If your camellia is starting to drop its leaves or you notice them changing color, it’s usually a cry for help. These plants can be a bit finicky, so you’ll want to act fast to help your green friend bounce back before things take a turn for the worse.
The Root of the Problem
When a camellia starts shedding, it’s rarely a good sign. The reasons for leaf loss can vary quite a bit, ranging from:
- Simple care mistakes
- The wrong spot in your garden or home
- Natural life cycles
Natural Causes
Even though camellias can live for decades, their individual leaves aren’t immortal. Usually, after about three years, a leaf has done its job, and the plant simply lets it go. It’s totally normal for a camellia to refresh about a third of its foliage this way. However, if you’re seeing a massive leaf drop that goes beyond that, something else is likely going on.
Frost-Induced Leaf Drop
For camellias planted outdoors, “frost-induced leaf drop” is another natural survival tactic. This happens during a “freeze-dry” event—when the ground freezes solid and the roots can’t pull up any water. To keep from drying out completely, the plant sheds leaves to conserve moisture. Don’t panic if this happens; as long as the plant is healthy, it should sprout fresh new growth once spring arrives.
Common Care Mistakes
Camellias are pretty communicative—if they aren’t getting what they need, they’ll show it through their leaves. In the worst-case scenario, they’ll drop them entirely; otherwise, you might see them turning yellow or brown. Usually, this comes down to watering issues (either a “flood or drought” situation) or perhaps over-fertilizing.
How to Fix It
If you suspect over-fertilizing or waterlogged soil (root rot):
- Stop all fertilizing and watering immediately.
- If the plant doesn’t perk up, the roots might be damaged.
- Carefully pull the plant out of its pot.
- Inspect the root ball and trim away any brown, mushy, or rotten roots.
- Repot the plant in fresh, high-quality soil.
If the soil is bone dry:
- Give the plant a moderate watering (don’t drown it all at once!).
- Moving forward, try to keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.
The Wrong Location
If your potted camellia is sitting in a dark corner, it’s going to drop leaves simply because it can’t “eat” enough sunlight. The fix here is easy: move it to a brighter location where it can soak up some indirect light.
