Camellias are evergreens whose flowers are truly precious. Delicate, elegant and soft colors that contrast with the dark green of the leaves. This is surely why they are so popular in patios, balconies and gardens. And it is that in addition, they can be maintained in good health just by giving them a little care.
But of course you might be wondering when the camellias bloom, truth? This is important because once you know the answer you can understand how good it is to pay for it at a certain time of the year, but I’ll talk about that below.
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When do camellias bloom?
Camellias are evergreen shrubs belonging to the genus Camellia. It is estimated that there are around 100 varieties, all originating from China and Japan.. Two of the best known are camellia sinensis, the plant from which the tea is obtained; and the camellia japonica which is the easiest to find in nurseries.
to these plants they like heat but without reaching extremes, as well as high air humidity and acid pH soil. This is why, in Spain, you can find camellias in the gardens of Galicia, for example, but not in those of the island of Majorca. Because?
Because although the humidity is high in both places, the soil in much of Mallorca is alkaline, so when a camellia or other acidic plant is planted there, after a short time it begins to show symptoms of iron chlorosis or lack of iron: at the beginning, the leaves turn yellow and the nerves remain green, then dry out.
So if we want to know when our camellias are going to bloom, It is very important that we take this into account, because otherwise the production of flowers will be delayed… or worse, it will not occur at all.. But if we take good care of them, we will see that they will bloom from late winter to late spring.
How is the camellia flower?
These are plants that they can have the single flowerthat is, with a single crown of petals, or with more than one. The size varies a little depending on the variety and/or cultivar, but in general they are about 4 centimeters in diameter, and can be yellow, white, pink or red.
Although they hardly smell anything, it doesn’t matter. Their beauty is such that it is certainly worth growing them in pots and/or in the garden if the conditions are right. Moreover, since they are produced in large numbers for several months, the area where they are found will undoubtedly be spectacular.
How to make camellias bloom?
If you don’t know how to care for them so they produce flowers, don’t worry. Here is a basic guide to caring for camellias to help you keep them healthy:
Plant it in soil with a low/acidic pH
This is very, very important, perhaps the most, because the soil is what will be in contact with the roots, which are responsible for absorbing water and nutrients from the soil and sending them to all parts of the plant. For it, we must plant our camellias in acidic soilwhether you want it in the garden or whether you prefer to grow it in a pot.
If you’re planning to plant it in the garden and you’re not sure if the soil is suitable, I recommend checking to see if your neighbors have camellias, heathers, Japanese maples or other acid plants in the garden. soil, because if so and they look healthy, you can have them too. And if you still have doubts, click here to know the pH of your soil.
If you decide to plant it in a pot, all you have to do is fill it with an acid substrate, such as coconut fiber (on sale here), or with a specific one for these plants like this one.
water it sparingly
Camellias do not tolerate drought, but they also have a hard time when their roots are waterlogged. Therefore, in order for them to do well and flourish, we will try to water them moderately, avoiding that the soil remains wet or dry for too long.
Yes to know when to water, you can use a wooden stick: if we introduce it at the bottom, extracting it we will see that, if the earth is wet, it will come out like that, even with earth adhering to it; On the other hand, if it is dry, the stick will come out clean or almost clean.
In effect, it is important to use rainwater or water suitable for human consumption so that it does not end in chlorotic leaves. Likewise, if we are going to have it in a pot, it must have drainage holes so that the water can escape.
pay it
Another issue I’m going to talk to you about is that of the subscriber. Paying for camellias is highly recommended, especially if you want them to produce a lot of flowers. We will start doing this when we see that winter is ending, and we will continue until the end of summer.
To do this, you can use specific fertilizers for acid plants (on sale here), or with fertilizers such as guano (on sale here). But in any case, you must follow the instructions for use.
Protect it from extreme cold
Although the camellia japonica can stand the cold it is strongly advised to protect it from frost and especially from snowfall. For this, it is strongly recommended to cover it with an antifreeze cloth (on sale here), or even to bring it inside if the temperatures drop below -4°C. This way we will ensure that he can thrive.
What did you think of these tips? I hope they will be very useful for your camellia to produce its flowers again.