It seems to me there are fairly widespread reports of below average budding this year, not just an isolated case. Here in my garden there are some camellias that are budding normally, yet others with almost none. Several other growers around here have similar reports. And now I see the post from Winterose about Nuccios experiencing the same, and the same from other posts. In other words, this does not seem to be totally cultural, maybe it is something atmospheric. Such as too much hot air from the elections? (Just joking.) Seriously, what would explain it? I would like to hear some theories.