A camellia is often not as hardy as is often advertised. No wonder if the plant dies in the first winter. With the right strategy, you can get your camellia through a Central European winter very well.
How can I prepare my camellia for winter?
To make a camellia winter-proof, you should protect the root ball with leaves, brushwood or a coconut mat and wrap the shoots loosely with plant fleece. For potted plants, additionally insulate the pot and use frost-free days for watering.
Above all, get rid of the idea that a camellia is easy to care for. Camellias are somewhat demanding, but in order to live a long life and thrive, they primarily need light and sufficient water.
What winter protection does a camellia need?
If you want your camellia to overwinter outside in the garden or on the balcony, then you must above all protect the root ball from freezing. In the open field, a thick layer of brushwood and leaves or a coconut mat is sufficient. You can loosely wrap leaves and shoots with a special fleece (€7.00 on Amazon) for plants. Make sure that your camellia still gets enough air.
A camellia in a pot needs special protection because frost can reach the root ball from all sides. Place the pot on a thick wooden or Styrofoam board and then wrap it with an old blanket, used jute sacks or bubble wrap. Then protect the rest of the plant with a plant fleece that you place loosely around it.
How should a young camellia overwinter?
A young camellia is best overwintered in a frost-free and bright place. Like many other evergreen plants, it cannot tolerate darkness. However, a hibernation period is very good for her. Ideally, you have a place with around 10°C to 15°C where your camellia can stay for around six to eight weeks.
The most important things in brief:
- plant/transplant/plant in June at the latest
- Do not release into the wild until the age of 4 at the earliest
- Protect root balls with a layer of leaves and/or brushwood
- Wrap above-ground plant parts loosely with plant fleece
Tip
Don't forget to water your camellia on frost-free days, its root ball should not dry out all year round, then it can live for more than 100 years.