01-15-2007, 06:14 AM
Catz,
Back when you posted to GardenWeb I looked up tea a little and posted this, for what it is worth:
>>>
I grew tea in a pot here in Baton Rouge, where it is definitely not cool in the summer. I used a pine bark based mix and fertilized fairly often.
I checked the Sunset Western Garden Book and it says camellias need well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter and mulched. They need partial shade, especially when young. That is, treat them like an open-forest understory plant. Sunset suggested planting them on the north side of a house, keeping them mulched and fertilizing with an acid-loving-plant fertilizer (azalea fertilizer).
I would guess your plants need less midday sun, mulch (compost if you have it) and a little fertilizer - assuming you have them in well draining soil.
>>>
Since my tea plant did OK here in Baton Rouge in the summer and ornamental camellias are a very common plant here, I would guess the heat where you are is not the problem. More likely drainage or insufficient organic matter, particularly on the surface of the soil.
Allen
Baton Rouge, LA & HPP
Back when you posted to GardenWeb I looked up tea a little and posted this, for what it is worth:
>>>
I grew tea in a pot here in Baton Rouge, where it is definitely not cool in the summer. I used a pine bark based mix and fertilized fairly often.
I checked the Sunset Western Garden Book and it says camellias need well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter and mulched. They need partial shade, especially when young. That is, treat them like an open-forest understory plant. Sunset suggested planting them on the north side of a house, keeping them mulched and fertilizing with an acid-loving-plant fertilizer (azalea fertilizer).
I would guess your plants need less midday sun, mulch (compost if you have it) and a little fertilizer - assuming you have them in well draining soil.
>>>
Since my tea plant did OK here in Baton Rouge in the summer and ornamental camellias are a very common plant here, I would guess the heat where you are is not the problem. More likely drainage or insufficient organic matter, particularly on the surface of the soil.
Allen
Baton Rouge, LA & HPP
Allen
Finally in HPP
Finally in HPP