I have an old yard that I've salvaged from under a tonne of ivy that was desperately overgrown the entire yard. It's been a couple years of "discovery springs" that bring forth a whole new plethora of plantlife that has come back. There is a camellia tree that was perhaps in the wettest, most low-lying area of the yard. I was told by a fellow gardening friend that Camellia's like to be sheltered somewhat but still need the sun. I've since moved it and its doing well with a lot of new growth on the tips this year, although we only got a few blooms after the move. My question is, the leaves of the camellia are supposed to be nice dark green and glossy. This poor tree looks like its a million years old with scabby, rusty looking leaves. Only the new growth looks good but it eventually turns into what the older ones are doing. They shed constantly too. There is new growth starting at the base of the tree as well... Is there a fungus, maybe in this tree or is it lacking a mineral of somesort? I really enjoy this tree and really want to try to save it. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!
Maybe the leaves are being burnt by the sun. Is the shrub mulched and being kept watered? If the roots are being cooked it seems it could make the leaves more prone to damage.
I don't think its sun damage.. everyone around us has camellias out in the middle of their lawns with no shade from the burning sun and they all look fine. I think whatever it is, is specific to this tree somehow. It's planted at a good depth. We're actually 3m below sea level here and the water table is very high. You can dig down 3' and hit water. The soil is very rich and full of good compost. I mulch regularily as well.
Is there anything on the underside of the leaves? Maybe spider mite. Have a look at the bottom of this sheet on fungus also the paragraph on watering http://www.heyne.com.au/gardencentre/factsheets/factsheet.php/Camellias.htm http://www.camellialodge.com.au/PAGES/General Culture Notes.html SOME pics of diseased leaves and reasons"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" http://www.afn.org/~camellia/leaves.html Liz
thanks so much Liz! I think its spider mites just reading through the info you sent for me to read and looking at the photos from the one link. Definite "bronzing" of the leaves.. can't see any actual critters anywhere to the naked eye, but looks like possible spider mites and maybe some older damage from being too wet prior to being moved. Thanks again! I will try to address the mite issue and see how I make out! Melanie
No apparently they are very hard to see with the naked eye. Heard on a local show that damp dim conditions make them happy. If the bush is in a good airflow it is much better. Still can't see why my azaleas get it. They are pruned as an open bush and lots of free moving air. Liz
Hot and dry is what spider mites like here. Thin-leaved plants like parlor palms growing in average dry atmosphere building interiors here seem almost guaranteed to get them. Similar thin-leaved cloud- or rainforest plants growing outside here also seem to be particular favorites, crocosmia for instance. Conspicuous damage develops during hottest and driest time of year.
Ron I suspect I might have this around the wrong way given my own experience. I will try to make time for a good search re this information. I do get a cottony type growth on overgrown hydrangeas that recover if I thin the jungle out. Liz
