Hi, why is my camellia tree not flowering for the second year in a row? It has plenty of lovely green leaves but no buds or flowers.

Hi Judith

There could be a few reasons for this. How big was the tree was when it was planted, is it still too small to flower? Is it planted in the right spot? Part shade with cool, moist, acidic soil is best. Mulch around the tree to maintain soil moisture and feed with a special plant food for acid soil loving plants such as camellia. Feed with Tui Acid Food or Tui Enrich Rose, Camellia, Azalea & Gardenia controlled release fertiliser if your Camellia is in a pot. Feed now in early spring and again in late summer and early autumn. It sounds like it needs some potash to initiate flowers, apply Tui Acid food for this. If it is a early flowering variety and there are frosts, buds can get damaged and drop off but it sounds like there haven’t been any buds yet.

Thanks, Tui Team