Unfortunately, the camellia is not one of the most easy-care plants, but fortunately it is not one of the most demanding either. In addition to plenty of light and sufficient water, good care also includes the right fertilizer. The reward is an abundance of flowers.

Camellias are fertilized with rhododendron fertilizer

When should I fertilize my camellia?

You should fertilize your camellias about every 14 days during the growth phase and flowering period. This is usually from February or March into July or August. When the camellia starts to bud, you can slowly stop fertilizing. If you prefer to use slow-release fertilizers, then follow the instructions on the packaging. When in doubt, fertilize your camellia less than too much.

Does the camellia need a special fertilizer?

The camellia prefers a slightly acidic environment with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5, similar to the rhododendron. Therefore, it also tolerates the same fertilizer. You can also support the acidic environment that is favorable for the camellia with low-lime irrigation water, ideally you take it from the rain barrel.

You get special rhododendron fertilizer both as long-term fertilizer and in liquid form. It is available in garden centers and hardware stores, as well as on the Internet. As an alternative to rhododendron fertilizer, you can also use other nitrogen-rich fertilizers such as green manure.

Conventional fertilizer for flowering plants (so-called flowering fertilizer) contains too little nitrogen for the camellia. However, be careful not to over-fertilize your camellias, as this will do more harm than good to the plant. This danger is quite high, especially with fertilizer concentrations.

What happens if I fertilize the camellia incorrectly?

If you don't provide your camellia with enough nutrients, it may grow sparsely, flowering may not occur, or it may not be as plentiful as you would like. If you don't water your camellia sufficiently just before it blooms, the flowers may fall off.

However, over-fertilizing the camellia is not good either. This often leads to so-called horny drives. These are long, soft shoots on which no flowers form. Bud growth also suffers from over-feeding. In addition, the leaves of the camellia acquire brown spots, turn black and fall off.

The essentials in brief:

  • during the growing season from March to July
  • every 14 days with liquid fertilizer or according to instructions with long-term fertilizer
  • it is best to use rhododendron fertilizer
  • stop fertilizing after bud formation
  • Consequences of over-fertilization: necrotic or yellowing leaves, long shoots without flowers

tips

The camellia needs a fertilizer rich in nitrogen, so using rhododendron fertilizer is ideal.

Category:

Vegetable garden