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What size pot best to buy for a camellia?

fizzylizfizzyliz Posts: 398
Thanks!

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  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Massive!
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    A more helpful answer, would be, it depends how large the Camellia is. It will need repotting as it grows.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    What size is the plant you have @fizzyliz - and what size of pot is it in? 
    It's never a good idea to put a shrub into a much bigger pot than it's in - enough to accommodate the root system and a couple of inches more is ideal. 
    If it's staying potted for a while, you need a soil based medium - something that isn't alkaline. Good drainage for it too.  :)
    They aren't great for pots long term though. You'll need to be vigilant with potting on etc, and may need to root prune if you can't plant it out. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • WAMSWAMS Posts: 1,960
    I have been growing some on from TINY twigs for a couple of years... those are in small (25cm pots) still. Others are bigger. One is in a 30cm pot and getting a bit top heavy so I will move it to a 45cm pot when it's finished. They don't grow that quickly though IME.

    I would love to have a huge camellia in a MASSIVE pot, though! Perhaps if I live long enough.
  • fizzylizfizzyliz Posts: 398
    edited January 2023


    @Fairygirl @punkdoc @WhereAreMySecateurs here it is. It’s come from a grandparents garden. We’ve had no choice but to pop in this for today. We were told to use a more acidic soil. Thanks! 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd just pot it as per my earlier post @fizzyliz. Very slightly larger than, or similar to, what it's in as it's already going to be stressed if it's just been dug up  :)
    They don't really need acidic soil -neutral is fine as long as it isn't at the alkaline end of that.  :)
    Just keep it tucked somewhere sheltered and let it get accustomed to it's new home. Keep it out of a site that has early morning sun, and if it's staying potted, keep it out of searing mid day sun when summer comes. They're best in dappled shade. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited January 2023
    punkdoc said:
    A more helpful answer, would be, it depends how large the Camellia is. It will need repotting as it grows.

     Respect.  Much better phrased.  You must have more spare time than me.

    But ... with half a question, I can only give half an answer.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Has it been in a site where it was crowded @fizzyliz? I meant to ask you that  :)
    It'll take a while to sort itself out so you'll need to be patient. It has a pretty sturdy 'trunk' which suggest it's fairly mature, because they take a good few years to establish and start thriving. 
    Hopefully it'll be a nice addition to your garden  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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