Spotting a splattering of color in a winter landscape can right away brighten and summate peach to the dreary , gray days .
Camellia is a unspoiled choice for adding color , and authoritative source of pollinator forage , when most plants have begin months of sleep .
But even thoughmost varietiesare semi - tolerant of cold temperature , and can even continue to blossom through light rime or a dusting of snow , they still need some protection from hard freezes and rough winds .
We link to vendors to aid you find relevant product . If you buy from one of our links , we may take in a commission .
In this pathfinder , we ’ll talk about how to keep your camellia protect and flourish through the dusty winter months .
What You’ll Learn
Why Do Camellias Need Winter Protection?
All variety of camellia originate in various parts of Asia , thousands of years ago . Their lulu , good luck charm , and utility established them as a coveted addition to the garden .
In China and Japan , these shrubs have been widely adored for quite some time , and included as an significant part of religious observances and imperial ceremonial .
In fact , some of the camelia plant grace many palace garden in the part today were plant more than five hundred years ago .
show more about the longhistory of camelia and how to farm them in our guide .
While many varieties are cold fearless or cold tolerant , even these can put up winter wrong in exceedingly low temperatures or from photo to rough , cold winds .
Potted camellia can be moved into agreenhouseor service department , or a more sheltered area outdoors , for winter tribute .
But beware of dry conditions inside temperature - controlled areas in winter . camellia are not best suited for these , and rehoming your plants in a quick and dry location for the winter may direct to expiry .
Preventative measure and a trivial premeditation are necessary to get your camelia through the winter months safely . countenance ’s discuss the salutary methods for protecting your plants .
Tips for Outdoor Winterizing
First and first , pick out a variety that is suited to your region if you stand for to leave it outdoors throughout the wintertime , and be trusted to prepare it in a positioning that is as protected from cold winds as possible .
It ’s also important to shelter the root , but avoid smothering them , as they are highly sensitive .
Be sure to avoid fertilise lately in the summer or in the evenfall . Fertilizingcan get it to produce new emergence , and boosting works growth just as wintertime atmospheric condition weather condition take grip will almost for certain kill the new shoot .
Allow your plants to start to come down into sleeping as the weather shiver . Dormant plants are more tolerant of winter weather , and can be more easy protected through the eternal rest of the season .
As temperatures accrue , H2O deeply , as moist ground can help to isolate roots . It ’s also significant to ply water ahead of time as the works will not be able to attract wet from the frozen ground .
A thick layer of two to four inch of mulch can be applied at the foundation of each plant , go around to the breadth of the canopy – or the outer perimeter of the shrub – to cover radical that are close to the control surface of the earth .
Camellias are typically planted shallowly as the roots need effective aeration , and source can often be positioned near ground degree .
Shredded or chip Natalie Wood mulch or stalk work well , as these allow for air transpiration without becoming matte up down , which is important for the roots . Be sure to enforce mulch prior to intemperate freeze , especially if extreme coldness is omen .
invalidate using folio mulch as it can become mat when smashed , creating a smothering bed on top of the roots . Leaves can be used if they ’re well tear up to prevent tangle from becoming an issue .
It ’s a good idea to put back the mulch annually as they are woodland industrial plant , and mulch can mime the typical environs of the forest floor throughout the year .
Mulch can also be left in position to help to hold moisture and keep temperature at the base cool in the hotter calendar month .
In areas where temperature can dunk well below freezing , you should roll your shrub for additional protection . Plants can be wrapped in superimposed horticultural wool , burlap , or bubble wrap .
If extremely low temperatures are expected , material can be double over or tripled up , provided that light can still filter through .
Framed Winter Plant Cover
If you ’d opt a canopy - fashion roadblock , you could detect these at Home Depot . Just be sure to fasten it securely in place to prevent it from becoming a kite !
wrapper plants loosely to allow for air circulation and transpiration .
But be sure to secure it well to annul having to chase errant wrapping fabric through the grounds on a impractical day .
Twine or twist ties can be used to bind the wrapping material to bamboo canes or metal stake to keep things in place .
Do n’t wed material straight off to the offset , as this could cause damage if the plant ca n’t support the exercising weight of snow or stand firm strong wind .
After the scourge of hoar has passed , the wrapping can be removed . If your works commonly flower before the last threat of frost has passed , however , you could take the wrapping in the lead of time , and rewrap it when frost is expected .
Even when precaution are taken , you may notice some stain of the foliation . Camellia leaves are evergreen , mean that they do n’t drop in the capitulation , and winter burn or hoarfrost can damage them .
Normally , yellowing will self - correct as outflow rolls around , but any foliage or branches that conk off should be pruned away in the leaping .
If you ’re regard a lot of stain , consider sum up additional wrap , but do n’t layer it so thickly that light is not able-bodied to bottom to the plant .
If you pick a change that can not stick out the low winter temperature and conditions in your sphere , you will most likely need to grow it in a container so you may move your shrub to a sheltered area .
So , what ’s the plan for moving the potted flora ? get ’s search some options .
Moving Potted Camellias Indoors for the Winter
If you ’re determined to own a camelia regardless of the seasonal gloomy temps in your area , it may be in effect to grow in a container so it can be relocated to a more sheltered place when necessary .
get word camellias in containers in our pathfinder .
Most varieties of camellia can tolerate temperature between about 10 to 90 ° F .
Cold hardy types can typically tolerate temperature as low as 5 ° atomic number 9 , however , some have been watch to tolerate temperature that are slenderly low , such as those in Zone 6B where winter dips below zero are middling common .
When temperature begin to fall , be sure to irrigate your works well . Moisture in the soil can avail to isolate the root .
Alayer of mulchcan be add on top of the land , and it can and should remain alfresco until Robert Lee Frost becomes a threat .
Allowing exposure to descend temperature will signal the works to go sleeping , which is an important part of its natural cycle . It ’s best not to trouble this cycle as many camellia , though they are not actively turn , flower while in their inactive state .
As previously mentioned , the warm , dry air inside most of our homes is not suitable for camelia .
Rather than moving the container into your home base , consider relocate it to an unheated service department , shed , or greenhouse , provide that fair to middling collateral Christ Within will be available .
It ’s good to keep it out of strong , direct sunlight , as the heat from the sun can cause frozen parting of the plant to thaw quickly , potentially causing hurt and sunscald .
Avoid moving the industrial plant into an environs that is much lovesome than it is outside . A cool place no more than 50 ° F is undecomposed .
Since most indoor areas have lower humidness than the outdoors , you ’ll need to oftentimes observe soil wet levels and water system as postulate .
If the area you ’re incite the industrial plant into does not have adequate sparkle , a grow lightwill help to provide enough illumination to keep it alive until it can be move out of doors again .
When temperatures again become safe for the plant to be go back outdoors , you ’ll want to do so slowly .
Moving it quickly back out into the chemical element can cause emphasis , which can leave in bud , bloom , and foliage pearl , and picture to too much sunlight can make sunscald .
Move the plant into a shaded area outdoors , and gradually endanger it to more light over the course of several solar day to a week .
Once temperature have begin to rise again , dead or discolored part of the bush can bepruned awayto make means for new growth .
Protect Your Camellia When Temperatures Plummet
As you ’ve seen , keep your camellia dependable from prejudicious winter insensate and parky hint can take a moment of effort and observation , but your sweat will ensure that it remain healthy and bear on to flourish .
Once you ’ve established a winterizing routine , you ’ll have all of the necessary skills and tools on script , and it ’ll become easier every year . The backbreaking part may be convert yourself to pad out in the swirl blow to ensure your fleece has stayed put !
And if you ’re interested inlearning more about uprise and caring for camellia , have a look at these topic next :
© need the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more detail . intersection pic via Home Depot . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Kelly Spicer
