When other flowers are fading or the usual spring bloomers are bare, the Kramer's Supreme Camellia stands out like a shining star in your garden. And it's no wonder why: Kramer delivers huge 5-inch flowers that last for an amazing four months, from January through April.
But despite its expertly-cultivated look and elegant growth, it couldn't be easier to maintain. In fact, there's virtually no maintenance involved...only vibrant tones and good looks that keep on growing strong. Simply keep a few tips in mind when caring for your Kramer's Supreme, and you'll be good to grow year after year.
Selecting the Area and Planting Your Camellia
So, there's not much work involved when it comes to giving your Supreme Camellia a great start. First, select the planting area.
Kramer's prefers full to partial sun, or about 3 to 6 hours of sunlight daily. And it's not finicky about soil type, provided your soil is well-drained.
Where to Plant Kramer's Supreme
Growing zones 7 through 10 are best-suited for the Kramer's Camellia, but if you live in a climate with temperatures that drop below 10 degrees, you can pot your plant. Put your Kramer's in a container and bring it indoors when the weather gets too cold.
Other than that, the Kramer's Supreme stands up to moderate drought and fairly intense heat.
When you're ready to plant your Camellia, dig a hole large enough to accommodate the root ball with some extra width for mature growth. Then, place your shrub, backfill your soil, and water the area to settle the roots. Finally, mulch the surrounding soil to preserve moisture.
When you're container-planting, select a pot that's about twice the width of your Camellia's shipped container. Use organic soil mix, place your shrub, and water until you see it flowing from the pot's drainage holes.
Ongoing Care for Camellias
Ongoing care is fairly hassle-free, but keeping a few extra tips in mind will prepare your Kramer's Camellia for a long and lush life.
But if don't want to get into the 'weeds', so to speak, you should be fine with setting a regular watering schedule and monitoring your Camellia. Generally, it takes off when watered about once or twice weekly. It can even grow on rainfall alone if you don't live in an arid desert climate.
If you're not sure when to water, simply check your surrounding soil with your finger at a depth of at least 2 or 3 inches. If the soil is dry in this area, it's time to water your Kramer. Do the same for container-planted Supreme Camellias.
Pruning and Fertilizing Camellias
Ok, so you want to take your growth and color to the next level. We get it - we can't get enough of blooms ourselves. When your Kramer's Camellia arrives at your door, it already has a healthy root system and better branching, so we've given it a head start.
If you want to transform your homescape and go from the yard of the month to literal best-yard-ever big leagues, we're here to help.
First thing's first: Fertilizing. Feed your Kramer's with an acid-forming azalea or camellia fertilizer in late spring, just after the flowers drop. You can fertilize again in the midsummer if your shrub's growth seems a bit slow, or if you want the foliage to look fuller. Simply apply according to label instructions.
Shaping Kramer's Supreme
Pruning is straight-forward, too. For bigger, better blooms, remove dead or weak growth and any spent flowers. You can shear for shaping purposes, but it's not required. If you do trim for shaping, do so during dormancy after the blooms have dropped. Damaged foliage and fading flowers can be removed at any point.
Camellia Care Tips to Remember
So, that's all there is to it - seriously. But we're leaving you with a couple of tips for the road...and remember, we're rootin' for you.
- If you really want to 'dig' into every aspect of care, you can test your soil's pH and amend it for even better results. Camellias love a bit of humus and slightly acidic soil. A pH of 7 or less is best but somewhere in the range of 5.5 to 6.5 is ideal.
- Just for fun, we promise: As blooms fade, clip and use them for indoor flower arrangements! You're getting the best of both worlds when you clip since you're making your end-of-season pruning easier and getting a professional-looking centerpiece.
What are you waiting for? Large, vivid blooms and ultra-easy growth are just a click away. The best part: No green thumb necessary. Check out more about the Kramer's Supreme here!
