FAQ's

Q. Why do my camellia flowers not open?

A. The flower buds are forming in the summer and if adequate moisture is not available they will not form properly. No matter how much rain is around during winter, the buds will not open if they are not formed properly.

Q. Why do some of my camellia flowers go brown?

A. Wind damage is the most likely cause of browning flowers on white and pale coloured japonica flowers. Keep them sheltered from the wind or plant darker colours or the more hardy sasanquas in windy spots. All flowers will eventually die, some will fall off tidily and others will hang on the bush. Recent new varieties have been selected for their weather hardiness.

Q. What should I feed my camellias with?

A. We recommend feeding with slow release type fertilisers, and the best time to do this is in Spring.

Q. Why haven't my camellias grown?

A. The two main reasons for lack of growth is either inadequate water during the growing period from Spring until Autumn or poor drainage allowing excess water in the root zone during Winter. Remember the plants will take a season or two to establish.

Q. When do I prune my camellias?

A. Directly after flowering before the spring growth.

Q. What should I spray my camellias with?

A. Plants that are growing well will not be prone to insects and diseases. A preventive spray during summer months will be beneficial if you are spraying other plants. For specific pest problems have a look at our camellia planting and caring section.

Q. What's causing the brown tips on the end of the leaves?

A. The lack of water in Summer and inadequate drainage in Winter will show as the same symptoms. Roots that drown will rot and not be able to take up water. You will need to assess which of these extremes is likely to be causing problems.