Avoid these 5 Mistakes When Growing and Planting Camellias

/ walkingtalkinggardener
When planting and growing Camellias it is easy to make mistakes and there are a number of things that you should avoid doing in order to get the best display from these magnificent plants. In this video English Horticulturist Simon talks through his top 5 mistakes that are commonly made when planting and growing Camellias.
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• Five Must-Do Gardening...

[@user-vu4pl2nf5g]

If there is no background music, this video would be great.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

My apologies regarding the music. My wife is not a big fan, but I like to edit it on so I am entirely the blame. I find that the sound level can be different depending on what device you are watching it on . For me it's much louder on the TV than my phone. I hope it doesn't put you off watching our other videos. Kind regards Simon

[@luzmariagonzalez8598]

i like the sound has a calm feel🤷🏻‍♀️♥️

[@mloveleigh]

makes my brain not focus 🤪

[@robertavaughan-saunders4666]

Very annoying background music

[@allupinya5938]

​@@robertavaughan-saunders4666Your mother likes it

[@ladyinred396]

Was watching this video like Robert DeNiro was planting his Camellias😅 thanks a million for the tips, actually good video 👍

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Thanks Lady in Red, I will take that as a complement but I think you are talking about the large spot on my cheek I have in this video! Poor me, no longer perfect. Simon

[@TJ-bn2cn]

Excellent and very helpful advice, thank you 🪴

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

You are very welcome. 🙂

[@traceyrose6099]

❤❤ this just brought my first camellia paradise peal, Thanks bunches for your tips.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

You are very welcome. Simon

[@noeldoyle4501]

Thanks for your great video, very enjoyable!

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Noel, and thanks for your comment. We are glad you enjoyed it. Kind regards Simon and Lorna

[@Debbieanne51]

Thank you. Very informative.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

You are very welcome Debbie-Anne. Simon

[@dorkusmaximus888]

I have two of Japonica in a planter, the flowers are gorgeous

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Fantastic, I am a big fan of Camellias. Kind regards Simon

[@shalinisharma1180]

Amazing Video 👏❤🎉

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Thanks, Shalini. I appreciate your support. Kind regards, Simon

[@Globally1201]

THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR 🪴 🌺TECHNIQUES!!!😊👍🏾🙋🏾‍♀️🔥🙏🏾👑✝️📖🔥

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

You are very welcome. Simon

[@MsCmsh]

Hi, thank you for sharing your tips! I also learned from Jim Putnam that Camellia likes well drain soil, and hates wet feet. It needs to be planted elevated a couple inches off soil off soil level and shade (mulch) the roots. I’ll be planting some this year!

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Good for you. We wish you every success. Kind regards, Simon

[@miltonnoguchi4956]

So do Tea Plants (that Tea you drink, is made from), as they are both 1st Cousins to each other, the Tea Plant (discovered in Mainland CHINA in 2,700 BC) is Camellia Sinensis var Sinensis, has very tiny white flowers, nothing to look at, and is grown only for it's Leaf, to make Tea, which all six types of Teas are made from that One Same Plant (Tree), and only the way the Leaf is Processed After it's been Picked (Harvested) determines what kind of Tea you get (Green, White, Yellow, Red, Black, and/or Pu-erh Tea). The first Five Types are all Oxydized, and do not last long, maybe 5 years. The 6th one, Puerh Tea is Fermented, and has a very Colorful History, being the Main Reason for the Tea-Horse Trail, between Southern China and Tibet, 5,000 kilometers long, crossing the Himalayan Mountains at 12,500 feet (you have to switch from horses to Yaks above 10,000 feet, because the horses cannot go above 10,000 feet, only Yaks can still do it), taking 8 months to travel on foot (you cannot ride the horse, or the Yak, as it's already fully loaded with Puerh Tea). Once in Tibet, the Chinese Traders then Trade Tea for Tibet Horses, which the Chinese Government needed as War Horses, for their Tremendous Strength and Stamina, over other kinds of Horses, for use in War. All this Ended in 1953.. If you go to Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Northern Vietnam, Northern Laos, Cambodia, Northern Thailand, and Eastern Burma, all the Tea Farms are on Hills, where the Rain can easily drain off, as Tea Pants do not like to be in standing water of any kind. The Soil pH must also be Acidic (pH between 5.5 to 6.5), as the Tea Tree cannot grow in Alkaline Soil. They also prefer Cool and Wet, but Well Drained Environments. Taiwan High Mountain Teas grow at Altitudes from 1,200 meters to 3,500 meters (11,483 feet) (where there is Snow and Ice during the Winter), but the Tea Tree just goes into a Dormant State, until Spring comes, when it puts out New Leaves (this is what gets Picked for Tea), as it is still an Evergreen. Did you know, it's also a Fact that you can make Tea from Any Species of Camellia, and there are many of them. The usual Camellia grown for it's Big Beautiful Flowers is Camellia var Japonica, originating in JAPAN, and you can make Tea from the Leaf of that plant (Tree can grow to over 40' tall) too. I saw a KZbin video of someone making Black Tea from the Leaf's of Camellia Japonica, and their son, who's their Biggest Tea Drinker in the Family, tried it, and said it was actually Very Good Tasting!!! So, now you have yet another Hobby to try, once you get your Camellia Plants (Trees) going. The only reason Cultivated Tea Plants look like Low Growing Bushes is because they are Pruned and Cut to Remain Short, to make Harvesting the Leaves Easy to do. just by standing om the Ground. without having to Climb Up a Tall Tree. The Wild Tea Plants are really Trees, that can grow to 80' tall, and have a Trunk 15' in diameter. The Oldest Known Tea Tree in Mainland China is over 2,500+ years old, and still growing, has a Trunk over 20' in Diameter, and is over 100' Tall. Try Picking the Leaves off of that Tree, just don't Fall Down... !!!

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Milton, I believe that must be the most concise, indepth, and accurate comment I have had so far on this channel. Thanks so much for taking the time to share this. Great information, we really appreciate it. Simon and Lorna

[@WAITINGFORMYJESUS]

Your black lace is very beautiful. I bought my first camellia last year which is a black lace. My second one this year is pearl maxwell which opened 0 buds and she dropped about 85 buds within 4 weeks of coming from the shop.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Sorry to hear that about the pearl maxwell. Unfortunately you have no control over what's happened to the plant while it's in the shop. It will drop bud usually for these two reasons. One is environmental stress which could be too hot, too dry, too wet etc. Or it could be a fungal infection in the bud, like bud blast' which turns the compacted petals brown before dropping them. Hopefully your new buds for next year will begin to show in the next month or so. I hope this helps. Kind regards Simon

[@paulmcgaw6976]

Great video! Interesting with the soil. I planted a few last spring (November) and mixed in a tonne of cow manure and compost. They are doing well. My mum? Planted 3 20 year ago. Clay soil. They are thriving and growing out of control! In Australia the summers are so hot even in summer stars so position is do important.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Paul and thanks for the message. It's great that that there some fantastic magnolia varieties that will cope with your weather. Ours just need to survive our winters. Simon

[@patriciarussell1177]

thank you from oklahoma

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hello Patricia, you are very welcome. Simon

[@1Lightdancer]

Lovely tips! My favorite Camellias are my tea plants (Camellia sinensis)! I'm in W Oregon zone 8b, and grow the northernmost variety, Sochi from near the Black Sea. I recently planted 2 from gallon pots, and they're Blooming now - small white flowers a bit larger than those of strawberries! My friend Nikki has 9, and taught me how to process the leaves for tea. We have at least two small tea plantations within 30-40 miles of our town. These plants are seedlings of hers - I needed to leave one ~15 years old when i moved across town last fall. We prune ours into a 'tabletop' a little above waist height, to make harvesting the young tea leaves easy. Tea will grow in any area other Camellias do well, and all the same culture tips apply! Sourcing the plants can be challenging, they do grow from seed, but that's slow!

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hello Nadya, and thanks for your comment. Although we drink a lot of tea in the UK, there is very little interest is growing the plants in the garden setting considering what a great plant this is. It was really interesting to hear about your experience with Camellia sinensis so thank you for sharing. Kind regards, Simon

[@deirdrebrowne512]

Very informative and good delivery, thank you. Do lose the music and the videographer’ s occasion commentary. It detracts from serious content which we viewers are interested in. No offence intended.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Deirdre, and thanks fir the comment. Don't worry, no offence taken. I have recently redone this video without music and additional commentary, which you can find in our back catalogue. Kind regards, Simon

[@barry7608]

Thanks, I just wished you clarified if any of your information applied to BOTH Japonica and Sasanqua. I only have the later and need to transplant very soon. Buds are well advanced it’s mid autumn here in Oz

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi there, yes the same information applies. However if you are digging up the root ball you can shock the plant, so try to lift it with as much of the rootball intact. Also give it a good watering a couple of days beforehand. Good luck, Simon

[@therattyfire5468]

Many thanks for your video. I've just been gifted a beautiful Camillia today by my daughter Lisa and it's a whole new learning curve for me. I have a nice little bed in my front garden where the centre piece is a large forest flame, I was thinking of putting the camillia in the bed to add a splash of colour, I am assuming that the soil is acidic because of the forest flame growing so well but I will be doing a pH test. Do you think this will be a good spot? Many thanks in advance..... Billy

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Billy and thanks for getting in touch. If your Pieris is doing well then the chances are your camellia will too but that's not a guarantee. I will always plant in ericaceous compost to be safe. If the bed is shaded during the heat of the day then it shouldn't scorch but without seeing the site first hand it's difficult to give solid advice. I will be posting another video on how and when to prune camellias. If you subscribe to the channel and click notifications then youtube will let you know when it goes live. Kind regards Simon

[@therattyfire5468]

Cheers Simon, I'll be doing the pH test soon and hopefully get the right result, also I will be bedding it down in ericaceous compost too. Thanks for the response, I've just subbed 👍

[@Jessica-yy6ep]

I've just bought a camellia. Glad I've watched this, thank you. Did not know about the soil type. Will it be ok in a large pot? My front garden is South facing and full sun, so won't be planting there. The back garden is all patio, so will have to plant in a pot!

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Jessica and thanks foe getting in touch. Yes, you can plant camellias in a large pot, but be aware that anything that grows too tall is at risk of blowing over in strong winds. They are also prone to drying out over the growing season and it is down to you to provide its fertiliser and watering requirements. Given the choice, planting in the ground is much better for maintaining plant quality and for better flowering. I hope this helps. Simon

[@Jessica-yy6ep]

​@@walkingtalkinggardeners thank you! I'll bare this in mind. Do you think it will flower this year ? It's very small, with only one stem of leaves at the moment!

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

@@Jessica-yy6ep it's unlikely, but you should be good for next spring. Don't forget that they can drop the forming flower buds if the plant become heat or water stressed over the summer. Simon

[@maryettamoody5079]

Usually bloom in Jan if real warm Frb and March and April really blooming in March if you or hod has rained a lot lots of blooms

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Indeed. My 'Debbie' is in full bloom now, and my 'Chinese Lace' is just starting to get going. Hopefully it will last throughout March. Simon

[@maryettamoody5079]

Where can I buy a Debbie in Mississippi

[@sharmadapraveen]

Subscribed👍 🙏👌😍😍💜💜🦋🦋

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hello Majic Butterflies and thank you for subscribers. I hope you enjoy the channel. Kind regards Simon

[@mo_bra3340]

Thanks for your video. I'm thinking about planting one of the red varieties next to my house, but I'm wondering how much space you'd recommend planting one of these beauties from my exterior wall? i.e. How aggressive would you say the roots are?

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Mo, camellias have a fibrous root system that shouldn't go down too deep so they don't pose the risk of damage as some trees would. It depends on the overall size of cultivar you buy (as some can grow into small trees) but planting next to an exterior wall should be ok. However planting any plants next to a wall can increase the risk of damp getting in. If you are planting on thst grows to say 2 metres tall then a good 1-1.5 meters away from the wall should be fine. Kind regards Simon

[@mo_bra3340]

@@walkingtalkinggardeners Cheers, Simon! :-)

[@harima8547]

Hi Simon, thanks for your helpful video, Im really curious about the rusty nails Victorian idea, Ive got a couple of camellias that dont seem to be very happy in their soil, if I test it and find its too alkaline, could I dig around the roots and put a few rusty nails in the ground to fix the problem? do you maybe know roughly what the ph should be? thanks!

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Well, the nails need to be made of iron as is is the difficulty in taking up iron which is the issue with camellias in alkaline soils. If your soil is alkaline then of course you can try a few rusty nails but you would be better off adding Hydrangea colourant to the soil surface as per the dosage instructions or fertilise with an acidic plant liquid soluble fertiliser such a miracid. Kind regards, Simon

[@harima8547]

thanks for getting back to me so swifty, really helpful! @@walkingtalkinggardeners

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

You are very welcome.

[@jillking-miller4257]

We inherited a very large white camelia plant when we bought our property. The bush is healthy but too tall, and i will prune back by 1/3 as soon as the bloom is off but my question is.. the blooms begin to turn rust brown color as soon they begin to open. what is wrong ?

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Jill and thanks for the question. It is difficult to answer for sure without knowing what the weather conditions were leading up to this, site location and an image of the blooms but I can say that it is probably this reason. This can often happen in sunny sites where the buds have been subjected to late frosts. The freezing wet conditions damage the outer ends of the petals killing off the plant cells most exposed. This is what produces the brown colouration. If it was a smaller specimen I would recommend moving it to a more sheltered position. I hope this sounds relevant to your situation. Kind regards Simon

[@maryettamoody5079]

Now Ilove the pink

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Thanks Mary, I believe that one is Camellia 'Debbie'. Simon

[@loonylinda]

i hav a new home and garden and im going to try to grow my first Camillia...ive seen some beauties about and i love them. so thankyou for the advice!..by the way could do without the accompanying music as it drowns you out.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

My apologies about the music Linda. But I wish you the best of luck with your first camellia. Kind regards, Simon

[@emmynguyen1693]

I have 2 camelias which give flowers every year in spring but they keep the same high, same size. They didnt grow any cm taller. Is there any tips for that? Thanks a lot❤

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Emmy, and thank you for your question. The next growth bud forms and extends from the base of every flower bud, so you should be able to see that at this time of year. This will be the start of your new growth however small that may be. If the leaves are not a glossy dark green then you may be experiencing stunted growth due to nutrient deficiency. All you need to do is apply an acid or ericaceous fertiliser once a month during the growing season. Kind regards Simon

[@emmynguyen1693]

@@walkingtalkinggardeners so i give them every month fertilize now untill aautumn? Thanks so much

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Correct, use ericaceous fertiliser. I like to use Scott's Miracid. Simon

[@sislertx]

Lol..been gardening for 70nof my 80 years..never seen a bag of that...ever. and im at the nurseries weekly.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Sislertx, and thanks for a great comment. Just to be sure. Are you saying you don't have ericaceous compost where you are? If that is true, I am gobsmacked! I will also be setting up my new 'Simon's Best Ericaceous Compost' stand near you. This time next year, we will be millionaires.

[@aaronbandy6661]

I think mine didn't make it, both of them have no leaves or flowers zone 6b - Amanda

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Aaron, no that doesn't sound good. Most Camellia cold hardy cultivars are only suitable for zones 7 and 8, but I believe Camellia 'Monrovia Ice Angels' cultivars will cope with zone 6. Unless that is what you planted in that case I would probably advise planting something else maybe. Kind regards Simon

[@maryettamoody5079]

Mine planted underline trees

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

The perfect place, Mary.. Simon

[@Divan000]

Camellia didn't sprout after pruning. It's been more than a year. I guess it died.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

I am sorry to hear that Divan. If you wanted to replant, I would put it elsewhere in case there was a soil borne fungal infection that caused the death of the original plant. Simon

[@malikmohamedmellouki9647]

Music ???

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Yep, sorry about that. Simon

[@beenajohn7526]

💓💓👍

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Thanks Beena John. Simon and Lorna

[@delfine7163]

Hi, found your video very helpful! The music and poor sound quality at times made it difficult to follow what you said. 👍

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Delfine, really sorry about the sound quality. I have bought a new camera to take rode wireless mics, but I have had faults with the first two which have been returned. When the refund gets back I will have another go. Thanks for watching. Simon

[@JupiterRising2525]

Music is nice just too loud for me to hear you. ❤

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Sorry about that. We have republished this video with out music if you check out back catalogue. Kind regards, Simon

[@JupiterRising2525]

@@walkingtalkinggardeners thank you. I will look for this now.

[@maryettamoody5079]

Grow in south Mississippi

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Should be perfect climate there. Although you might need to water them during periods of drought to prevent bud drop. Simon

[@isatoro77]

Unfortunately the background music is so Loud Couldn’t continue got distracted

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Don't worry, I know some people have an issue with this. I have remade the video without sound as well as 5 mistakes to avoid cutting camellia video. You can find them in my video list. Kind regards Simon

[@hillbilly4895]

Update: Camellias are expensive. I'm transplanting 5 mature (chest high) today about 20' to a place they can get sun in a.m. Wish me (and my wallet) luck.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hello Hill Billy, and great name there. Are you digging up established plants or planting grown plants? If they are potted plants then this will be an easy job, just make sure they are watered during periods of drought. If you have warm temperatures then you will need to give the established plants a good watering the day before and then remove a good third of the growth. In this warm weather (at least it is where I am) I wouldn't really advise lifting them at this time of year as there is a strong risk of shock and dessication which can kill these plants. If you have to do it now, then you have to do it, but take as much of the root as you can and disturb the roots as little as you can. Good luck with this. Kind regards Simon

[@hillbilly4895]

@@walkingtalkinggardeners Bought a house and the previous owner thought it was a good idea to semi-circle a weeping japanese maple with 5 Camillias. The maple is currently half the size of a VW beetle which is choking off the Camillia's from sunlight. So yeah, if I don't move them this Summer they're goners. a couple have stalks a little over 2" diameter and the weaklings maybe 1-1/2? If I knew how much to dig to preserve all the roots I'd do it. I'm about a half day drive from the Gulf of Mexico and the bed they're in and going to is on the same irrigation system as the lawn. Dessication isn't a problem as long as the wife pays the water bill...and she's pretty good at that. Thoughts?

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

@Hill Billy It's really difficult to advise without seeing the site first hand. Digging out intact rootballs is always difficult as they can often just fall apart. Just do your best on that. I would still give them a hard cut back which is your best opinion for survival along with bing under irrigation. You will probably lose next years blooms but its better than losing the entire plant. They can tolerant quite severe cuts but at this point removing a third of the foliage should do it but you can take off more if needed. I know it sounds harsh but it really improves survival rates. I wish you good luck but let me know if you start getting leaf drop. Simon

[@rustic35]

You need to tell your camera lady that camera people don't talk or make noise. 😂

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

I told her, but then she said she wouldn't cook dinner, so........!

[@maryquan8126]

Kindly turn off the music. Can't hear You clearly. Informative. Thanks.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Mary, sorry about that. I have republished this video without music. You can find it in my channel listing. Kind regards Simon

[@amandamesser960]

Could u please make a video without music

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Of course, if you go to my KZbin video back catalogue you will find it without music under the title 'Mistakes to Avoid Growing Camellias'. Kind regards Simon

[@jannaZX]

Turn the bloody music off 😢

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Sorry about the music Janna, I've turned it down in later videos. Simon

[@ljacree5764]

I wish you would speak louder! You probably said things I need to hear.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

My apologies, this can be a problem on certain devices. I have re-filmed this subject going into more detail and will get this published over the next couple of weeks. If you don't want to miss it, then click subscribe and then click the notification bell. It is absolutely free, and youtube will inform you when I publish it. Kind regards, Simon

[@jeffreyb3238]

Turn OFF the music please. Didn't watch.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Don't worry Jeff. We have re-made this video without the music. You will find it on our most recent videos list. Simon

[@123roger4321]

The music is over powering you r conversation can’t hear you r advis

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Roger, sorry about that. If you check out our back catalogue of videos, you will find this same video without background sound. However, this is the video KZbin prefers to promote. Kind regards, Simon

[@z0nk-zw5hv]

Please could you get rid of the music?

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Dint worry, if you check through my back catalogue I have published the same video without music. Kind regards Simon

[@lopesronnie]

Turn OFF the music

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Don't worry Ronnie, I have the same video without background music in my KZbin back catalogue library.

[@eedeescottagegarden]

The music is Drowning you out. I want to hear you not the music.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Sorry about that Eedee, this was one of my early videos. Don't worry though, if you go to my videos list I remade this video without the music. Kind regards Simon

[@silver5986]

Lose the background music.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Silver, thanks for your comment. We are aware of this and have published a similar video without the background music if you would like to check our video catalogue. Kind regards Simon

[@tinaellis4143]

Sorry I can’t watch anymore. The music is so is so annoying.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Do worry. We reposted this video without music. Just check out out content library under 'Camellias '