You give it the same chemical fertilizer that works fine on your other camellias and it burns? Try using less - or none at all (if it ain't broke, don't fix it).

Ron, I don't grow any other camellias here. What I want is maximum growth so I can make green tea more often.What do you use? Paul.

I've never had to fertilize camellias of any type on a regular basis. If I had one that I wanted more out of I would buy a granular fertilizer labeled for use on camellias and apply it sparingly.

I think I've seen some marginal leaf burn on tea plants growing in pots, so they might be a little more sensitive than the more common types. In the ground or in pots, the forms of tea hardy outdoors here are slow-growing by nature, seldom seen more than waist high.

Check the thread about camellias and mushroom compost, there might be something there that pertains to your project.

go with seaweed,go organic..they love it
Budw

Nuccio's Nursery (camellia hybridizer & nursery) recommends cottonseed meal on their care sheets. Maybe the water is too alkaline? Or salt build-up in the soil?

It is a phenomenon that young tea plant in small pot in Ca. tends to have burnt leaves. Nuccio's nursery told me the same story. Now my plant is well established in a large pot.The leaves are fresh and wholesome. I often pick up a few pieces of fresh young leaves to chew.

Cotton seed meal is a very slow acting fertilizer for all camellias and very unlikely to burn the plants.

I understand that cottonseed ôil is very heavily invested with chemicals. Could this be true of cottonseed meal and how will this affect the tea?

Cottonseed meal seems to be well-liked by rabbits. Holly-Tone is excellant, and recommended by a camillia breeder acquaintance.