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Post by spindrift on Mar 19, 2009 21:49:08 GMT
I have three fairly young Camellias (one white, one pink, one scarlet). One is in a pot (and doesn't like it) and the other two are planted in the shade against my garden wall (the shady side of the garden). Since flowering last spring they have produced shoots and leaves but no buds for this year. I am thinking that they wish to be moved into a more sunny position.
The other side of my garden is exposed to full sunlight which might be too much for them. So shall I leave them in the shade or move them into the sun?
If I decide to move them then I should act quickly as it's nearly the growing season here.
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Post by spindrift on Mar 20, 2009 7:59:24 GMT
Oh no! Casimira hasn't replied. I need to do something about the camellias today....help.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 20, 2009 8:10:30 GMT
Sorry, Spindrift ~~ I don't know how I missed seeing your post. My grandmother's yard is absolutely filled with camellias. She loved them and knew the name of each one. They are all in full sun in Louisiana, so full sun in England would hardly be too much for them. Unless you have some kind of dwarf varieties, be aware that they will get quite big. Here is camellia cultivation information for the UK: www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plantprofile_camellia.shtml. |
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Post by spindrift on Mar 20, 2009 8:23:26 GMT
Thanks Bixa. I'll move at least one of them today.
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Post by tillystar on Mar 20, 2009 9:53:45 GMT
My grandma's path to her house had deep red ones on either side all the way up. They always remind me of her.
I know nothing about gardening, but today looks like a perfect day for being in the garden Spindrift.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2009 10:21:50 GMT
I have had mine in part shade,they seem to do well.My sources tell me that young,small plants need shade.They like a bit of moisture,good drainage. Mulch well to help retain moisture. Important to pick up spent blooms as they can harbor fungus if left to lie there.
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Post by bjd on Mar 20, 2009 12:47:53 GMT
I have lots of different camellia bushes in my garden (southwest France). One in a pot, the rest in the ground. Planting info here says not to put them in full sun, but the neighbourhood is full of south-facing camellia trees! I have also been told not to plant them facing morning sun if you get cold nights. Mine are mostly in half-shade, or else late-afternoon sun.
There are years when they don't bloom much, others when they do well. A gardening friend told me camellias need lots of fertilizer. They also need the same kind of soil as azaleas, hydrangeas, etc. -- called terre de bruyère in French.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2009 13:56:48 GMT
They like an acidic soil PH,I use pine needle or oak leaf mulch to obtain as our soil tends to be more alkaline.
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Post by spindrift on Mar 20, 2009 18:02:26 GMT
I moved the large red camellia today. I cut back about 10 inches of its branches. It wasn't deeply rooted so I dug it up easily. I prepared a large deep hole for it, put ericaceous compost into it and stirred in some blood and bone powder. I do hope it will survive. Apart from any other consideration it cost me £26 last year.
I have no choice in my garden; it's either deep shade or full sun. Not easy.
I'll move the other camellia tomorrow. It's smaller so I won't need to shorten its branches so much. In its place I'll put a Cotoneaster davidii. I'm not sure it'll like deep shade either. I am trying to screen out the neighbours.
Tilly: it was a lovely day for gardening. Me and the cat together.
I'm so excited. I found a Lathyrus alba (wild white sweet pea) in the garden centre today as well as a Hedera Gloire de Marengo (cream and dark green ivy). I couldn't resist buying either of them. The Hedera will have to suffer in the shade but the lathyrus will love the sun.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 20, 2009 18:27:04 GMT
That is exciting, Spindrift! Those two plants are going to be gorgeous together in the same garden. I can't wait to see pictures of your garden once growing season is well underway.
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Post by spindrift on Mar 20, 2009 19:11:22 GMT
Thanks Bixa. I'll photograph it when I've finished the planting and again after the summer. I know it'll take about 5 years for all the plants to grow and cover the walls.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2009 21:23:42 GMT
The ivy (Hedera) shouldn't mind the shade. One of mine is growing under a Live Oak and has been happy there for years. The variiegated are lovely.
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Post by spindrift on Mar 20, 2009 22:11:46 GMT
Ivies can be beautiful. I will have to keep mine well pruned. I planted a Solenum Alba yesterday.  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2009 22:55:31 GMT
Beautiful they are ,Solanum,in the potato family.
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Post by bjd on Mar 22, 2009 9:56:54 GMT
Spindrift, won't cutting back your camellia branches before flowering stop them blooming this year? I thought you have to prune after things bloom?
My camellias are all in full bloom right now, but we need rain. Everything is so dry.
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Post by spindrift on Mar 22, 2009 22:07:26 GMT
Yes, it would have stopped them blooming BUT I moved them from their positions in deep shade into the sunny border. The plant finds it easier to make new roots if it's cut back. It's not so much of a strain for it. It's a bit late in March to have moved them but I thought I'd take a chance so as to profit from summertime growth. These camellias hadn't, in fact, produced any buds at all in the shade.
I read a gardening tip somewhere. When moving plants be sure to water their leaves as well as their roots; of course moisture is absored through the leaves and helps the plant to settle into its new positon. I am trying this.
bjd - do you live in England? What colour are your camellias? to me, they are the most beautiful of flowers.
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Post by bjd on Mar 23, 2009 9:08:05 GMT
Spindrift, I live in southwest France. I have several camellia bushes. A group of 4 pink ones that I am growing as a hedge; a white one, another that is very pale peachy pink, and a double pink in a pot.
Lots of pink, I know, but somehow they seem to survive better than the others. I have also had a few die. In the street behind my house, there are two gardens with red camellia bushes the size of trees.
It's not really the right climate for them, because it gets so hot and dry in summer, but I like rhododendrons and azaleas too.
My favourite flowers are peonies.
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Post by spindrift on Mar 23, 2009 15:49:32 GMT
A camellia hedge must be a wonderful sight! Does the double pink camellia like living in the pot? I am about to feed my camellias, fatsias, hydrangeas and acer some diluted sequestered iron. This should give them a boost. I see that the leaves of my potted camellia are turning an unpleasant yellow. I love peonies. There are so many stunning varieties available. I buy mine from David Austen in Worcs. www.davidaustinroses.com/english/Advanced.asp |
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 23, 2009 17:24:55 GMT
I read a gardening tip somewhere. When moving plants be sure to water their leaves as well as their roots; of course moisture is absored through the leaves and helps the plant to settle into its new positon. I am trying this. That is so true, Spindrift. Something I've been doing for years that can help keep recently moved plants from wilting and burning is to cover them with a sheet or piece of similar lightweight fabric, then soak the cloth with water. Try to keep the cloth damp -- if you can rig up a light spray or mist of water, that would be perfect. |
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Post by bjd on Mar 23, 2009 19:33:24 GMT
Yes, the camellia hedge looks pretty spectacular in full bloom. When I'm outside, everyone who walks by tells me how nice it looks. Unfortunately, some of the flowers are already falling off.
The double one in the pot seems to be happy. It has been there for quite a few years now -- I just add fresh soil from time to time. My problem is that I don't have a huge garden, so putting things in pots makes it easier to arrange things. I seem to have found a good location for it.
My favourite peonies in the garden are already coming up. They are very old, red and double and have a nice smell, which is not the case for the newer ones I have. I just hope they hold off blooming for a while because I'm going on holiday at the end of the week and would hate to miss them.
Given the climate here, April-May-June is the nicest time in the garden. Afterwards, things tend to die and turn brown. So it's not the best time to go away.
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Post by spindrift on Mar 23, 2009 23:15:43 GMT
Bixa - thank you for that tip...but the sun isn't hot at this time of the year. In fact we're lucky if we get a glimpse of it at all.
I will remember to put a wet muslin cloth during the summer - should we have one.
Bjd - I'd love to see some pictures of your camellia hedge. That would be a first for me.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 24, 2009 3:02:39 GMT
Bjd & Spindrift ~~ can you all grow sasanquas where you are? I think of these as very tall winter-blooming plants, but the link says they now come in many different sizes. Spindrift, once the plant is in the ground for two or three days, you won't need the unsightly covering. That's just to give transplanted stuff a little extra edge. |
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Post by bjd on Mar 24, 2009 9:23:34 GMT
Spindrift -- I'll take a picture of the camellias once the sun comes out, but can't promise it will be posted for a while.
Your link didn't work, bixa, but I know the camellias you mean. I have seen them for sale at nurseries here, but haven't actually seen any in gardens. I don't know how well they adapt to cold. I do however have a normal, white camellia that always starts to bloom around Christmas time. The flowers turn brown if it gets cold though.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 24, 2009 17:08:01 GMT
Thanks, Bjd ~~ I fixed it. Spindrift, I'm wondering if you could grow sweet olive (Osmanthus fragrans) in your garden. It blooms on and off simply forever in the gulf south, the blooming being triggered by changes in temperature. It's one of my favorite fragrances -- sweet but not cloying, and with no disturbing musky undertones. Sweet olive in the UK |
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Post by spindrift on Mar 25, 2009 9:12:28 GMT
I've heard of osmanthus but didn't know of the fragrant variety. That's an excellent idea. Perhaps I could put it in a large terracotta container. I'll have a look round in various garden centres.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2009 10:49:57 GMT
You will LOVE it ! They are a little slow growing here but so rewarding.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2009 15:25:32 GMT
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Post by spindrift on Mar 25, 2009 16:11:48 GMT
That is so beautiful, Casimira.
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Post by spindrift on Apr 29, 2009 14:37:37 GMT
A month has passed since I re-planted two camellias in my sunny border. I'm happy to report that both survived the move and one is doing really well. The other is a bit slow (I cut it back) but it's coming along. The sequestered iron feed has been ''taken up'. I can see this by the enhanced colour of the leaves. I have taken a hint I read somewhere, and whenever I have the dregs of a mug of tea I put it on their roots - camellias are of 'tea' origins.
I'm so pleased that I moved them.
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