Look after a pot-grown Camellia

Details
Depending on the variety, Camellias thrive from November to April: a real ray of sunshine on a terrace during the cold season! A pot-grown Camellia is not fragile contrary to belief.

The secret: the right exposure
Keeping a Camellia growing in a pot for several years is not so complicated as long as the growing conditions are right. Camellias need coolness and must be protected from the afternoon sun in summer. It is not sensitive to shade but blooms more if it receives a little bit of sunshine in the morning (or the evening). Its worst enemy? Full sun as its bright light scorches its leaves without fail.

The soil: light, that’s all
A Camellia is not a difficult plant either regarding the compost needed. It must let water drain through after watering after a few minutes and must not form a paste when wet. Let’s just say that most potting composts are suitable. In a pot, ericaceous compost can be too light as it dries a little bit quicker than a classic potting compost. Do not hesitate to mix the two.

Which material?
Plastic or resin pots suit Camellia best by far. Varnished Terra cotta can also be suitable but it is better to grown the plant in a plastic pot and hide the pot in a varnished tub used as a cache-pot. Bare Terra cotta has to be avoided as it dries in as little as two hours in the height of summer.

Is fertiliser necessary?
When it is well established, the Camellia benefits from fertilisation using a complete, organic-based fertiliser diluted in a watering can. Limit the supply to one every six weeks as the shrub is sensitive to overdosing.

The right actions to keep it over a long time
In case of harsh cold when the flowering buttons start opening, bring the pot closer to the house’s-wall or place it near the protection of a hedge. You can also cover it with a winter fleece at night.
When the young shoots start forming (after blossom), ensure that the compost is kept moist. Wait until the end of blossoming to do a re-potting which must be envisaged every two years. Soak the earth ball for an hour beforehand.
Bring it inside only for a few hours to make the most of it indoors. Camellias are sensitive to the warm, dry air inside houses.
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