The long, warm summer days have been good for the camellias, the buds are already full and the first autumn-flowering camellias (C. sasanqua) are showing their flowers, which not only serve as a source of food for bees and other insects, but also delight us with their earthy scent , which goes so well with autumn. Would you like to plant one of these beauties now? Then please take a look at our shop. We have a beautiful selection of fall blooming camellias.
You can now slowly begin to prepare the camellias for the winter. In the garden, a thick 10-20 cm high layer of mulch made of dry brushwood and leaves protects the root area. Feel free to use nutrient-rich, easily decomposing leaves such as hornbeam, but oak leaves, which have a slightly acidic content, are also suitable. The trunk should be left out. Fir or spruce branches can be used well as sun protection to protect the leaves from the winter sun and also from drying winds. A young plant that has not yet established itself in the garden needs more care and attention than an older camellia.
For camellias that are planted in a pot, the best way to protect the root ball is to place the pot on a suitably cut Styrofoam plate and thus insulate it from below. Then it is wrapped thickly with coconut or reed mats. It is important that the pot has a location protected from the wind. The camellias survive low temperatures down to around -5°C without any problems; at low temperatures they should be temporarily placed in the cold stairwell or in the garage. A cool cellar can also be used. Only heated living spaces are absolutely unsuitable for camellias. The camellia always feels more comfortable outside in cold, damp weather than inside.
In winter the camellias are in their dormant phase and require much less water than in summer. Nevertheless, you shouldn't forget to water: most camellias dry out more often in winter than freeze.
Cared for in this way, the camellias will reward you with abundant blooms.
The wild form Camellia Oleifera can be seen in the picture
