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Will my Camelia ever flower?

PurpleRosePurpleRose Posts: 538
in Wildlife gardening
I had bought a white (very small) Camelia 3 years ago. When I planted it, it was like a stick with a few flowers on it. 

Since planting it, it has approximately tripled in size. It is also lovely and bushy with lots of healthily leaves. It has lots of leaf buds on it too.

I have been on the internet, looking to find out information on how long a new plant will flower after planting. I cannot come up with an answer that is consistent.

Any ideas please, how long they take to establish, flower one planted.

Thank you 😁
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Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,162
    No idea but try feeding it with a generous dollop of slow release rose or tomato fertiliser this spring and give it occasional liquid feeds of those thru to mid summer.   They start to form their flower buds in summer but will abort them if they get stressed, especially thirsty, so make sure your camellia doesn't dry out in hot spells or drought this summer and keep it watered till the autumn rain set in.

    Collect and save rainwater as they are ericaceous and won't appreciate calcium in tap water.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • PurpleRosePurpleRose Posts: 538
    Thank you @Obelixx for the advice. I will follow the tips you have given me. I will also persevere with it. I can be quite impatient so if something doesn't happen in my time scales it doesn't please me. I have learned with gardening that I sometimes need to be patient 😂😂
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,162
    ALWAYS need to be patient!  Any instant success in gardening is usually short-lived or jolly expensive.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • PurpleRosePurpleRose Posts: 538
    Obelixx said:
    ALWAYS need to be patient!  Any instant success in gardening is usually short-lived or jolly expensive.
    I am slowly learning the art of patience. It is rather difficult though 😂😂
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,162
    We know.  Takes a lot of practice.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,242
    Camellias are shrubs which become very large if given the right conditions.
    It sounds like you've bought a small, forced one - hence the size and the flowers. It will have spent the time in it's position trying to establish a good root system. That's vital if you want longevity from a shrub. It needs water [especially late summer] good drainage, food, and decent soil which is mulched and added to regularly. It will benefit enormously from that.  :)

    I'm assuming it wasn't pot bound when you planted it?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • rachelQrtJHBjbrachelQrtJHBjb Posts: 819
    You say it has lots of leaf buds forming. If you post a pic we might decide they're actually flower buds. Fingers crossed.
  • PurpleRosePurpleRose Posts: 538
    @Fairygirl I dont seem to recall that it was pot bound when it was planted. I will make sure that it is well mulched and fed. I hope that it is establishing itself and that has been the reason for not flowering.

    I will take a few pictures tomorrow @rachelQrtJHBjb in the day light and post on here.
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    Late spring can be a tricky time when it's easy to forget to water camelias and the plants can get stressed.
  • PurpleRosePurpleRose Posts: 538
    I have been out and taken a  few photos of some of the buds on the Camelia. 
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