Garden Care Guide

Camellia Care

Camellia sp.

An evergreen shrub with striking winter flowers and glossy leaves that likes acidic (lime-free) soils. Because of Izmir's alkaline soils and hot summers it must be grown in a pot, using acidic peat and protected from afternoon sun.

Half-hardy · -15 °C / 5 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Watering: Keep the soil moist; check the pot every 7-10 days. Using rainwater is ideal.
  • Pruning: Prune as soon as flowering ends. Next year's flower buds form over the summer; late pruning reduces flowering. Prune right after flowering ends; because the buds form before the season, late pruning reduces flowering the next year. The bare trunk area does not shoot again.
  • Plant protection: Check the trunk and the undersides of the leaves for scale insects and mealybugs. Apply dormant oil if necessary.
  • General care: Flowering begins.
  • Pests & diseases: In humid weather, flower blight (flowers rapidly turning brown) may occur; remove diseased flowers immediately.
  • Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -15 °C.
February
  • Watering: Continue keeping the soil moist.
  • Pruning: Not needed. Prune after flowering.
  • Plant protection: Continue checking for scale insects.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -15 °C.
March
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer when it wakes from dormancy. It loves acidic soil; if interveinal yellowing (chlorosis) appears on the leaves in limy soil, prefer an acidic fertilizer.
  • Pruning: **The best time to prune is this month.** Shape the plant as soon as flowering finishes. Remove weak branches and those crowding the interior.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: During humid and cool periods, monitor the leaves and trunk for signs of mold, spots and rot.
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water 1-2 times a week. Water newly planted plants more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: If necessary, an acidic liquid fertilizer can be given once a month.
  • Pruning: Pruning should be finished by the end of this month.
  • Plant protection: Be careful about scale insects.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see leaf yellowing (chlorosis), give a chelated iron supplement.
May
  • Watering: Water 2-3 times a week. Water around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm.
  • Fertilizing: At the start of the month, make the last liquid fertilizer application.
  • Pruning: Absolutely do not prune; next year's buds are forming.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Spread a 5-7 cm layer of mulch over the root zone; it retains soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk. Drainage is vital for this plant. In heavy soil that holds water, plant it on a raised mound or berm 20-30 cm high so that the root collar stays above the surrounding soil level.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves.
June
  • Watering: Water deeply 3-4 times a week, early in the morning. Water around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm. Frequent shallow watering pulls the roots to the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Apply the second fertilizer dose during the growing season. Do not fertilize after August; late growth will not survive winter.
  • Pruning: Absolutely do not prune.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Make sure the plant is in afternoon shade and that its roots do not overheat.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves. Check the undersides of the leaves for whitefly clusters. A yellow sticky trap is the easiest way to monitor density.
July
  • Watering: Water deeply 3-4 times a week, early in the morning. Water around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm. Frequent shallow watering pulls the roots to the surface.
  • Pruning: Absolutely do not prune.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Keep it in a position sheltered from midday sun; scorching at the leaf edges is a sign of burn.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the undersides of the leaves for whitefly clusters. A yellow sticky trap is the easiest way to monitor density. In hot, dry weather, look for fine webbing and stippled yellowing on the undersides of the leaves (spider mites). Washing the leaves during cool hours reduces the population.
August
  • Watering: Water deeply 3-4 times a week, early in the morning. Water around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm. Frequent shallow watering pulls the roots to the surface.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Sasanqua camellias (C. sasanqua) begin to bloom. The buds of Japanese camellias swell.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the undersides of the leaves for whitefly clusters. A yellow sticky trap is the easiest way to monitor density. In hot, dry weather, look for fine webbing and stippled yellowing on the undersides of the leaves (spider mites). Washing the leaves during cool hours reduces the population.
September
  • Watering: Water 2-3 times a week. Water around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm. Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during the first year; its root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: Do not fertilize.
  • Pruning: Absolutely do not prune.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves.
October
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water 1-2 times a week. Water newly planted plants more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: During humid and cool periods, monitor the leaves and trunk for signs of mold, spots and rot.
November
  • Watering: Not needed if rainfall is sufficient; if it turns dry, check and water every 15 days.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering continues. Make sure water does not collect in the root zone during winter rains; for this plant, drainage is more critical than watering.
  • Pests & diseases: During humid and cool periods, monitor the leaves and trunk for signs of mold, spots and rot.
December
  • Watering: Keep the soil moist.
  • Plant protection: Check for scale insects.
  • General care: Flowering continues. Evergreen leaves keep losing water in winter. Water thoroughly once before the soil freezes.
  • Pests & diseases: In cold and humid weather, be careful about fungal diseases.
  • Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -15 °C.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

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