Time for Camellias

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 19, 1 October 1985, Page 9

Time for Camellias

What a joy it was, alter being shut up in the house with an attack of this ghastly flu, to be able to walk out in the garden again enjoying the lovely sunshine. My first call was to totter across the lawn, on legs which feel as if they have been stuffed wi'th cotton wool, to see how my Camellias were faring. It was well worth the effort — a brilliant display of lovely blooms. 'Debutante' is smothered in bud and bloom this year and the lovely clear pink blossoms are really a lovely sight. Some of the blossom on the outside of the bush to been damaged by frost, but those which are more sheltered are lovely with two and three blooms on a stem. In the background 'Donation' is putting on a grand show. Two years ago 1 bought a selection of rooted cuttings from the nursery and have been nursing them along. What a thrill to see my tiny cuttings, now little bushes about eighteen inches high, bursting into flower. 'Anticipation' had several large double flowers in a deep cerise pink on this tiny bush. One of the blooms measures about three inches across,

Charity slightly hghter in colour, but a perfectly formed flower, 'Kitty' a tiny double flower such a pale pink it is almost white, but sparkling like little stars among the rich green leaves. I was pleased to see a few buds ready to break into flower on 'Angel', a clear double white. With the warm sun and the drying wind they were badly in need of a good drink, so back on my cotton wool legs to fetch the hose and to give them all a good soaking. To let them get too dry now will spoil the flowering period as the blooms will soon fall if the bushes are without moisture to support them. Weeds of course had sprung up around the base of the plants and these 1 removed taking care not to disturb the root system. While the ground was damp 1 put on the spring dressing of acid plant food. A couple of handfuls spread around the base of each plant well away from the centre stem, then watered well in with the hose. When planting new Camellia bushes make sure that a good base is prepared for the plant by including a good dressing of peat moss in the soil and some well-rotted cow manure mixed in is also

a help. Camellias like a position in semi shade with filtered sunlight, and I like to plant mine where the rising sun is unlikely to shine directly on to the bushes. Unless the plants are in a completely frost-free position, early morning sun shining on frosted bushes will cause the buds to rot and drop off. Camellias are not really gross feeders and provided they have been given a good base to start with will not require too much extra feeding. It is most important not to let them dry out in the heat of the summer. At this time when the plants are dormant, they are storing up goodness to set the buds for the following season, and lack of water at this time will affect the flowering performance next year. Give them a good soak at least once a week in the dry periods, or if the ground drains out very rapidly it won't hurt to water more often. A foliar feed of a mild solution of one of the liquid fertilisers a couple of times during the summer months is helpful, especially if the foliage looks a little yellow. Some well dried pats of cow manure stacked around the roqt base (not too near the stem of the plant) will

supply all the nutrition they need as the manure will gradually break up and the goodness -washed into the soil overa period of months. Camellias are a worthwhile addition to any garden, and with a little care will reward with a rich crop of beautiful flowers in late winter and early spring. There are a large number of lovely varieties available and Duncan and Davies, who grow a large and varied selection of these lovely plants, have put out a free leaflet with colour photographs of some of the varieties available. These leaflets should be avaiable in most garden centres.

Bea

Barnes