How to Fertilize & Grow Camellia Plants in Pots
Camellias are shrubs or trees, depending on pruning techniques, that have dark green, glossy leaves and large rose-like flower blossoms. Unlike many other flowering shrubs, they produce flowers in the late fall that persist through the winter and fade in spring. While camellias do well planted in the ground, they also are good candidates for planting in pots. When growing potted camellias, you must pay special attention to drainage and to fertilization. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Bucket
- Coarse sand
- Coarse peat moss or oak leaf mold
- Hand spade (optional)
- Gravel or bark
- Knife
- Camellia and azalea fertilizer
Instructions
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1
Fill a large bucket with a mixture of equal parts of coarse sand and either coarse peat moss or oak leaf mold to create the ideal camellia potting soil, according to the American Camellia Society. Mix the contents up well using your hands or a hand spade.
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2
Locate a plant container that is two to three times the size of the current camellia root ball. For example, if the current pot is 1 gallon, opt for a 3-gallon pot. Fill the bottom of the pot with 2 to 3 inches of gravel or bark to help with drainage.
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3
Remove the camellia plant from its pot and brush away as much soil as possible from the roots. Cut off the lower 2 inches of roots using a sharp, clean knife. Discard the old roots and then loosen the remaining root system gently.
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4
Fill the pot half full of the prepared soil mixture and set the roots of the camellia into the center of the pot. Add additional soil mixture around the sides of the camellia until it reaches the top of the root ball.
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5
Water the pot until it is drenched and water seeps out of the bottom.
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6
Apply a camellia and azalea fertilizer to the pot once a month from April to September, using the dosage amounts indicated on the package. Always water the camellia well before and after applying fertilizer to avoid burning it.
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Tips & Warnings
Camellias that are grown in pots must be replanted in larger containers every two to three years to allow for adequate root development.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
