Don looked at a camellia suffering from a problem called ‘balling’. It should have been a mass of flowers but instead, few flowers had opened. Most of the buds had browned and fallen unopened to the ground, and were scattered under the shrub. Balling happens when parts of the bud scales die and this tissue ‘sticks’, preventing the bud from opening properly. It becomes brown and will drop.
Sometimes the flower opens on one side only. Causes include: Too much or too little water Lack of nutrients, such as phosphorous or potassium Frost or dew on the buds Poor drainage Growing cultivars that set more buds than can open properly, for example Camellia japonica ‘Elegans Supreme’.
Many of the tight, double flowered varieties are susceptible to balling.
What to do Water regularly during the growing season and in autumn when buds are forming. Also keep plants well watered while they are flowering, as drying out will increase bud and flower drop (and may also cause opened flowers to brown).
Mulch underneath the plant with old manure or compost, and improve faulty drainage or grow in raised beds. Don likes to spray the foliage of plants with a 50:50 mixture of Nitrosol and Seasol diluted as per the instructions on the containers. Nitrosol encourages top growth, and Seasol promotes root development.
Disbud susceptible plants: thin each cluster of flower buds to one early in the season (ie when the buds are enlarged and can be noticed on the bush). It is a good idea to leave buds of different sizes to prolong the flower display. Grow grafted camellias, which are more robust. Choose less susceptible cultivars (for example single flowered forms). Plant camellias so that they receive no direct early morning sun in winter. Sun later in the morning when any dew has dried is ideal.
Further information
Seasol and Nitrosol are available at your local nursery. Japonica camellias are grafted on to Camellia sasanqua root stock and are available at specialist camellia nurseries, such as:
NSW
Camellia Grove
8 Cattai Ridge Road,
Glenorie 2157
Ph: 9652 1200
QLD
Hawkins Gardenway,
1666 Old Cleveland Road,
Chandler, 4155
Phone: (07) 3390 1633
Fax: (07) 3390 1618
SA
Newman’s Nursery,
North East Road,
Tea Tree Gully, 5091
Phone: (08) 8264 2661
WA
John Cole’s Nursery,
Lot 5, Beenyup Road,
Banjup, 6164
Phone: (08) 9417 9834