Q.Camellia Bud Drop
Based on what I read at this site, it appears that our white camellia bush has bud drop. The buds never open. They stay hard as a rock, then they turn brown. Only one or two actually open to a bloom, but they too have brown leaves. The location gets a lot of rain coming off the roof. I am not sure if it can be dug up at this point because it has been there for years. Any suggestions on what we can do to save the bush?
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
It actually sounds like you may have a nutrient problem. Have the soil tested and in the mean time, use a fertilizer with a slightly higher amount of phosphorus in it. They are normally sold as "bloom booster" fertilizers. Just make sure that the fertilizer is providing all 3 kinds of macro-nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.