I planted a camellia japonica 'Adolphe Audusson' back in April, but it dropped all of its blooms and buds. I've just realized that this type of camellia needs ericaceous soil. Should I apply sulphate of iron, or is there a better option? Also, will this affect the other plants nearby, like the fern, Arabis, or Acer? What else should I be doing to care for it?
4 Answers
A dose of sulphate of iron will be beneficial, and it shouldn't harm your fern or Acer since they enjoy slightly acidic conditions too. Just be careful not to overdo it! Also, topping up with ericaceous compost or mulch yearly will help maintain the right pH. If possible, water it with rainwater, since tap water is often too alkaline.
I suggest giving it some ericaceous food. Your other plants shouldn’t be impacted by it at all.
Your camellia looks healthy! You definitely want to ensure it's in acidic, ericaceous soil. In the spring, just feed it with some ericaceous fertilizer and sprinkle in some slow-release fertilizer like Miracle-Gro. It should do just fine. And keep it out of harsh midday sun; it prefers morning or evening sun. Make sure it stays watered during summer too!
That camellia looks great! I would leave it as is; there aren’t any signs of chlorosis.