Depending on the species and varieties, camellias bloom in autumn or spring. These shrubs grow in acidic soil and are afraid of calcareous environments.

During the autumn flowering, camellias sasanqua appreciate a rich, deep and non-calcareous soil, well drained in winter, but which remains cool during the summer season. The heat of summer and autumn stimulates and prolongs the flowering of these ornamental shrubs. To make your choice a success, buy it already in bloom. Know that the flowers can be single or double, white  ,  pink, red, sometimes two-tone and often deliciously fragrant.

Where to plant your camellia?   If possible, plant it under deciduous trees. An east-facing exposure will be perfect for it. With its glossy foliage and opulent and decorative flowering, this evergreen shrub remains ideal in temperate climates.

IF MY SOIL IS HEAVY, what should I do?

Make a hole two to three times wider than the container and a little deeper.

Loosen the bottom carefully. On poorly drained soils, place a 5 cm layer of non-calcareous pebbles.

If the soil is slightly acidic (pH between 6 and 7), prepare a mixture composed of half heather soil, then add a quarter of peat, plus a quarter of garden soil.

Once  the final planting irrigation has been carried out and the water has infiltrated well into the soil, cover the surface under the antlers with hemp, flax or compost flakes.

carefully decomposed to insulate all superficial roots from the cold.

Tip   : Avoid planting this shrub during frost or snowfall. On the other hand, it is preferable to dig the hole a few days before the arrival of very cold weather, because frost often tends to loosen the walls of the hole.

TRIUMPHING WITH YOUR CAMELIA ON THE GROUND

MATERIAL

Shovel, knife, large container with water, chopsticks, watering can, heather soil.

ADVICE

Plan a fairly sunny location for your camellia, but not too hot. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight and icy draughts.

PREPARING THE TERRAIN

The volume of the planting hole should be at least twice the size of the root ball. The soil pH should be between 5.5 and 6.5 for a camellia. If your soil is neutral (pH 7), add heather soil to the original.

CHECK THE PLANT

Assess the moisture in the root ball. If it seems dry, soak your container in a large bowl of water until the last air bubble disappears. Allow it to drain well before removing it.

PLACING THE SHRUB

If the container is too hard to remove, sticking to the roots, cut it off. The abundant hair around the root ball can be lightly incised to encourage new roots to emerge. Place your camellia in the hole.

CREATE A BOWL

To bring the top of the clump to ground level, push a stick through the hole. Sweep the soil around on all sides. Press down with your foot to avoid air pockets that are detrimental to recovery. Place a container around the foot of the camellia to hold water.

ORGANIZE IRRIGATION

Then fill the container with water even if the soil is moist. Two weeks after sowing, it may be necessary to add additional heather soil due to compaction. Arrange another container for subsequent watering.