I bought one and planted it 2 years ago. It does not seem to like the home I chose. Where is the best place to plant one up here in NJ? My house faces north. Would it be best to pot it up or would the roots freeze in our winters?

Hi Marie, I feel bad unable to help (I am just a rookie plant grower/lover here in California). But very sure we have all the seasoned/knowledgeable growers here and they would be glad to answer/advise your question. BTW, NJ is far away from here and very different weather condition there. The only experience I had with East coast was several years ago when I had chance visiting my daughter in NY and "it was all SNOW every where"!... May be you could get luckier if you check up the East/Atlantic coast gardening forum? Welcome to visit us, the sunshine/orange state here AW.

Actually, there don't seem to be that many camellia growers on this forum, personally I have never grown one. And as fiat said, this being the Pacific Coast forum, growing conditions are vastly different for your area, we know nothing about freezing pots. Well, maybe some do in the higher elevations.

Hi Marie again, I found in the "Mid Atlantic Gardening forum" a thread called "What is your favorite Houseplant?" (from page 3 on) which has at least 3 posters (JB, Deebie, and HollyAnns) who are experienced Camellia growers (in pot and indoor in winter though). You may find some clues from them as how to grow Camellia in your area. GL

Thanks I will check them out. I know it can be grown here I have seen large ones.

Hi, So far I think my Camellia is doing ok. Just a little concern on some falling yellow leaves every day. This made me wondering that could I haven't given it enough water as Zuzu had mentioned "lot of water" is essential? Now the summer is here; 90+ degree everyday (several 100+ days a week); it's always hot and dry here! Right now I kind of water it everyday -- spread on leaves and water on soil moderately. After a year's growing experience, honestly, still unable to distinguish between "moist" and "soggy". What are your advice and tips? Stop spreading leaves? water soil vigorously? water daily? in the morning or late afternoon (after dusk)? Thanks for help.

Stick your finger in the soil...if it really is a problem, you can get a soil moisture meter.......

I use a moisture meter religiously on my potted plants. Some dry much faster than others, depending on potting medium and how root bound they are. The meter won't work with orchid bark, but it works on everything else, and saves over/under watering.

Thanks, Sherry and Carol (for the moisture meter idea). Surprise! The "stick finger" thing was also suggested to me from the local nursery I bought the Camellia. May be the old, dirty way is still good to go ... Now no one seems to comment on "spreading leaves"? I guess it may be no big harm, but actually no need either (except to clean dust occasionally)? And may be the "water daily" thing is a no no too?

Watering well and deeply is better than watering daily and in a potted or tubbed plant that means watering it and letting it soak through, to make sure the entire root ball is getting saturated. If it's potted and goes dry, then that root ball can shrink up where it's not absorbing water as well and shrinking away from the sides of the pot means the water runs down the sides between the pot and the rootball instead of soaking, aso make sure you water it several ltimes to get that soil soaked and then count on your moisture meter....

I do not grow Camellia's either Fiat, but from my experience in growing container plants here in our thermal heat area, our soil in the containers does not go soggy a lot, since our temps are too hot and humidity extremely low. Provided too that you have added perlite so the soil does not compact too much, then your plants roots will be okay. It will be soggy if there is no drainage in the container, then you will have a problem with the roots. But if it has drainage plus our extreme heat, oftentimes our containers have thirsty plants. More so when temps are hitting 90F and higher. Another factor will be the type of container, if it is unglazed pot, then evaporation is faster since pots itself will draw water away. Glazed pots inside and outside may make the water stay just a bit longer too, so oftentimes, some people would add a couple more holes at the bottom.

The plants and trees also do their heat adapatation where when it is just extremely hot, you will notice after a day or two, it will start dropping leaves. It will try to keep only the amount of leaves it can sustain with the heat and moisture it gets. Making them stay too dry is bad of course, especially your camellia, it is not a succulent. Always aim for middle ground. If you are unsure if your soil is wet, you can also do the skewer method we use with orchids, dip the skewer in the soil, if it comes out wet, then soil is still damp. Or put a big rock in the container, if you lift it and see the soil below is damp, then your soil is still moist.

Thanks, Sherry and Tarev. Since the Camellia's planted in a huge container and I use a garden hose with sprinkler head to water, the ground around the container become wet too making hard to see if water down through the soil and drain out of the hole. I may try to just remove the sprinkle head and stream water in the pot. I think (and like) Sherry's "rootball" theory digs into the connection among watering, soil and plant roots. Good to know. Again, Tarev has nailed to the point of our weather condition here and I hope it's really happening that "when it is just extremely hot, you will notice after a day or two, it will start dropping leaves. It will try to keep only the amount of leaves it can sustain with the heat and moisture it gets..." I did see in the neighborhood where people's similar plants also shed dry leaves under. I'll post a pic of mine later.

I have stopped watering for 3 days and it seems working as fewer leaves are falling while it's getting hotter (104 degree). The 1st pic from 6/25 and 2nd from today (all taken @morning):



(BTW, I stick finger in the soil to decide water/not water. Think tomorrow's watering day.)

wcgypsy said:Stick your finger in the soil...if it really is a problem, you can get a soil moisture meter.......

As of 3 years ago I have been using this soil moisture meter. Although I don't have the exact same plant, I just wait until the meter reads pretty dry, then soak the soil until pretty wet. I think this allows the roots to breathe and expand, and prevents them from rotting....

What a nifty device. Thanks for the link. Welcome to ATP..

Thanks, RG. I got watering my Camellia under control (check by sticking finger) and very few dropping leaves now and then. The only thing that puzzled (concern) me is it seems have no desire to grow in summer, neither taller nor wider ...

There's an expression about gardening, that is true about the growth rate of new plants: the first year, it sleeps; the second year it creeps; the third year, it leaps.

Fiat, something I have learned and observed in our area, when our temps starts soaring way too hot, all our plants here seem to go on summer hiatus of sorts, it is like their heat stress reaction. Just keep the soil level properly watered, not too soggy, and when our temps return to the more amiable 70's to 80's our plants will hopefully start bouncing back with vigor. And being planted in containers, container plants are really thirstier, so just got to keep it properly watered, since it is at its first year of growing, your plant is still acclimating.

I was looking at temp forecasts, and both our cities are expecting 101F later and higher till monday/tuesday...

After three years of drought, combined with my efforts to conserve water, I've discovered that Camellias are just about the only plants in my garden that look as good now as they did before the drought. So, although they need lots of water when they're planted, transplanted, or grown in containers, they are highly drought tolerant once they're established in the ground. The difference between them and the other plants in my garden is so striking, in fact, that I'll gradually replace all of my ailing rhododendrons and azaleas with camellias.

That's good to hear! I don't think they would fare so well here with our marine layer all spring and most of the summer. Everything in my garden had mildew until the HOT weather hit...now it's rust. We did have them in Corona del Mar, but it doesn't get nearly as hot there. I see them very rarely around here.