Repotting Camellias
Fall preparations for all my potted plants continue around my Bedford, New York farm.
This time of year, my gardeners and all the members of my outdoor grounds crew are very busy - cleaning out the greenhouses, assembling long garden tables for smaller specimens, and repotting many of my precious plants, including some of my camellias. Camellias are highly prized for their exquisite blooms, splendid evergreen foliage, and compact habits. These shrubs blossom prodigiously for weeks, from late fall to mid-spring, showing off beautiful shades of white, cream, pink, and red.
Enjoy these photos.
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- Camellias are attractive evergreen shrubs. Here is one with a couple of buds just waiting to open.
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- I love camellias and have a good number of them in my collection. Many are from Nuccio’s Nurseries, Inc. in Altadena, California. Camellias thrive in mild climates from California to Florida and are available in thousands of cultivars. The most common species of camellias are Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua.
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- Camellias are easy to grow in containers and will thrive with the right care and conditions. Because camellias do not tolerate wet feet, be sure to plant in a container that drains well. I like to place a shard over the drainage hole of all my pots, so none of the potting mix falls out.
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- Always use fresh potting soil when transplanting as old potting mix tends to be soggy and depleted of nutrients. Here, Brian fills the pot about a third full with the medium.
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- Camellias prefer well-drained, acidic soil, preferably with a pH between 5.0 and 6.5. We use a well-draining organic soil mix filled with nutrient-rich compost. For camellias, just avoid using fine peat moss in the mix, which tends to quickly become too dry or too wet.
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- When repotting, be sure to select a container that is at least one size larger than the old pot. This camellia root ball is in good condition.
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- Using a hori hori knife, Brian scarifies the roots, or cuts some of the old, outer roots to stimulate more growth and promote good aeration.
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- Brian adjusts the plant in the container, so it sits at the same depth as it did in its original pot. When keeping potted camellias, they will require repotting every two or three years as they outgrow their vessels.
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- And then backfills the potted plant until just under the rim of the pot, so watering doesn’t get too messy.
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- Finally, Brian lightly tamps down on the soil to ensure it is well packed.
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- Each potted camellia also gets a sprinkling of Osmocote fertilizer – small, round coated prills filled with nutrients.
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- Brian stopped for a quick photo – just one or two more to go…
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- The leaves of a camellia are alternately arranged, simple, thick, serrated, and glossy.
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- Buds start to form in mid-summer and then open from fall through early spring.
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- A couple of my camellias already have gorgeous blooms – this one is still unfurling. Their flowers are usually large and conspicuous, one to 12 centimeters in diameter.
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- Here is another still opening. The beautiful camellia flowers come in mainly white and shades of pink or red, and various combinations.
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- This is what a flower looks like in full bloom. This photo was taken last February. Camellia ‘Elizabeth Weaver’ has large formal double flowers in coral pink.
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- Here’s another pretty camellia flower from last winter – ‘Nuccio’s Pearl’ with full double blooms and pure white petals edged with an orchid pink blush.
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- These camellias will all be kept in my tropical greenhouse for the cold season, where they can be closely monitored. When selecting a spot for a potted camellia, be sure it gets partial shade and protection from hot afternoon sunlight, as container-grown camellias dry out much faster than shrubs planted in the ground. Also water the plant deeply whenever the top two to four inches of potting mix feels dry to the touch and let it drain completely.
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- Camellias have a reputation for being somewhat difficult to grow, but if one is willing to meet their needs, they’ll reward you with a long bloom season just when you need it most. I am looking forward to seeing all their stunning flowers this winter.
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