Camellias, particularly ones that have been purchased and planted in the last year or two, should be fertilized with a shrub fertilizer that’s been formulated for Camellias.
if the Camellia was planted the year before and wasn’t doing well as it headed into winter just remember that it’s had the winter to grow roots and should have a fresh start in the spring, especially if some extra care is given to it in the spring.
Water your Camellia well during the summer, particularly during dry spells. Pine needle mulch is best at the base of the plants. This helps acidify the soil, and the mulch will also help retain moisture in the ground around the shrub.
If you notice that the buds turn brown and or papery before opening this means that the Camellia has had some damage from the cold in the winter. Severely damaged buds will snap off the plant.
Camellia species can vary in their bloom time. A popular species “Mrs. Cobbs” blooms in mid season.
Spots on leaves are sometimes caused by fungus, or they could be weather damage.
The best time to prune and shape a camellia is in the early spring before they start to put out new growth.
