Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: chrisnchris on April 06, 2014, 15:02

Title: Dead Camellia
Post by: chrisnchris on April 06, 2014, 15:02
I think one of my Camellias is dying. Last week I fed it with ericaceous feed.
Does anyone have any suggestions.
The one only a few feet away is fine.

I have tried to attach 3 pics............ :wacko:
Title: Re: Dead Camellia
Post by: ghost61 on April 06, 2014, 18:00
Anyone been spraying nearby?  It doesn't look good, but I would leave it and wait and see if it put out new leaves during the summer.
Title: Re: Dead Camellia
Post by: Yorkie on April 06, 2014, 18:30
Or, has anything been done immediately the other side of the fence?
Title: Re: Dead Camellia
Post by: chrisnchris on April 06, 2014, 22:39
No, nothing the other side, that patch of ground was fairly water logged for a while over winter but the other Camellias are Ok......2 others within 5-6 ft. It's just this one has curled up it's toes.

Shame really, it was bought in 1994ish, moved in 1998, and again in 2001.

I didn't expect it to survive either of those moves, the first was in spring, the second in summer.

Both times it had holes prepared with ericacious compost etc.....it has been fed......not regularly I must admit  :blush:, the last time was about 3 yrs ago.
4 yrs ago it was absolutely covered in blooms, last year not good at all, this autumn there were loads of buds & I expected a good show this year  :(

Oh well, it will stay for a couple of months "just in case"

Just as an aside....when is the best time to cut back a Camellia...........my mum has one which is about 20ft tall.
It grew right up through a Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Boulevard' conifer & would produce a fantastic display at the top of the conifer.

She had the conifer taken down because it restricted light into the utility room.....................now the camellia is a 16ft bare pole with a 4ft flowering head & is quite unsightly..........I have suggested she has it cut down to 3-4ft to see what happens.............nothing to lose???  :ohmy: :unsure: :wacko:
Title: Re: Dead Camellia
Post by: Goosegirl on April 07, 2014, 12:37
Crumbs - it don't look good to me either! I have never grown a Camellia but I suggest you have a furtle around its roots in case there is something below its planting hole that isn't draining as well as the other ones are. Last year's lack of blooms may have just been a seasonal thing? If you can't find a reason, then just go for it and give it a good prune back. If no-one knows on here, have a Giggle to see if there's is any more info to help. 
Title: Re: Dead Camellia
Post by: Debz on April 07, 2014, 13:03
I have cut a camelia back quite hard when I wanted to move it and it grew again quite happily.  I don't remember when the correct time to do it is.  I did it late spring, early summer I think.
Title: Re: Dead Camellia
Post by: Yorkie on April 07, 2014, 17:48
Prune after flowering (so another few weeks, probably, depending on variety).