Watering & Feeding
Camellia Sasanqua Paradise Joan
Watering
After planting you must water around the base of each camellia regularly for several weeks. This is most important. Sometimes the original root ball (which used to be in the pot) can dry out even though the new surrounding soil is damp (especially on hot, dry or windy days). Leaf drop may result, so remember to water each plant individually. If the soil is well drained it is difficult to over water. Waterlogging can produce the same results as drying out.
Feeding
The most frequent reason camellias die is because they are overfed or fed at the wrong time. Feed your camellias only in spring or summer. You normally buy camellias in autumn or winter BUT IF YOU BUY AND APPLY YOUR FERTILIZER AT THE SAME TIME YOU WILL PROBABLY KILL THEM! So be patient and wait until spring TO FEED.
How much food depends on the type of fertiliser you use. For young & containerised plants, slow release fertilisers (such as Osmocote or Nutricote) are recommended. An application once in spring is recommended. Large, established plants are best fed with Camellia and Azalea food once in spring and again in mid-summer. Use one handful per square meter of surface area, but no more. Manures are good to use but take care not to use to much at once especially with poultry manure - a little used often is best.
Over feeding results in very lush new growth, followed by massive leaf drop. This is most often occurs when plants are fed with fast releasing fertilisers (liquid feed or manures) in the cooler months, but can happen at any time. Often, over-caring gardeners will give their plants an extra dose with liquid fertiliser once they see leaf-drop, and this is usually the final nail in the camellia coffin. Never fertilise a plant that appears to be ailing. Remember, it takes ages for a camellia to die from starvation, but only days for it to die from over-feeding.