Growing camellias has become a popular gardening pastime. Many gardeners who grow this lovely flower in their garden wonder if they should be pruning camellias and how to do this. Camellia pruning is not essential to good camellia plant care but it can help to stave off some types of disease or to better shape the plant.
Best Time for Camellia Pruning
The best time to prune a camellia plant is right after it has stopped blooming, which will most likely be in May or June depending on the variety. Pruning the plant at other times will not harm the plant, but it may remove some of the blossom buds for the next year.
Pruning Camellias for Disease and Pest Control
Camellia pruning to control disease and pests consists of thinning out some of the inner branches to improve airflow and allow more light to reach deeper into the plant. These two factors can help reduce problems that are common to a camellia plant. Examine the interior of the camellia plant and identify small or weak branches that are not main branches within the plant. Using a sharp, clean pair of pruners, snip off these branches right at the place it meets the main branch.
Pruning Camellias for Shape
Shaping the plant is an enjoyable aspect of camellia plant care. Shaping the plant will encourage more vigorous, bushy growth and will increase the number of blooms. After the camellia plant has finished blooming, pinch or snip the ends of the branches back to the desired size. If you want your growing camellias to grow larger than they currently are, just prune back an inch (2.5 cm.) or less. If you would like your camellias to stay a certain size, cut them back to a few inches (7.5 to 10 cm.) less than the size you desire. Growing camellias in your garden adds beauty and color. Proper camellia plant care with a little pruning will result in a spectacular plant.
-
Bold & Beautiful Festive Bloomers: 6 Christmas Flowering Plants For A Big Holiday Buzz‘Tis the season for celebration and easy living, so make sure your plants are up to it. These dynamic Christmas flowering plants will help you see out the season in style
-
9 Thoughtful Stocking Stuffers For Gardeners – That They’ll Actually UseStocking stuffers often end up an after-thought, but not these! Explore expert-curated stocking stuffers for gardeners that they'll use for years to come.
-
Yuletide Camellia: How To Grow And Care For Yuletide CamelliasLearning more about the Yuletide camellia's care can help you decide whether or not this shrub is a good choice for your home landscape.
-
Indoor Camellia Care – How To Grow A Camellia HouseplantCamellias are normally grown outdoors, but you can grow camellias indoors if you give them proper conditions. Learn more here.
-
Holes In Camellia Leaves: Controlling Camellia Weevils And BeetlesCamellias have gorgeous blooms but their beauty can be significantly marred by holes in camellia leaves. If your camellia plant has holes, it is most likely the result of the camellia vine weevil or cranberry rootworm beetle. Learn how to combat them here.
-
Camellia Companion Plants - What To Plant With CamelliasIf you’re wondering about suitable companions for camellias, keep in mind that while color and form are important, so too are growing habits. Many plants play nice with camellias, but others just aren’t compatible. Click here for tips on planting with camellias.
-
My Camellias Won't Bloom – Tips For Making Camellias FlowerAlthough camellias are generally reliable bloomers, they can be stubborn at times. It?s frustrating, but sometimes, even healthy camellias won?t bloom. If you?re wondering how to make non-flowering camellia plants bloom, click here for more information.
-
Camellia Transplanting: Learn How To Transplant A Camellia BushIf your camellias outgrow their planting sites, you'll want to start thinking about transplanting camellias. Click here for information about camellia transplanting, including tips on how to transplant a camellia and when to move a camellia bush.
-
Tips On Treating Bud Mites On CamelliasToday's camellias are easy-to-grow evergreen plants, as tough and rugged as they are beautiful. But that doesn't mean that camellia lovers shouldn't prepare for insect pests, like camellia bud mites. Click here for information about mites on camellia plants.
-
Camellia Container Care: How To Grow A Camellia In A PotAlthough camellias can be somewhat picky about their growing conditions, container grown camellias are definitely possible. Learn how to grow a camellia in a pot using the information in the following article. Click here for more info.
