The camellia is one of the few plants that blooms in winter. However, that does not mean that it is not sensitive to frost. Although low temperatures are necessary for flower development, it cannot be too cold. At least not if you have not taken sufficient protective measures for wintering. Find out here how to get your camellia safely through the winter.
How do I protect my camellia in winter?
In order to protect the camellia in winter, you should make sure to move potted plants to a frost-free winter quarter with sufficient light and no drafts. If kept outdoors, garden fleece and a layer of mulch are suitable for insulation.
Signs that a location is too cold
- Leaf discoloration
- Flower shedding
- Temperatures below – 12°C
Winter protection for the camellia - various options
Winter protection for potted plants
Kept in a pot, the camellia doesn't require much effort when it comes to overwintering. Due to its mobility, it is easy to bring the plant into the house as soon as the first night frosts threaten. Make sure that the camellia receives adequate light in its winter quarters. You should avoid drafts. Temperatures between 0°C and 12°C are ideal.
Winter protection for free range farming
Protect your camellia from wind and morning sun. A garden fleece (€34.00 on Amazon) is best suited for this. A layer of mulch insulates the root ball from the cold.
Note: Young plants require more intensive winter protection than camellias that have been outdoors for a longer period of time.
Care in winter
If you don't give your camellia a break at the appropriate times, the six-week flowering period will be noticeably shortened. Therefore, please note the following things:
- only water on frost-free days
- Temperatures below 12°C
- Humidity of 60°C (spray daily with lime-free water)
- hardly any light exposure from December to February
- Put the camellia in a brighter location from March (not outdoors yet)
Note: Only put the camellia outside after the Ice Saints. Even in a comparatively warm spring, late frosts can occur.
Robust varieties
You want to keep a camellia outdoors without having to invest too much work in winter protection. The following breeds can cope better with cold temperatures:
- Camelia japonica ‘Ice Angels’
- Camelia japonica ‘Winter’s Joy’
- Camelia japonica ‘Black Lace’
- Camelia japonica ‘Alba Plena’
- Camelia japonica ‘April Dawn’
- Camelia japonica ‘Barbara Morgan’
- Camelia japonica ‘Bonomiana’
- Camelia japonica ‘Matterhorn’
- Camelia japonica ‘Nuccio’s Gem’
- Camelia japonica ‘Wheeler’
Note: So-called HIGO camellias are even less susceptible to frost. Check with your nursery.
