windy wrote:
My Camilla buds have turned brown and do not bloom. This Camilla was
beautiful when we bought it. I planted in a sun/shade area and the buds
turned brown. Last fall we moved it to a sunny location and the same is
happening. it gets plenty of water and feed. Any ideas?
........Windy

The native habitat of Camellia japonica is in the southern foothills of
the Himalayas, where prevailing winds push moist air up the mountains to
form constant clouds with a never-ending drizzle. The soil there is
decomposed granite with great drainage. The few nutrients in the soil
have mostly leached away. Thus, you need to plant C. japonica in the
shade. They need fast-draining soil that is always moist but never
really wet. They should be fed very lightly in the spring, with a mild,
slow-acting fertilizer. If yours is this classic camellia, YOU ARE
KILLING IT with kindness (too much sun, too much water, too much
fertilizer)!

Camellia sasanqua can take some sun but should have at least part shade.
It too needs only light feeding and well-draining soil that is moist
but not wet.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening pages at http://www.rossde.com/garden/