How to Water and Fertilize Potted Camellias? How Often to Water

Camellia is a very beautiful flower, with bright and eye-catching colors, elegant and dignified blooms, and extremely high ornamental value. Camellias are often grown at home as ornamental plants, but flower lovers growing potted camellias for the first time do not know how to care for and manage them. Below, the editor will explain in detail the watering and fertilizing techniques for camellias!

How to Water Potted Camellias (How Often to Water)

About once every 3 hours. When watering camellias, the watering time generally changes depending on the season. In spring and autumn, aside from morning and noon being unsuitable for watering, watering can be done at other times. In summer, watering at noon is unsuitable; it should be done in the morning and evening. In winter, watering is generally done at noon when the temperature is high; do not water in the morning and evening. When watering, pay attention to the water temperature and do not let it be too low.

How to Fertilize Camellias

1. Nitrogen fertilizer to promote spring shoots

Generally, when the temperature is around 18°C, camellias begin to sprout spring shoots. At this time, a bud-promoting fertilizer mainly based on nitrogen fertilizer should be applied, about once every 10 days, until the spring shoots begin to lignify. Alternatively, a diluted mixed solution of monopotassium phosphate, urea and rice vinegar can be sprayed on the leaves at the same time. After repeated root and foliar spraying in this way, the spring shoots will grow very luxuriantly, the leaves can extend to their maximum, and the branches and shoots can accumulate rich nutrients, creating very good conditions for flowering.

2. Apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer for flower buds and flower bud differentiation

After the camellia spring shoots have fully emerged and entered lignification, there will be a relatively short semi-dormant period. At this time, the camellia will enter the growth period, and flower bud differentiation will begin. If you want the camellia to set more buds, then apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer and less or no nitrogen fertilizer. This can not only control excessive leggy growth of the camellia branches, but also promote and shorten the time of flower bud differentiation, which is more conducive to flower bud formation.

3. Do not fertilize in midsummer

In midsummer, the weather is hot, and camellias grow slowly, mostly falling into a semi-stalled state of growth. At this time, fertilization is unsuitable, especially concentrated fertilizer. If the soil is poor and thin, a little diluted liquid fertilizer can be applied along with watering to improve the soil.

4. In autumn, appropriately apply a mixed fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus and potassium fertilizer

In autumn, the sky is high and the air is crisp, and this is the nutrient accumulation period for camellia plants. For safe overwintering, a mixed fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can be applied once every half month, or sprayed on the leaves, both of which can promote robust plants and improve the cold resistance of camellias.

5. In winter, it is suitable to apply diluted phosphorus-potassium liquid fertilizer

In the cold winter, camellias enter a semi-dormant period and do not need much fertilizer. When camellias are brought indoors, vegetative growth has entered a dormant state, but reproductive growth has not completely stopped, so a diluted phosphorus-potassium liquid fertilizer should be applied along with watering. (Concentrated fertilizer must be avoided), to prepare for the next season's flowering.

What to Do If Camellias Are Over-Fertilized

First, prevention work must be done well. When fertilizing, it should be as reasonable as possible, using organic liquid fertilizer as much as possible, and the fertilizer concentration should not be too high, nor should fertilization be too frequent.

Second, repot and change the soil frequently. After camellias have grown for a period of time, such as plants that have already grown for one or two years, the soil in the pot at this time is old soil and may have accumulated too much fertilizer. In addition, one symptom of fertilizer damage is abnormal water accumulation in the pot. Therefore, it is best to repot and change the soil frequently. When repotting, elevate the pot and try not to let it touch the ground.

Finally, if fertilizer damage is found in camellias, it is best to repot immediately, or prune the plant and carry out cutting or grafting propagation again, so that the camellia can grow anew.

Why Camellias Do Not Grow

1. Improper watering amount: A large part of the reason camellias grow too slowly or stop growing is too little watering. When watering is insufficient, the growth of camellias will slow down; too much watering will cause root rot, which is also unfavorable to plant growth.

2. Too little fertilizer: Too little fertilization will cause camellias to lack nutrients and affect plant development.

3. Improper light: Too much direct sunlight or insufficient sunlight will both affect the normal growth of camellias.

4. Transplanting seedlings too late: Many people transplant camellia seedlings during the Spring Festival, which is an important reason for poor camellia growth.

As mentioned above, in fact, growing some flowers and plants in your leisure time can not only relieve stress and relax your mood, but also cultivate your character. Whenever you return home with a tired body and the colorful, vibrant flowers come into view, won't they make you feel happier too?