A. Camellias are susceptible to two fungi-dieback (Glomerella cingulata) and camellia flower blight (Selerotinia Camellia) and several pests.  Dieback is caused by a fungus that invades a wound in the plant, creating a canker, and spreads up and down the stem.  The first signs of the disease are the wilting and death of small new growth.  When you fund the canker, cut it down to the healthy green wood and immediately disinfect with fungicides Benlate and 50W Captan in water.  These fungicides will protect the plant from the disease but will not cure it.

Camellia flower blight attacks the petals of the flowers during the spring flowering season, so choosing a variety that blooms early is the best prevention for this disease.  The fungus invades the flower tissue and creates brown specks or blotches which cause the flower to die and fall off.  It is important to pick up these flowers and discard because they carry the spores that become active again from January to April to further spread the disease the next spring.  You can use contact fungicides to kill the spores on the flowers, but these will discolor the flower.  PCNB (Terrachlor) can be sprayed on the ground in December to help prevent the fungus.

Tea scale is the most common pest problem for camellias.  It appears as either brown specks or "cotton-like matter" on the underside of the leaves.  It is a sucking insect that robs the plant of food and nutrients and can be treated with an insecticide like Malathion or an oil spray.  Be careful not to use an oil spray when the temperature is above 90 degrees or later than October 15 which will make the plant vulnerable to an early freeze.

As always, the best prevention for fungi and pest infestation is a healthy plant, therefore it is important to plant the camellia properly and maintain its health.  It is best to pick a spot where the camellia will get filtered sun and protection from north winds, preferably under a few pine trees because the pine needles will help provide a slightly acid soil which the plant likes.  Drainage is also very important.  Camellias do not like "wet feet", so plant in a raised bed at least 8-10 inches high making sure that the root ball is not totally covered and the top is slightly higher than the soil.  You may add a little 16-mesh agricultural sulfur to the bed to provide the necessary acid, especially if you are watering with Houston's water supply which is alkaline.  Do not fertilize the first year, but do come back in once the plant has established itself and lightly cover the feeder roots that tend to be very shallow.

It is best to stay away from the California-grown varieties of camellias and opt for those grown in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.  The most common varieties for this area are the Camellia japonica, Camellia sasanqua, and the Camellia reticulata with the C. Sasanqua root stock being the best for those interested in grafting.  Our conditions here are far from ideal for growing camellias, but with the right plant selection and proper care, it can be done successfully and provide beautiful blooms from October to April.