Return to the Trees & Shrubs Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Slow growing camelias
| | |
Posted by danann NSW Aust (My Page) on Fri, Jul 25, 03 at 19:01
I live in the Newcastle area and have 2 camelias in my garden. I am new to gardening and would appreciate some advice.
The first camelia is at the side of our house. It only gets the afternoon sun. It has been there for several years and is only about 50cm tall. The top each winter seems to be dead, but 1/2 way up the stalk there are leaves. It is surrounded by impatiens and has never flowered.
The second one is mainly in the shade again about 50cm tall. It is green all the time and is constantly producing fresh green leaves. It has not flowered either and has also been there for several years.
Should I move them? If so, when and how (if any tricks)?
Do I need to do anything to the soil? If so, how?
We have never really done anything special to the plants, just planted them and let them go. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Slow growing camelias
| | |
| I have 9 Jennifer Susan Camelia sasanqua trees screening a fence.They have been in for around 3 years but are not going as great as I would have expected.They receive much TLC in the form of good drainage,compost & the right amount of fertiliser when required,but they look skinny not a great deal of foliage lots of bare branches.Could anyone suggest what could be the problem. |
RE: Slow growing camelias
| | |
danann, I know virtually nothing about camelias and only planted my first ones this season.
I do know that some camelias like shade and some like sun. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but is it the ones with small leaves that like shade and big leaves like sun???? Or is it the other way around???? Anyhow maybe your one in the sun should be in the shade and the one in the shade should be in the sun.
Maybe take a leaf of each to a nursery and compare with those for sale or ask a nursery person which varieties yours are.
If the plants are not happy, I'd move them. Once again, I'm just guessing here. I reckon move them in spring, after the cold and before the heat and keep them well watered till they settle. Get some camellia specific fertiliser to help them along and plant with plenty of organic matter as you would any other plant.
I thought you'd get lots of replies to this question....
Good luck! |
RE: Slow growing camelias
| | |
C. sasanqua can handle more sun (smaller leaves) and C. japonica need to be in part shade(bigger leaves). Some of the sasanqua's can handle full sun but most like a bit of protection.
Danan, I would move them into a sunnier position asap, while they are still dormant. Add heaps of Cow manure and there is some stuff called Acid lovers Planting Mix, which you could mix in to the soil.
Uglybob, I have a standard Jennifer Susan that is very thick. To thicken them up, try tip pruning them all through the growing season. Just keep snipping off about 2-3 cm(1") on every shoot, and every new shoot after they start to shoot. They'll be shooting more than Ned Kelly. |
RE: Slow growing camelias
| | |
| hi it's been a long time since the qestion was posted and so maybe it's no longer an issue but i'd love to know the outcome of anything you tried. I have recently planted a 'jennifer susan' and am concerned it may be in a spot that is too shady, i'm contemplating moving it.... |
RE: Slow growing camelias
| | |
- Posted by MaxP NSW Aust (My Page) on
Sun, Apr 25, 04 at 19:52
| Sasanquas will be happy in a part-shaded spot as will practically all common camellias and this is the safest option often. But many, particularly those with new gardens are limited for part-shade postions. This is often ignored in books and magazines. And why limit your camellia collection because of this? In my experience nearly all true sasanquas thrive in full sun and develop a fuller habit with more blooms. Deep shade will result in leggy growth and fewer blooms. But my advice is not to be scared to put sasanquas in full sun. However, you must mulch well and if required improve the soil (which never hurts) and drainage. And for that matter a good number of japonicas (and reticulatas and hybrids) do well in full sun also. The main problem for me with my full-sun japonicas is winter dew damaging the blooms - some from morning sun others not. It's the lighter coloured blooms that have this problem mainly. One of the toughest japonicas is Great Eastern. It will take the summer afternoon sun with no trouble - there are many others too. (My experience is in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains in NSW.) Just get some good advice from a camellia nursery or decent general nursery. Cheers,
Max |
RE: Slow growing camelias
| | |
My standard Jennifer Susan is covered in flowers at the moment. It gets mainly afternoon sun, but is almost full shade in winter. It hasnt really grown much at all, but is still very healthy.
I might take a pic and put it in the gallery if I get my camera back soon. (someone has borrowed it).
B |
RE: Slow growing camelias
| | |
| I have a number of camelias of different types which all flower each year. Some of them are nearly 20 years old. and others are recent. We have fairly acidic soil here (Mt Royal Ranges) and they are growing either in light dappled shade or on the east side of the house with morning sun and afternoon shade. |
|
|
|
|
