Unfortunately, the camellia is not one of the easiest plants to care for, 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 a rich abundance of flowers.
How and when should you fertilize camellias?
Camellias should be fertilized every 14 days during the growing season from March to July with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, ideally rhododendron fertilizer. Fertilization can be stopped after bud formation to prevent over-fertilization.
When should I fertilize my camellia?
During the growth phase and flowering period, you should fertilize your camellias about every 14 days. This is usually from February or March into July or August. When the camellia sets its first buds, you can slowly stop fertilizing again. If you prefer to use slow-release fertilizer, then follow the instructions on the packaging. If in doubt, fertilize your camellia less rather 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 tolerates the same fertilizer. You can also support the acidic environment that is favorable for the camellia with low-lime irrigation water, ideally taken from the rain barrel.
You get special rhododendron fertilizer both as a 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 cause more harm than good to the plant. This risk is particularly high with fertilizer concentrations.
What happens if I fertilize the camellia incorrectly?
If you don't provide your camellia with enough nutrients, it may grow a little more sparsely, the flowers may not bloom, or they may not be as plentiful as you would like. If you don't water your camellia enough shortly before it blooms, the flowers risk falling off.
However, over-fertilizing the camellia is not good either. This often leads to so-called sexual urges. These are long, soft shoots on which no flowers form. The growth of the buds also suffers from too much nutrient supply. In addition, the leaves of the camellia develop brown spots, turn black and fall off.
The most important things in brief:
- during the growing season March to July
- every 14 days with liquid fertilizer or according to instructions with slow-release fertilizer
- best to use rhododendron fertilizer
- stop fertilization after bud formation
- Consequences of over-fertilization: necrotic or yellowing leaves, long shoots without flowers
Tip
The camellia needs a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, so using rhododendron fertilizer is ideal.
