Keep Camellias Blooming - A Guide To Preventing Bud Drop

words and images by Lynsey Hughes

MY last house came flanked with a divinely tall, mature Camellia japonica specimen which thrived in the shade of a two-storey neighbour and produced a stunning carpet of candy- pink blooms each winter. All this buddy love without a single scrap of attention from moi!

Opening Bud Stage 1

Bud Opening Stage 2

Bud Opening Stage 3

Fast-forward to my current abode and you’ll see me hovering, gloved-fingers crossed, over a stubby, shrubby as-yet-unidentified Camellia, waiting for the first tight bud to reveal her winter petals.

Last year I was bitterly disappointed in this little woody shrub, which survives on the edge of a bed filled with tree stumps; the remnants of shade long gone, and no doubt a contributing factor in the pathological rate of bud-drop we experienced last winter.

Bud failing to open

It started out with such promise, too. Branches from top to bottom, were laden with scores of tiny green orbs which developed long enough for a small burst of pink hue to peep through only to drop to the ground or stagnate on a branch until brown and crisp. Aghast, I consulted gardening friends, the internet and pored over countless reference books to find a clear answer to the rather common problem of Camellia bud-drop, also called bud-balling.

It seems the causes are largely unknown, but a few common themes appear: lack of water, too much water, too much sun, too many buds, incorrect soil pH levels and the plain ol’ fact that some types, like formal doubles, are just more susceptible. Among the practical tips gathered (see below), all except number three were carried out last Spring. It’s been a slow drum roll so far, but it’s almost showtime. My bud clusters are looking plump, green and encouragingly healthy. A couple have burst their barriers, but only time will tell if we’ll be rewarded with a much-wished for explosion of blooms.

Six Tips To Combat Camellia Bud-drop

1. Pinch out buds by one-third in Spring. Over-production of buds can dilute plant resources, resulting in no beautiful singles, doubles or anemones unfurling. Best to reduce the number of buds at the early stage to ensure the lucky survivors receive adequate nutrients.

2. Ensure soil never dries out. Buds need coaxing with an adequate supply of water to see them flower. Maintain constant moisture during Summer while buds are developing. During the flowering season, heavily budded plants should be soaked well and often - once a week, especially if rainfall is low.

3. Provide enough shade. Avoid direct early morning sun in Winter to prevent dewy buds from burning and perishing. Remember, most Camellias hail from a woodland environment. 

4. Prune dead wood and any crossing branches that restrict internal air flow. It’s basic shrub management to stop pests and disease taking hold. Remove spent flower heads at the end of each season.

5. Ensure soil pH is slightly acidic, between 5.5 and 6.5, by using a soil testing kit. Lower pH with applications of ammonium sulphate, commonly found in specialty Camellia fertilisers. Throughout the year, sprinkle used tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) at the base to provide a boost of tannic acid. Or better yet feed with a Camellia and Azalea fertiliser for the best results. We have a range available at Four Seasons Nursery

6. Mulch with old compost in Spring to keep roots cool and well fed. 

Tea leaves are harvested from the Camellia sinensis, 

 and can be fed to your growing camellia.

Fast Facts

NAMED after amateur botanist and Moravian Jesuit Priest, George Kamel, who surprisingly never laid eyes on the species, Camellias grow wild in Japan, parts of China, the Himalayas and Indo-China.

Commonly cultivated in the West as ornamental shrubs and trees, it was the tea variety, Camellia sinensis that was first taken from China by the British to colonial India over 200 years ago.

They love cool, moist roots and slightly acid soil. The darker the flower, the more sun it can handle, especially the `ideal for hedging’ sasanqua varieties. 

  



Happy Planting

Lynsey

Don’t fight it, hide it!

There’s an old saying from Poland that, roughly translated, warns: “a guest sees more in an hour than the host in a year”. Now if you’re anything like me you would have zoned out after the words ‘old saying’, but seeing as it’s barbeque season this one might be worth paying attention to.

Let’s say it’s your turn to host this coming weekend. You’re famous for your skills with a set of tongs, and your partner’s a master at diffusing awkward silences. Everything’s going to be perfect; everyone’s going to be smiling, laughing, having the best time of their whole entire lives.

Pump your breaks my friend - before you go and order a ‘Host with the Most’ t-shirt with your face on it, maybe you should settle into one of the guest’s chairs and have a look around. Chances are you’ll see some things you normally wouldn’t have noticed; a mass of weeds bursting from a cracked paver, or a neglected courtyard corner filled with cobwebs and dog hair. These are the things the Polish of old were talking about, and these things will ruin everything.

We need to do something, but there’s no time for anything serious; it’s back to work tomorrow, and besides, your wallet is still recovering from Christmas. We need a quick fix, and a cost-effective one too.

We need a pot.

The art of hiding a tricky spot with a pot plant is one landscapers have been practicing for ever; it’s quick, easy, cheap, and if done properly looks fantastic. There are a couple of points you need to consider;

1. Size; make sure the pot will suit the spot, and that the plant you are sticking in it won’t be too small or grow to be too large.


2. Colour; look at the surrounding walls, floors and features, then work with what’s already there. Choosing a pot for ‘contrast’ is extremely difficult; far better to work with the existing theme.


3. Weight; especially important if you’re putting it on a balcony. We have many lightweight options for such situations.


4. Water; pots dry out. Fast. If it’s a sunny spot you should choose a drought-tolerant plant, and then spice up your potting mix with some water crystals.

The range of pots we have at Four Seasons Nursery is insane. All manner of size, shape and style is represented in our giant Pot Court, plus there are a whole host more available by order through our website - http://www.fourseasonsnursery.com.au/pots.html

We’ve also got a heap of potting mixes, water crystals, mulch and gravel in store, plus a whole host of pot-suitable plants to fit with any style of garden. Our staff are always more than happy to help you choose, plus we can deliver to anywhere in Sydney. Why not take a photo of your trouble-spot and bring it in? It saves time and ensures you’ll leave with the perfect pot.

Come see us anytime!

Cheers,

Mike.

A real summer!

We are right in the thick of summer now, and so far it’s actually behaving like a summer, which (aside from blowing everyone’s minds) is generating a rate of growth in the garden we haven’t seen for ages. The mornings are hot and the evenings are cool, giving your plants all the energy they need without burning their delicate new growth. Plus every other evening we’re getting some healthy summer rain, occasionally a storm. Here’s a fun fact about thunderstorms; lightning infuses the falling water with extra nitrogen, making it like steroids for leaves. Keep an eye on your new foliage in the days after a decent storm, you’ll notice the difference.

So anyway with the summer comes summer holidays; most of us have a couple of weeks off now, while school kids and uni students seem to have several years. What a perfect opportunity for everyone to get their hands dirty! You’ll see the results of your hard work growing almost instantly, plus gardening is a great way to work off the inevitable Christmas bloating. If you’re looking for ideas then come see us at Four Seasons Nursery anytime, we’ll be here every day. Holidays aren’t really our thing - our workplace is a giant garden, why would we leave?

When you do swing by make sure you check out our new Homewares and Gifts section; loads of way-past-last-minute Christmas gift ideas, beautifully displayed in air-conditioned bliss. Here’s a sample-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plenty more in store!

Cheers,

Mike.

New varieties of an old favourite...

The calendar may say it’s time for Winter but Autumn arrived late this year, and in the garden it still has some unfinished business. Most notable on its still-to-do list are the Salvias- some of the season’s flowering superstars, who are still looking amazing despite it being June.

Salvia is a massive genus in the Mint family (Lamiaceae), with around 900 different species of herbaceous perennials and annuals, including the edible varieties of Sage. Here’s a fun fact to impress (or annoy) your friends with- all Salvias have square stems! They have low water requirements, thrive in a full sun position and are covered in flowers from March until May (or even later, as we are seeing this year). A hard prune and a decent feed in Spring will ensure the best display of flowers next season; other than that they need very little attention.

[caption id="attachment_191" align="alignright" width="150"] Salvia leucantha 'Velour White'[/caption]

Salvias are a very traditional plant, commonly found in cottage and formally styled gardens, though they make an eye-catching addition to any sunny spot. Four Seasons Nursery has some newly developed cultivars in stock right now, which are fast growing, easy to maintain, and come in a range of vivid colours.

Salvia leucantha ‘Velour White’ grows to 1.5m high and about 2m wide. It features a mass of white flower spikes and is reasonably drought tolerant when established.

Salvia leucantha ‘Velour Pink’ is essentially the same as ‘Velour White’, but its flowers are a soft pink colour. The two form a lovely and subtle contrast when planted together.

Salvia mexicana ‘Lolly’ is a touch smaller than the ‘Velours’, growing 1.4m high by 1.4m wide. It features cool blue flowers on darker stems, and is known to be bird-attracting.

[caption id="attachment_195" align="alignright" width="150"] Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara'[/caption]

Salvia leucantha ‘Santa Barbara’ is the smallest of this bunch, at 0.9m high and roughly 1m wide. Its flowers are a similar colour to lavender, which stand well clear of the light green foliage.

These and many more Salvias are available now at Four Seasons Nursery, stop by any time to check them out!

-Mike P.

What to do with all this rain?

Hello to all,

If your anything like me you will probably be fed up with all this rain. All summer long and with no end in sight. However, this doesn't mean that their isn't anything left to do in the garden. Rain may save you some work in the yard, like watering your plants, but it can also create a lot of new work. Below is just some of the many things you can do for your garden during the rain that wont break the bank and when the rain does stop, give you a great head start in the garden so you can start enjoying the sunshine faster.

1. Mulch - as my colleague Steve pointed out in our last blog, mulching is a great way to retain moisture in the soil. With all the wet weather about make the most of it because as soon as we get a nice sunny day the soil will dry out and it is no good for the plants. This will also help prevent the weeds that are going to spring up after a good rain period. Make sure you use a weed mat for extra protection.


2. Fertilize - the lawn, the garden or where ever its just a great time to do it. Watering after fertilizing is a good idea to avoid fertilizer burn on your plants and lawn and Mother Nature is going to do it for you for no extra charge. But be careful not over do it. Fertilizer run off is no good for our waterways and our native bushland.


3. Put indoor plants outside - instead of watering your indoor plants, place them outside. They'll get a good clean from the rain and will reward you with beautiful shiny foliage and the rain water and fresh air  is beneficial to them.


4. Don't Spray - Even if we get a few hours of sunshine, if it looks like its going to rain then don't spray. Most herbicides/fungicide's and insecticide's need a 24 hour period without rain for results. Its a waste of both time and money because you are going to have to respray later to get the treatments you need.


5. Plant new Plants - Just after the rain, when the soil is still moist, is a great time to plant your new plants. The soil is moist and the plants wont need to be watered in to much (It's also easier to dig in a moist friable soil). Also if you use a product like Seasol, it will be easier for the plants to take it up.


6. Visit the nursery - A rainy day is the perfect time to visit the Nursery. There are less people around meaning you get the best pick of the plants and staff can generally spend a few extra minutes with you to discuss any problems or ideas with your garden. Bring your brolly and take a leisurely stroll around the nursery, its one of the best times to see it.

So make sure you've got some good wet weather gear  at home and get on out there in the garden so when the sun does decides to show up for summer you can spend more time enjoying it.

-Happy Gardening-

Matt M