ailing camellia

Question: Dear Garden Expert at U Md:
My camellia, which had many blossoms last year, looks to be ailing, with somewhat sparse leaves, several of which are brown instead of glossy. Could you possibly give me some advice? I attach a photo.

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied June 29, 2023, 5:17 PM EDT
response: Unfortunately we can't see much detail in the photo, but can say that several environmental factors and a couple minor pests or diseases can cause yellowing/browning of foliage. Is the plant located in partial shade or mostly sun? If the latter, it might be getting sun-scalded. Do the leaves appear to be finely stippled, where their color is faded a bit or the leaves have a slightly grainy appearance? If so, mite feeding damage might be the cause, though these are not common pests on Camellia.  Is the soil well-drained and is the plant being monitored for watering needs given our current drought? While Camellias are sensitive to their roots staying too wet, they also have limited tolerance for root drying if the soil a few inches deep into the root zone isn't moist enough.  Is there mulch around the plant's base? If so, is it piled against the stem bases or is there a gap for air circulation? Over-mulching can interfere with root oxygen and moisture availability, and too much mulch touching plant stems risk damage to the bark from trapped moisture or animals sheltering in the mulch that could chew into the wood. We don't suspect the latter in this case since much more foliage would probably be dying off, but a heavy mulch layer (if present) should be reduced to about two or three inches at the maximum and not touching the bark.  Any other information about its growing conditions or recent history (was anything sprayed on or near the plant before it browned?) can help us narrow-down a diagnosis. If you are able to share close-up photos of its leaf symptoms (check the leaf undersides as well for insects like Cottony Camellia Scale) that would also be helpful.  Miri

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 29, 2023, 8:25 PM EDT
response: Dear Miri,  Thank you very much. I will examine the leaves more closely with this information in hand. -Judy

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied June 30, 2023, 9:37 AM EDT
response: You're welcome.

responder: The Question Asker Replied September 18, 2023, 11:32 AM EDT
response: Dear Extension Service,  The camellia at my house I wrote about some time ago appears to be ailing even more now, and I think I should hire an expert to come look at it and give counsel. Are you able to recommend a person or a company? My neighborhood has people certified as master gardeners, but they know flowers and ferns. The tree company I have used (Bartlett) focuses on the pruning and removal of trees. I would like to find someone who knows camellias and could tell me how to help this shrub or what I might replace it with if it can't be saved.   Advice would be much appreciated. Sincerely,Judy

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied September 19, 2023, 11:44 AM EDT
response: Hello Judy,  Based on its continued decline, the camellia likely had root damage when you first contacted us if it has not stabilized or improved. Whether that arose from getting too dry at some point or too wet is hard to tell since there can be a lot of overlap in symptoms. We don't collect information on companies offering diagnostic services, nor do we recommend particular companies, but seeking someone with IPM training may be useful. (IPM is the practice of Integrated Pest Management, which uses a multi-pronged approach to support plant health and to manage pest problems, and discourages the use of pesticides unless necessary. IPM practitioners are trained to diagnose the problem as accurately as possible before considering treatment, and to know when treatment is not the most sustainable approach compared to simply replacing a struggling plant.) A shrub with too much root loss will have trouble recovering, if it is capable of doing so, and no direct intervention by way of using pesticide or fertilizer will cure a problem or cause plants to regain what was lost. Master Gardeners are taught the basic principles of IPM and entry-level plant diagnostic skills, but people do have their strengths in terms of experience and training, so some individual MGs might be less familiar with shrub ailments than they are perennials/annuals. We would be surprised if a company like Bartlett doesn't have staff that can narrow-down a diagnosis in a shrub as fairly common as a camellia with a site visit and examination of the plant's symptoms along with the growing conditions. (They may specialize in trees and safe methods for tree removal, but the physiology of shrubs is really not that different.)  With regards to potential replacement, knowing the site conditions can help us make some suggestions. For example, how much summer sun is the location exposed to? (Full sun being 6+ hours while mostly shade could be 3 or so hours or less.) Does the soil drain well, skew dry, or get wet from a nearby source of extra water, like a roof downspout outlet? Is it in a raised bed or the ground? Do deer visit the yard regularly? What mature size do you prefer (without relying on pruning to maintain a plant's stature)? A photo of the site overall can help us visualize the space and what the growing conditions are like.  Miri

responder: The Question Asker Replied September 19, 2023, 1:37 PM EDT
response: Dear Miri, Thank you. This is very helpful. I will look for someone with an IPM background to examine the camellia. And preparing for a possible replacement, I will send you later a site photo and description. I am grateful for the suggestions.Sincerely,JudyOn Tue, Sep 19, 2023 at 11:44 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied September 19, 2023, 3:05 PM EDT
response: You're welcome.