Camellia Advice - what is causing this and what do I do?

Hi, can anyone advise where I can seek advice for a camellia? Its leaves are all going brown but seem to be being attacked by something? It’s a very special plant to us passed from a grandparent. It has lots of ants crawling up it too. Think the ants could be the dry soil though. Would you top with ericaceous soil or normal compost? Thanks so much!

 

First of all, collect up the dead leaves and get rid. They harbour pests and fungal diseases. Snip out any obviously dead twigs and leaves from the inside of the shrub. There is a woolly scale insect on one of the photos. Hunt them down on the underside of leaves and stuck to twigs and squish them or wipe them off with a damp cloth but make sure you dispose of them thoroughly. Can't see any ants? The compost looks dry. Give it a liquid feed..e.g. Miracle-Gro Ericaceous. Keep well watered through the summer to ensure flowers next winter/spring.

 

Hi

it’s has camellia black spot it’s a fungal problem and a spray for scale insect which produce a sugary poo which that then creates sooty mould to grow on the leaves that’s what the ants are after

you need to get hold off some Provado Fungus fighter and spray the leaves and branches ( just follow instructions) any leaves fallen off don’t add to the compost heap put in the bin is best .

A feed with Epsom salts will help and a regular watering scheme which will help the flower buds develop later in the year ready for the spring to open

I would say the compost is running out of feed may need repotting in to the next size pot .

Spruce