Camelia problem

[Maydup]

I have a Camelia in a large pot close to the house. Its been happy there, flowering bodly at this time of year and usually needing very little attention.

This year the buds have formed and one or two have opened but the majority are dry and falling before opening. If I open one of the fallen buds, the flower inside is fine, beautiful red as normal, not marked or brown or showing any sign of disease.

Any ideas what the problem might be and am I too late to catch the buds before they all fall off?

[woofgang]

sounds like you have had a late frost?

[Maydup]

Well that's what it looks like, but we haven't had a frost for a good month now.

But maybe there was one when I wasn't looking! I've watered it well during this hot period and covered the pot with pebbles to retain the moisture.. Today I gave it some tomato feed hoping it might perk up, see wha happens.

[boxtops]

Our camellias got badly frosted during the winter, but are fine now. You should be feeding it with specialist pellets (not tomato food) - you can buy little pellets for camellia, hydrangea & rhododendron in places like Homebase. It may well be that it didn't have enough water in past weeks (not now) - we have to keep our pots very well watered during the growing and budding season.

[Maydup]

I'll get some special feed tomorrow, do you think I'm too late to save the flowers now Boxtops? They're brown and dry but good inside and some are hanging on in there,.

[elderly]

Mine are planted on a south facing wall. I understand that the early sun, if it touches the buds will cause them to fall.

[boxtops]

My wall faces west. You might be too late for thisyear, maidup, but the feed will be good to set them up for next year. It does need a lot of water! Can you gently peel the browned outer petals off, without the buds falling? It might be that they are "wearing a skin" which they don't have the strength to break through without some help.

[Maydup]

i'll give it a go and try peeling a couple of buds. The pot is in a sheltered corner facing south east. One more question - when'd the best time to repot it? It might help as its been in the same one for a few years now.