Camellias are evergreen plants whose flowers are really precious. Delicate, elegant, and soft colors which contrast with the dark green of the leaves. Surely that is why they are so loved in patios, balconies and gardens. And it is that, in addition, they can be kept healthy just by giving them a little care.
But of course, you may be wondering when camellias bloom, TRUE? This is important, because once you know the answer you will be able to understand how interesting it is to pay it at a certain time of the year, but I will talk about this below.
When do camellias bloom?
Camellias are evergreen shrubs belonging to the genus Camellia. It is estimated that there are about a hundred varieties, all of them originating in China and Japan.. Two of the best known are Camellia sinensis, the plant from which tea is obtained; and the Camellia japonica which is the most easily found in nurseries.
to these plants they like heat but without reaching extremes, as well as high air humidity, and a soil with an acidic pH. That is why, in Spain, we can find camellias in the gardens of Galicia, for example, but not in those of the island of Mallorca. Why?
Because although humidity is high in both places, the soil in much of Mallorca is alkaline, so when a camellia or other acidic plant is planted in it, after a short time it begins to show symptoms of iron chlorosis or lack of iron: at first, the leaves turn yellow and the nerves stay green, and later they dry up.
So if we want to know when our camellias are going to bloom, It is very important that we take this into account, since 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 bloom from late winter to late spring.
How is the camellia flower?
They are plants that they can have the simple flower, that is, with a single crown of petals, or with more than one. The size varies a bit depending on the variety and/or cultivar, but in general they measure about 4 centimeters in diameter, and can be yellow, white, pink or red.
Although they hardly smell like anything, that doesn't matter. Their beauty is such that it is certainly worth growing them in a pot and/or in the garden if the conditions are good. In addition, since they are produced in large numbers for several months, the area where they are located will undoubtedly look spectacular.
What to do to make camellias bloom?
If you are not sure how to take care of them so that they produce flowers, do not worry. Here is a basic guide to caring for camellias to make it easy for you to keep them healthy:
Plant it in soil with a low/acidic pH
This is very, very important, perhaps the most, since 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. That's why, we have to plant our camellias in acidic soil, whether we want it to be in the garden or if we prefer to grow it in a pot.
If you intend to plant it in the garden and you do not know if the soil is suitable, I recommend you check if your neighbors have camellias, heathers, Japanese maples or other acid plants in the soil, because if so and they look healthy, you you can also have them. And if you still have doubts, click here to find out the pH of your soil.
In the event that you decide to plant it in a pot, you simply have to fill it with some acidic substrate, such as coconut fiber (for sale here), or with a specific one for these plants such as this.
water it sparingly
Camellias do not tolerate drought, but they also have a very hard time when their roots are waterlogged. Therefore, in order for them to be well and to flourish, we are going to try to water them moderately, avoiding that the soil is wet or dry for too long.
Y to know when to water, we can use a wooden stick: if we introduce it to the bottom, when extracting it we will see that, if the soil is wet, it will come out like this, even with soil adhering to it; On the other hand, if it is dry, the stick will come out clean or practically clean.
By the way, it is important to use rainwater or one suitable for human consumption so that it does not end with 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 topic that I am going to talk to you about is that of the subscriber. It is highly recommended to pay camellias, especially if we want them to produce many flowers. We will start doing it when we see that winter is ending, and we will continue until the end of summer.
To do this, we can use specific fertilizers for acid plants (for sale here), or with fertilizers such as guano (for sale here). But in any case, you must follow the instructions for use.
Protect her from extreme cold
While the Camellia japonica can bear the cold it is highly advisable to protect it from frost and, above all, snowfall. To do this, it is highly advisable to cover it with an anti-frost fabric (for sale here), or even bring it indoors if temperatures drop below -4ºC. This way we will make sure that it can flourish.
What did you think of these tips? I hope they are very useful for your camellia to produce its flowers again.