During the flowering season, camellias are very beautiful. If a gardener grows a variety of species and cultivars, they can have plants in bloom from fall to early summer. Many of the problems that happen are caused by growing these acid-loving plants in the wrong places. They are also easily damaged by a number of insects and diseases. Here we give answers to many of the common problems encountered. They are grouped by the area of the shrub affected: roots, stems and branches, leaves and flowers.
Yellowing leaves are a common issue that can affect camellias. While it may look worrisome, there are several easy fixes you can try to get your camellia back to its beautiful green self. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the various causes of yellow camellia leaves and how to resolve them.
What Causes Yellow Leaves on Camellias?
There are a few key reasons why you may notice your camellia leaves turning yellow:
Improper Soil pH
Camellias prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.5-6.5. If the soil pH is too alkaline, the camellia will have trouble absorbing nutrients like iron and manganese. This deficiency causes the leaves to turn yellow. New growth often shows yellowing first.
Poor Drainage
Camellias dislike soggy soil Excess moisture around the roots can lead to root rot and cause the leaves to yellow and wilt
Underwatering
While camellias don’t like soggy roots, they do need regular watering. If rainfall is scarce, mature plants need supplemental watering. Insufficient water leads to yellow, dry, crunchy leaves.
Pest Problems
Pests like scale, spider mites and aphids can infest camellias. They remove nutrients from the plant eventually causing yellowing. Scale may leave a white residue on leaves. Spider mites cause gray/bronze spots. Aphids secrete a black sticky substance.
Fungal Diseases
Root rot fungus and leaf spot fungus can affect camellias, especially in humid climates. This leads to yellow splotchy leaves and reddish roots.
Excessive Fertilizer
Too much nitrogen fertilizer can burn the leaves, causing brown spots and yellowing. This occurs more often in young camellias.
Nutrient Deficient Soil
If nutrients like iron, manganese, and nitrogen are lacking in the soil, camellia leaves may turn yellow from deficiency. Adding fertilizer provides missing nutrients.
How to Fix Yellow Leaves on Your Camellia
Now that we’ve covered the common reasons behind yellow camellia leaves, let’s discuss how to get your plant back to optimal health:
Test and Amend the Soil pH
Use a soil testing kit to check if the pH is too alkaline. If so, amend the soil with aluminum sulfate or elemental sulfur to lower the pH. Sphagnum peat moss also acidifies soil.
Improve Drainage
Repot or replant the camellia in well-draining soil amended with sand or perlite. Apply mulch on top to retain moisture. Prune dead roots before replanting.
Increase Watering
Water mature camellias weekly if rainfall is low. For potted plants, check soil moisture and water when the top few inches become dry. Pick a new spot if drainage is poor.
Apply Organic Insecticides
Treat pests with neem oil or insecticidal soap sprays. Practice preventative pruning to increase air circulation through the branches. This deters future infestations.
Remove Infected Plants
Uproot and discard any camellias with serious fungal infections. Improve drainage and air flow for remaining plants. Water at the base, not from overhead.
Reduce Fertilizer
Fertilize mature camellias just 2-3 times per year with a lower nitrogen formula like 4-8-8. Young camellias need more nitrogen but don’t overdo it.
Add Fertilizer
Apply organic camellia fertilizer or compost to nourish the soil if leaves remain yellow. Follow label instructions to avoid burn.
When to Worry About Yellow Leaves
In most cases, yellow leaves on your camellia can be fairly easily corrected by adjusting care and treatment. However, you may need to take extra action if you notice:
- Entire leaves or sections of leaves rapidly turning yellow
- Multiple branches showing yellowing
- Yellowing combined with wilting
- Evidence of pests like white spots or black residue
- Reddish roots indicating fungal infection
- Yellowing despite recent pH adjustment and fertilizing
If you cannot find an obvious cause and solution to the yellowing leaves, reach out to local nurseries, garden centers, or horticultural extensions. They can sometimes diagnose mysterious plant problems through leaf and soil samples.
With a little troubleshooting and TLC, you should be able to nurse your camellia back to a vibrant green wonder! Just take it step by step and be patient as you try to remedy the yellowing.
Question: My plant looks as though it is dying. I dug down to look at the roots, and found that many of them were soft and brown inside. What has happened?
Camellias can get root decay from a root disease. Honey fungus and Phytophthora root rot are the main root diseases that affect plants grown in soil, but the latter can also sometimes affect plants grown in pots. Root decay can also be caused by waterlogging, and both soil- and container-grown plants can be affected. Phytophthora root rot likes it when it’s wet, and because the symptoms are so similar, it can be hard to tell what the problem is. Waterlogging is especially common in container grown plants where the potting media loses structure over time. Timely repotting avoids this. But avoid overpotting which can also lead to rotting roots.
Root death in plants grown in containers can happen sometimes because of hard frosts. To protect the roots, wrap the container in bubble wrap.
Question: On repotting my sickly camellia, very few roots were present and there were white grubs in the compost. What are they?
Your plant has been attacked by vine weevil, which can affect a wide range of container-grown plants. The larvae feed on the roots and may also remove the bark from the stem base.
How to fix yellow and brown leaves on a Camellia bush.
FAQ
How do you treat yellow leaves on camellias?
What does an overwatered camellia look like?
How do you green up a camellia leaf?
Does Epsom salt help camellias?
Why are my camellia leaves yellowing?
Yellowing leaves on camellia plants can also be caused by pests and diseases. Here are some common pests and diseases that can affect camellias: Scale insects are small, oval-shaped pests that attach themselves to the leaves, stems, and branches of camellia plants. They feed on the sap of the plant causing yellowing and wilting of the leaves.
What should I do if my camellia leaves turn yellow?
The treatment for yellowing leaves on a camellia will depend on the underlying cause. If the yellowing is due to a nutrient deficiency, you can apply a chelated iron supplement to the soil to correct the issue. If overwatering is the problem, adjust your watering practices and allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
What pests eat camellias?
Here are some common pests and diseases that can affect camellias: Scale insects are small, oval-shaped pests that attach themselves to the leaves, stems, and branches of camellia plants. They feed on the sap of the plant causing yellowing and wilting of the leaves. To control scale insects, you can use insecticidal soap or neem oil.
What causes white growths on camellia leaves?
White growths caused by camellia gall Camellia gall is a common fungal disease that results in large, white, unsightly growths on leaves that appear in early summer. They can look rather alarming, as they can grow up to 6in in length. However, they’re not a cause for serious concern as they won’t damage the plant long term.
Do camellias need a lot of water?
Camellias need frequent watering, but regular rain may be sufficient for mature plants. If your camellia leaves are wilting, turning from yellow to brown, and generally looking a bit crunchy, they probably need water. Camellias like well-drained soil, but they do need to be watered regularly.
How do you keep camellia leaves dark green?
To keep your camellia leaves dark green, provide the plant with the right balance of acidity and light fertilizer. Although camellias only need occasional fertilizing, they do benefit from some added nutrients. If you haven’t fed your camellias in a while, a light fertilizing with a 4-8-8 formula may do a world of good.