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Newbie needs help
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Posted by Shelley_R 7b NC (My Page) on Sun, Jun 27, 04 at 7:45
| I fell in love with Camellia sasanqua when I moved to North Carolina a few years ago. In Sept 2002 I bought 'Dawn' and planted it at the edge of a wooded area. I think I used good planting techniques. It looks healthy, but it hasn't grown or flowered at all. Should I move it? How large should it get?
I want to try more sasanqua hybrids and I'm considering 'Winters Interlude' and/or one of it's friends. I'm also interested in Camellia sinesis 'Rosea'.
How large do these get? Will they thrive in an area that only gets a little sun? I'd like to plant the new ones on the NW side of my house and the yard has a lot of deciduous trees. I'd really appreciate advice from you more experienced camellia gardeners.
Shelley
Piedmont NC (7b)
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Newbie needs help
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| Well, here is a guess. Your woodland soil (believe it or not) is a little too acidic. I had the same thing in a particular part of my garden and am still correcting it. Check your soil pH to see if it is in the proper range. Why is that important? Camellias need to be in the pH range of 5.0 - 7.0 or else they have a hard time taking up nitrogen (for new growth) and other nutrients. They just sit there stagnant. No blooms, no growth, no fun. In my case, I discovered the pH was very acidic (4.3!) which turns out to be not so uncommon in some coastal woodland soils. Once I hit it with a shot of dolomitic lime, bingo, the plants started putting on new growth and buds. But don't take my word for it, check the soil first to be sure, and to see which direction on the pH scale to go. (The other alternative is, maybe it is too alkaline, but that is doubtful in a woodland setting.) It may even be something else, but my guess is, it's got to be the pH. I definitely wouldn't try to move it right now, it sounds like a good location. And don't be shy about getting some more. The pH is easy to adjust. |
RE: Newbie needs help
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| Thanks for the advice, Forrest. The pH being too low is a possibility so I will check it. I haven't had my soil tested for a few years and it was previously 4.5 - 6.0 in different parts of my property. What about the size of the sasanqua hybirds like 'Winters Interlude'? Camellia sinesis? How large will they grow if all goes well? Thanks. Shelley |
RE: Newbie needs help
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| Depending on the variety, a mature sinensis can range up to 15 feet if not kept pruned. I don't know how tall "Winter's Interlude" becomes, maybe some of the Maryland/DC folks can say since it is an Ackerman hybrid that is more common around there. You might also try calling and asking David Parks at Camellia Forest Nursery in Chapel Hill which carries them. See their link below. I would bet the pH where your slow grower is planted is going to be closer to around 4.5. If you can get it up to 6.0 that should get it going. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Camellia Forest Nursery
RE: Newbie needs help
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| Forest Al, how do I 'hit' mine with lime? I read that Camellia has tiny roots near the surface so should not be 'cultivated.' Can lime be dissolved and poured on? Surprisingly, the Camellia rght next to the sickie (different genus, surprise, surprise) is thriving very well. Thanks. |
RE: Newbie needs help
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| Yes, it is wise to avoid cultivation in the root zone as camellias are surface rooted. I top dress with dolomitic lime, which doesn't burn, using timing and amounts prescribed by the testing center. The results are not immediate, it takes a few months to see a change in the pH. Assuming you have the same low pH for both plants, and one is okay, there could be several explanations, but one thing I have noticed with mine is that certain varieties handle low pH better than others. ... Forrest |
RE: checking pH
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| Mehetabelle it also dawns on me that in California the soils are usually more alkaline than acid, so be sure to check the pH before trying anything like that. I am embarrassed to say, one of my (many) mistakes starting out was guessing that my soil was not acid enough in a few spots where the plants were doing poorly, so I put out some aluminum sulfate. Bad move. It turned out my problem was just the opposite, the soil was too acidic, and all I succeeded in doing was to push the pH further down to a level that was toxic to the plants. They died almost overnight. (I think I have discovered almost every way to kill camellias!) That's when I became a true believer in soil testing before making any adjustments. But once they are established, camellias are almost impossible to kill and will live forever. Just check your soil before even thinking about putting out any lime, which will make the soil more alkaline than it already is. |
RE: Newbie needs help
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| Forrest, I took your advice on testing the pH. Using a home tester with the probe, it was 5.3. But I think it starts at 7.0 so if you don't do the test right it will register as more neutral than it really is. Anyway, even 5.3 is a little on the low side, so I applied dolomitic lime all around the plant. Now I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens. Thanks for the advice and sorry it took me so long to respond. Shelley |
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