How to Fertilize Camellia
When Should I Start Feeding My Camellia?
Begin fertilizing in early spring once the danger of hard frost has passed, adjusting by a few weeks depending on your region's last frost date.
How Often Should I Fertilize My Camellia?
Feed just twice a year. Apply the first dose in early spring as new growth begins, and the second dose after the blooming period ends. That is all most Camellias need.
Avoid fertilizing in late summer or fall. Feeding too late in the season stimulates tender new growth that is vulnerable to frost damage.
If your Camellia's leaves are a deep, healthy green, it may not need the second feeding at all. Yellowing leaves with green veins often signal iron deficiency from high soil pH, not a lack of fertilizer.
What Is the Best Fertilizer for Camellia?
Camellias thrive with an acid-forming fertilizer, the same type used for azaleas and rhododendrons. Look for a formula with moderate nitrogen and higher phosphorus and potassium, such as 4-8-8 or 10-10-10 for acid-loving plants.
Granular slow-release fertilizer is the best choice for Camellias because it feeds gradually over several weeks. Liquid fertilizer can work, but the shallow root system is sensitive to sudden nutrient spikes.
Always apply at the label's recommended rate or slightly below. Camellias are easily damaged by excess fertilizer, especially nitrogen, which pushes leafy growth at the expense of flower buds.
How Do I Fertilize My Camellia?
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