Grow Your Own Magazine

can anyone help me with the cause of my cammila loosing its leaves . it still looks healthy overall but i have never had this leaf drop before. it is in a pot and watered regularly.

thanks

How long have you had the Camellia? and how long has it been in it's current pot and what size is the pot? Do you use tap water, and if so do you live in a hard water area? Camellias like acid conditions, cool roots, and are generally happiest in semi-woodland conditions. If it is in a pot in an exposed place, given limey water and not fed you can't expect it to be happy.

thanks rustylady. i do use rain water and the pot is quite large but i am thinking maybe i should try and repot it. it is a climber so am putting of that task as really woried it will snap. i have forgotton the name but it has wonderful coral pink flowers every spring.
so fingers crossed it is just not liking this weird extremes of weather we are having.

A climber? Then are you sure you mean Camellia? They are evergreen trees and shrubs rather than climbers. The usual reason for Camellias losing their leaves is dryness, either at the roots or in the atmosphere. They can also be affected by sudden changes in temperature. Given the coldness of the weather (round here at least) it could be that.

Agree with Palustris, Camellia is not a climber. The colour sounds like a Camellia, but it definitely doesn't climb. Can make a huge shrub/tree if it's happy. Attached (I hope) is a photo of the pink one in my garden (growing in a shady border - it was here when I moved in and I should think it has been here for many years). The photo isn't brilliant cos the lighting was a bit off, but it's the only one I can find on the computer at the mo.

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