Shade and soil are key to caring for your camellias

Now is the time to treat yourself to a camellia. They are blooming and local nurseries have a great selection. The best thing about camellias are the beautiful flowers that bloom in the winter. The second-best thing about camellias is you can have those beautiful flowers with very little maintenance if you have selected the right spot to place it.

Once you get your camellia home you need to plant it. Select a spot where it will receive light shade to protect the plant from the hot afternoon sun. Camellias cannot tolerate full sun all day. Camellias prefer shade or filtered sun.

I do have some camellias that receive half a day of direct sunlight in the morning, they face east, and they are healthy, but overall camellias prefer shade. Also, do not plant a camellia in an area that holds water. They do not like to have wet roots, so the soil needs to be well draining.

Camellias also prefer soil that is slightly acidic with a pH between 6 and 6.5. Remember that camellias are slow growing trees and can grow very wide and tall, so you want to plant them at least five feet away from the house, fence or another plant.

To plant your camellia, dig a hole that is twice as wide as the plants’ pot and just as deep. Then backfill the hole by two to three inches. Remove the plant from the pot and place into the hole. The top of the root ball should be two or more inches above the level of the ground.

Camellias do not grow well when planted too deep. Fill in around the plant, gently sloping the soil up the sides of the exposed root ball. Do not pack the soil down tightly, as the plant will extend its roots into the loose soil next to it. Do not cover the top of the root ball, as plants like to have some of their roots exposed. Place a thin layer of mulch over the top of the root ball and water the planting.

You will only need to fertilize your camellias once or twice a year. Always fertilize in the spring, after it has stopped blooming, and again in the midsummer if growth seems to be sluggish or if the leaves begin to lose their deep green color. If you do fertilize it during the summer, make sure you water your plant the day before you fertilize.

Apply fertilizer lightly, as plants that are grown in fertile soil do not need a lot of fertilizer. When it comes to camellias there are a few never actions; never fertilize a plant that is sick or distressed and never fertilize after August because the plants will be entering a period of dormancy. Fertilizing in the fall could cause unwanted growth right when the plant is hardening off for the winter to protect itself from the cold weather.

According to the UF/IFAS EDIS publication, Camellias at a Glance (https://edis.ifas.ful.edu/ep002), you should use a fertilizer that contains equal amounts of nitrogen and potassium and low phosphorus. On fertilizers with three numbers across the top, the first number is nitrogen, the third number is potassium, and the middle number is phosphorus. Thus, a good fertilizer for camellias might be a 12-4-12 or a 15-5-15.

Newly planted camellias should be watered weekly. Mature camellias are fairly drought tolerant but will need water during extended dry periods, like what we experienced this summer. Under those circumstances they will need one inch of water applied every 10 days to two weeks; unless they are flowering, then they need one inch of water per week.

It is not necessary to prune a camellia, but it will not harm the plant if you need to groom or shape it. The best time to prune is in the late winter or very early spring after it has stopped blooming. Pruning can be done in the summer or fall, however you are more likely to remove flower buds if you do so.

Pruning should be done by selectively removing the undesired branches, but do not shear the plant, as it will result in a dense outer layer of foliage that is unhealthy. As with any plant, in the year following a severe pruning you will probably have fewer blooms, as the plant is focused on re-growing its branches and leaves.

Camellias are generally hardy plants, but there are a few pests that can be problematic. The most common pests are tea scale, spider mites, and aphids. Tea scale generally feeds on the underside of the leaves which results in yellowing on the topside of the leaves. Like tea scale, spider mites are also found on the underside of leaves.

The tops of infested leaves will display a rusty or reddish speckling of the green surface. Aphids will suck the liquid out of young leaves resulting in the leaves curling and becoming distorted. If you spot any of these problems, consult with your favorite garden center or your County Extension Agent.

Brenda Buchan is a Master Gardener Volunteer with UF/IFAS Extension Leon County, an Equal Opportunity Institution. For gardening questions, email the extension office at AskAMasterGardener@ifas.ufl.edu.

Waxing Camellias the Martha Roberts Way

What: The Tallahassee Camellia Society's camellia waxing workshop. Society members will be demonstrating and giving special tips on the art of waxing blooms the Martha Roberts way.  Blooms may be used during the holiday season as special accents to your holiday festivities. The late Martha Roberts had perfected the waxing art and had taught the art many times with her demonstrations. All supplies will be provided and there is no fee or preregistration.  Attendees will be able to wax blooms as take home gifts.  Bring a friend with you to this fun morning event. 

When: 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7

Where: Dorothy B. Oven Park, 3205 Thomasville Road

Details: For more information contact President Maye Walker 850-385-1352, mayewalker@embarqmail.com.  

Annual Camellia Christmas

What: Friends of Maclay 31st Annual Camellia Christmas. The evening is filled with music, hot cider, cookies and candlelight. The Historic Maclay House will be decorated and there will be a silent auction.

When: 6-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6

Where: Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park, 3540 Thomasville Road