How do I treat my poorly Camellia - photos attached

[AlexaWhatsMyUsername]

It’s a lovely healthy plant which we have had for 3 years but when it flowers the beautiful flowers are all brown. Last year we put it down to possible overwatering but it’s 100% not that as we have barely watered it this year.

Our magnolias are completely brown, I think it’s the frost

It looks like a frost damage to me too

Which way does it face? If it gets the morning sun it may be damage from early morning sun on cold/frosted blooms.

It probably does get the sun in the mornings, yes. Will the damage have already been done then? I did cut off all the brown flowers and brown buds a couple of weeks ago but the next lot still came out brown too. Does it mean the damage was done well before it even came into flower? Two years running this has happened so trying to work out what I need to do differently so it doesn’t happen again next year.

It's getting early morning sunshine on the plant while still frozen that causes damage like that. It really needs to be somewhere it can thaw out before the sun gets on it.

The plant itself is fine, the flower damage just looks unsightly.

Camellia flower blight can look like this.

You could try covering it with a fleece overnight if it is still small enough? If it is in a pot it could be covered or moved to a sheltered spot.

Unfortunately there's no cure for very low temperatures, it's just a part of life at our latitude. My magnolia has also suffered from frost damage, plants that bloom very early in the year are unfortunately prone to this. I believe some camellias have been bred to flower later in the year, so less chance of their blooms being spoilt by frost.

You should make sure it isn't underwatered as that will have a detrimental effect on its flowering too. Feed in late summer and autumn when the buds are forming. Camellias need ericaceous feed iirc.

@chisanunian

It's getting early morning sunshine on the plant while still frozen that causes damage like that. It really needs to be somewhere it can thaw out before the sun gets on it.

The plant itself is fine, the flower damage just looks unsightly.

Thank you. That’s really helpful. Is it worth moving it now? If we do that will we save all the current buds becoming brown flowers or is it too late to save it this year? I can cover it with fleece from all future frosts now I know too.

I'd probably wait until it finishes flowering then move it. Somewhere west or even north facing so it won't get the morning sun.

Thank you

I found that online too. Not sure how I can tell if it’s that or the frost damage 🤔

I thought mine did that as the soil isn’t acid enough! It’s a revelation that it’s frost!

Camelia only really likes shade, I always planted mine under trees or in a shady part of the garden.
I'd move it when the flowers are over.

Mine did this, buds were all brown. I gave it loads of water and it perked right up.
I think they’re quite thirsty plants.

If you're near an RHS garden op you could take some photos along and ask them, they tend to be very knowledgeable and helpful.

Or email gardeners world!

I have a white one too and it’s frost. Mine doesn’t get the sun until afternoon as it’s in a shady part so I don’t think it’s anything to do with morning sun, check the weather every night and if a frost is forecast buy a roll of fleece from Wilco and wrap it up. It will save the flowers.

The good news is that it’s in a (big, heavy) pot so we can (just about) move it. I know it’s not down to lack of water. We watered it lots last year as we thought it must be due to that and it made no difference at all. In fact we even made sure only to use rain water on it - it had lots of TLC.

The petals are not dry/brown they feel like healthy petals - the leaves are glossy and it’s producing loads of big buds. It’s just that the petals go brown. I grew it to have outside my window against a dull blank fence which means I see it (and all it’s brown petals) each time I go in the room. It looks rubbish. I have some of the special fleece. I’ll move it and cover it from every frost to see if next year it’s better. Do you need to protect it from frost through the winter too - even when no buds or flowers?

Frost damage occurs once the plant has budded / bloomed. Unfortunately, camelias, magnolias etc aren't native to the UK so do suffer when we get that cold snap after the first warmth of spring.

Had a full fortnight to enjoy my magnolia this year, some years I've only had a 4 days to enjoy its splendour.