Depending on the species and varieties, the flowering of camellias is autumn or spring. These shrubs grow in acidic soil and fear the calcareous environment.

During fall flowering, sasanqua camellias appreciate rich, deep, non-calcareous soil that is well-drained in winter, but remains cool throughout the summer season. The heat of summer and autumn stimulates and prolongs the flowering of these decorative shrubs. To make your choice a success, buy it already flowered. Know that the flowers can be single or double, white , pink, red, sometimes two-toned, and often deliciously fragrant.

Where to install your camellia?  If possible, plant it under deciduous trees. An east side exposure will be perfect for him. With its glossy foliage, opulent and decorative flowering, this evergreen shrub remains ideal in temperate climates.

IF MY SOIL IS HEAVY, what should I do?

Open a hole two to three times as wide as the container and a little deeper.

Loosen the bottom carefully. In poorly drained soils, place a 5 cm layer of non-calcareous pebbles.

If the soil is not very acidic (pH between 6 and 7), prepare a mixture composed of half heather soil, then add a quarter of peat, plus a quarter of garden soil.

Once the final planting irrigation has been carried out and the water has well infiltrated the soil, cover the surface under the antlers with flakes of hemp, flax or compost. 

carefully decomposed to insulate all surface roots from the cold.

Tip  : Avoid planting this shrub during frost or when it is snowing. On the other hand, it is preferable to dig the hole a few days before the arrival of very cold weather, because frost often tends to loosen the walls of the hole.

TRIUMPHING WITH YOUR CAMELIA ON THE GROUND

MATERIAL

Shovel, knife, large container with water, chopsticks, watering can, heather soil.

ADVICE

Plan a fairly sunny location for your camellia, however, without being too hot. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight and freezing drafts.

PREPARING THE TERRAIN

The volume of the planting hole should be at least twice the root ball. The soil pH should be between 5.5 and 6.5 for a camellia. If your soil is neutral (pH of 7), add heather soil to the original.

CHECK THE PLANT

Evaluate the humidity in the root ball. If it seems dry, soak your container in a large container of water, until the last air bubble disappears. Let it drain well before removing it.

PLACE THE BUSH

If the container is too difficult to remove, sticking to the roots, cut it off. The abundant hair around the root ball can be incised slightly to cause new rootlets to emerge. Place your camellia in the hole.

CREATE A BOWL

To bring the top of the clod to ground level, pass a stick through the hole. It drags the dirt everywhere. Press down with your foot to avoid air pockets that are detrimental to recovery. Arrange a container around the foot of the camellia to hold water.

ORGANIZE IRRIGATION

Then fill the container with water even if the soil is wet. Fifteen days after sowing, it may be necessary to add additional heather soil due to compaction. Arrange another container for later watering.