies. Plant nurseries sell soil pH kits to tell you how acidic (or not) your soil is. If the nurseries are nearby, they could simply tell you if the soil is alkaline or acidic. If alkaline, amend it with garden Sulphur, green sand, iron sulphate, iron-chelated liquid compounds sold at plant nurseries, etc. An easy way to tell if the soil is alkaline is to monitor the leaves. If the plant is in an area that is too alkaline, the leaves will turn a light green or yellowish color but the leaf veins will remain dark green. This is called iron chlorosis. It occurs when the shrub cannot absorb iron from the soil because the soil has become too alkaline. Amending the soil as described above will correct this within a few weeks. You may need to reapply once or twice more but remember to make a habit to do it yearly in spring and again as needed. Then start a watering program with the finger method. Begin by inserting a finger into the nearby soil to a depth of 4 inches (10cm) daily for 1 or 2 weeks. Determine if the soils feels dry, moist or wet. If it feels dry or almost dry, water the soil early in the morning. Then make a note that you watered on a wall calendar. After two weeks, observe how often you had to water. Set your sprinkler to water on that same frequency (once every 2/3/4 days). If your temperatures change a lot with the passage of time, monitor the water usage for another two weeks with the finger method and tweak things as necessary. Maintain 3-4" (7.5-10cm) of mulch year around to reduce of your waterings and protect against windy locations. They can be fertilized using compost, composted manure or cottonseed meal or you can use a chemical general-purpose slow-release fertilizer with an approximate NPK Ratio of 10-10-10. In the southern part of the US, I fertilize in early March, early May and early July. That probably translates to September, November and January for you. The last thing I was going to mention is hard to test for. It has to do with circling roots. When the plants were planted, any roots that were growing in a circle around the pot needed to be pruned by making vertical cuts every 2 inches (5 cm) to prevent them from continuing growth in that circling fashion. Unfortunately, this is hard to test for after the plants have been in the ground for a while. At some point after being planted, the circling roots absorb all the minerals from the potting mix and then have health problems afterwards. Does that help you? Luis...See MoreCamellia dying, help please!
Comments (34)It could use more foliage. Not sure if it lost foliage due to inconsistent watering, cold winters, etc. I could not tell if the camellia is a hybrid, sasanqua or japonica from the leaves. Do you know? Does your pot have drainage holes in enough spots to allow for excellent drainage? The pot should have acidic, very well draining soil (not garden soil). The soil should also be kept as evenly moist as you can -not wet but not dry either-. The foliage needs morning sun only if it is a hybrid or japonica, reticulata. Sasanqua leaves can take more sun though. Mulch will minimize soil evaporation, protect from hot/cold extremes and provide some nourishment as the mulch decomposes. Plastic pots may get too hot in the summer and stress roots in contact with the plastic. Avoid weeds and grass in the pot as camellia roots are only about 4" deep, tiny ad fibrous so they compete with grass/weeds roots. Not sure what fertilizing program you are using but a fertilizer for camellias, azaleas and hydrangeas applied per label directions may be fine. Pinching may be useful to make the plant fill up with more foliage once the cause of the original leaf drop has been addressed....See MoreMy Beloved Japanese Maple is Ailing!
Comments (1)Call the shade tree commission and ask their advice. If oaks and maples are dying, they'll all ready be concerned. These babies are of the tougher varieties. The landscaper could be correct. When I bought 10 years ago, there was a HUGE, 1/2 dead oak on the property. Probably 8' around. The definitive answer(s) were that 1) it was definitely at the end of its life, and 2) the drought we'd been having didn't help. I would also do my best to get close-up pics of the leaves at every stage during the year. Perhaps it can be identified and replaced. If not, since it's so old, perhaps matched. Have you done any research on the house to see if there's maybe an old newspaper article about the tree being planted? JMs weren't common here at that time of the world. Now, on a probably unrelated note, I lost a Sanzani to a root fungus. Died from the top down. But quickly. I'll be watching to see what you find. Good luck!...See MoreCan I save my beloved pocketbook?
Comments (3)I'm not an expert on leather care but I have never been able to get stains out of a butterscotch colored purse. There are good leather dyes out there, such as Magic Mender, but the cost may exceed what the purse is worth. I wonder whether you could even out the stain with more beer. Here is a link that might be useful: Magic Mender...See MoreUser
8 years agosandra_toogood
6 years agoluis_pr
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agosandra_toogood
6 years agosandra_toogood
6 years agoluis_pr
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agosandra_toogood
6 years agolynette71shadow
5 years agoHU-316574073
5 years agoRos Englezos
4 years agoRos Englezos
4 years agoluis_pr
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
Related Stories
KITCHEN OF THE WEEKKitchen of the Week: Coastal Kitchen Honors a Beloved Husband
This Southern California kitchen makeover includes a touching story of a couple who faced a much bigger challenge during their remodel
Full StoryPETS50 Dog Photos Worth a Wag
Design hounds: Share in the pet love with Houzzers' snapshots of their beloved dogs at home, in the workshop and at play
Full StoryLIFETrue Confessions of a House Stalker
Letting go when a new owner dares to change a beloved house's look can be downright difficult. Has this ever happened to you?
Full StoryLIFE'Not My Precious Books!' — Pain-Free Ways to Declutter Your Library
Have your books and neatness too, with these ideas for paring down and straightening up a beloved collection
Full StoryHOUZZ TOURSHouzz Tour: Beautiful, Hardworking Cape Renovation
An 1820s home gets new life with beloved collections, new storage solutions and lots of natural light
Full StoryMOST POPULARHouzz TV: Fred MacMurray’s Enduring Farmhouse Retreat
One of the most beloved actors of the 20th century traded fame for farm implements on this California ranch. His daughter shows us around
Full StoryCOOL-SEASON CROPSCool-Season Vegetables: How to Grow Garlic
Beloved in a wide range of dishes the world over, garlic thrives in a fall garden and is easy to grow
Full StoryANTIQUESInherited an Antique? Here’s How to Work It Into Your Home
Find out how to make that beloved vintage piece fit in with your decor
Full StoryFLOWERSWhy You Should Give Hydrangeas a Place in Your Yard
The exuberant mop-headed beauties evoke dreams of an endless summer by the sea
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Japanese Painted Fern Weaves a Garden Tapestry
Bring striking colors and texture to your woodland garden with Athyrium niponicum var. pictum
Full StorySponsored
More Discussions
luis_pr