Debutante Camellia Camellia japonica 'Debutante'

1. Planting: Plant in a full to partial sun (4 to 8 hours of sun daily) area that has well-drained soil.

You can amend the soil with peat moss, compost or humus to feed the Camellia’s root system, though it will adapt to a number of soil types.

Dig your hole about 2 inches shorter than the depth of the root ball and 2 feet wider than the width. Place your Camellia, backfill your hole until the root system is completely covered and mound the soil over the top. Water thoroughly to settle the roots. Adding mulch around your Camellia will help the soil retain moisture, regulate temperature and prevent weeds from growing.

The Debutante can also be container-planted – simply select a pot that’s twice the size of your plant’s shipped container and ensure it has drainage holes. Use an organic soil mix, place your plant and water until you see it flowing from the drainage holes.

2. Watering: Feel the soil under the layer of mulch every few days. If the soil is dry, water and allow the water to soak into the soil as you pour. In cooler, moist weather, you may not need to water for weeks. During the blooming season, you can increase the watering to encourage fuller blossoms.

For container-planted Camellias, check the soil about 2 or 3 inches down. Then, water until you see water draining from the bottom of the pot.

3. Fertilizing: Fertilize your Camellia in the spring, using a soluble fertilizer for acid-loving plants once or twice a month in spring and mid-summer.

4. Pruning: After your blooming season has ended, remove any dead or weak wood (a gray tinge to the bark is an easy way to identify dead branches). Shorten lower limbs to encourage more upright growth.