Camellia carnage

[jonahjonah]

Hi all,

I've been away a while, busy with family and whatnot. I am back with a question about one of my (favorite!) plants that suffered in the dry summer last year.

We planted a camellia (around 1 meter high) in late winter 2018. It seemed fine until summer when we accidentally let it get dry. It dropped most of its leaves and is largely just a skeleton at this point. I've left it alone hoping that it would rebound. It does have some small green growth on the lower branches.

Is there anything I can do to help it out? Am I hoping against logic that it can actually recover? Any thoughts and advice appreciated.

Thanks!

[nickdub]

It will almost certainly regrow - don't let it dry out in the summer again - it will take a few years to get back to where it was by the sound of it. Bit of manure as a mulch over the roots wouldn't hurt.

[Two_Sheds]

Also check it's in the right soil (acidic or limey)

[jonahjonah]

Thanks very much! That makes me happy. But my husband is now innocently wondering aloud how long I'm willing to look at a sad, bare skeleton before it regrows. (I dearly wanted a camellia and I hate to get rid of something that's growing, so the answer is pretty much AGES.)

I haven't tested our soil, but neighbors up and down the road are growing camellias and other acid-lovers, so I'm hopeful.

Thanks for the help and advice!