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#1
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Camelia flowering - lack of!
I have a camellia which seems reluctant to flower. Each year we get a few,
but nothing compared to others in my area. It's planted quite close to a west facing fence, hence protected from early morning sun, but I think the position may be a bit too dry? What do others think? Or is there some trick to getting Camellias to flower. Thanks Colin.................... |
#2
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Camelia flowering - lack of!
On Fri, 2 Apr 2004 17:23:04 +0100, "CM"
wrote: I have a camellia which seems reluctant to flower. Each year we get a few, but nothing compared to others in my area. It's planted quite close to a west facing fence, hence protected from early morning sun, but I think the position may be a bit too dry? What do others think? Or is there some trick to getting Camellias to flower. Thanks Colin.................... Camellias set their flower buds in the late summer, and it's vital that they have moisture at their roots during this period. If they get dry, even for a few days, the buds may abort or never form. Is it mulched to help retain moisture? If not, then mulch it soon and before the soil dries, with a thick layer of peat, compost or (best) leaf mould. But the mulch must be fairly open to allow air the circulate, or the roots may suffocate, i.e. not too earthy. Keep it well watered through the summer. Give it a canful of water say twice a week. If your tap water is alkaline, use rainwater, or add a few drops of vinegar to the watering can (but don't overdo it). Peat tends to dry on the surface in summer, and water from a can tends to run straight off. Adding a little detergent to the water will help it wet the peat and soak in better. Do you feed it? Feed with Phostrogen or Miracle Grow Ericaceous, or even just sulphate of ammonia in water, two or three times between now and the end of June, and then once with sulphate of potash in July. If you continue feeding with nitrogen after the end of June you run the risk of encouraging late growth into autumn, which won't mature before the winter and may get damaged by frost. The sulphate of potash encourages buds to set. If it sets buds OK but they don't survive the winter, then consider protecting it from frosts with netting or fleece. -- Chris E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net |
#3
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Camelia flowering - lack of!
CM wrote:
: I have a camellia which seems reluctant to flower. Each year we get a : few, but nothing compared to others in my area. : It's planted quite close to a west facing fence, hence protected from : early morning sun, but I think the position may be a bit too dry? : : What do others think? Or is there some trick to getting Camellias to : flower. : : Thanks : Colin.................... I would say if you think it's too dry then that is what it is. The only other thing I can think of is lack of enough sun or that your ground is too alkaline. If the leaves are yellowing as well you could try adding some sulpher chips to try and acidify the ground more |
#4
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Camelia flowering - lack of!
On Fri, 2 Apr 2004 17:23:04 +0100, "CM"
wrote: I have a camellia which seems reluctant to flower. Each year we get a few, but nothing compared to others in my area. It's planted quite close to a west facing fence, hence protected from early morning sun, but I think the position may be a bit too dry? What do others think? Or is there some trick to getting Camellias to flower. Thanks Colin.................... Camellias set their flower buds in the late summer, and it's vital that they have moisture at their roots during this period. If they get dry, even for a few days, the buds may abort or never form. Is it mulched to help retain moisture? If not, then mulch it soon and before the soil dries, with a thick layer of peat, compost or (best) leaf mould. But the mulch must be fairly open to allow air the circulate, or the roots may suffocate, i.e. not too earthy. Keep it well watered through the summer. Give it a canful of water say twice a week. If your tap water is alkaline, use rainwater, or add a few drops of vinegar to the watering can (but don't overdo it). Peat tends to dry on the surface in summer, and water from a can tends to run straight off. Adding a little detergent to the water will help it wet the peat and soak in better. Do you feed it? Feed with Phostrogen or Miracle Grow Ericaceous, or even just sulphate of ammonia in water, two or three times between now and the end of June, and then once with sulphate of potash in July. If you continue feeding with nitrogen after the end of June you run the risk of encouraging late growth into autumn, which won't mature before the winter and may get damaged by frost. The sulphate of potash encourages buds to set. If it sets buds OK but they don't survive the winter, then consider protecting it from frosts with netting or fleece. -- Chris E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net |
#5
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Camelia flowering - lack of!
CM wrote:
: I have a camellia which seems reluctant to flower. Each year we get a : few, but nothing compared to others in my area. : It's planted quite close to a west facing fence, hence protected from : early morning sun, but I think the position may be a bit too dry? : : What do others think? Or is there some trick to getting Camellias to : flower. : : Thanks : Colin.................... I would say if you think it's too dry then that is what it is. The only other thing I can think of is lack of enough sun or that your ground is too alkaline. If the leaves are yellowing as well you could try adding some sulpher chips to try and acidify the ground more |
#6
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Camelia flowering - lack of!
"CM" wrote in message news:Kqgbc.17$JS6.10@newsfe1-win... I have a camellia which seems reluctant to flower. Each year we get a few, but nothing compared to others in my area. It's planted quite close to a west facing fence, hence protected from early morning sun, but I think the position may be a bit too dry? What do others think? Or is there some trick to getting Camellias to flower. Thanks Colin.................... Thanks for the replies. Mulching with leaf mould!! I know now why I kept all thoses leaves from the autumn, I thought they might be useful for something............ Thanks Colin............ |
#7
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Camelia flowering - lack of!
"CM" wrote in message news:Kqgbc.17$JS6.10@newsfe1-win... I have a camellia which seems reluctant to flower. Each year we get a few, but nothing compared to others in my area. It's planted quite close to a west facing fence, hence protected from early morning sun, but I think the position may be a bit too dry? What do others think? Or is there some trick to getting Camellias to flower. Thanks Colin.................... Thanks for the replies. Mulching with leaf mould!! I know now why I kept all thoses leaves from the autumn, I thought they might be useful for something............ Thanks Colin............ |
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