I think it'll be fine @Alfie_. As I said - it's only been planted five minutes so it'll be a while till it's settled in. Shrubs take a good number of months to establish. Just make sure it gets enough water through spring and summer, especially if you don't get regular and consistent rainfall. Hopefully the root bound situation is ok, but you'll really just have to wait and see, as much depends on the soil etc. The snow and that temp won't have worried it at all as it would need to be very heavy snow, and very prolonged cold [colder than minus 8] weather for it be any problem. Even then, it would be minimal Too much sun, dry soil, and the wrong soil, is usually a far bigger problem for them, and rough weather when they flower is also a pain. It's the main reason I stopped growing them- the flowers get annihilated very easily as the weather is often hideous here just when they open, and just destroys them. You've done a good job so far so it's a 'wait and see' how it develops. Fingers crossed
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Alfie, you seem to have done all the right things. You can look forward to the first flowers this spring.
I, personally, wouldn't give it any more water until the spring, and only then if the weather is very dry. Apart from the bud-drop problem, camellias are very drought tolerant. Mine on a very poor sandy soil got no watering at all in a very hot, dry summer.
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."
So the camellia isn’t doing that great. Some buds have started to fall off 😑
There are a lot left and they are quite large but most have varying amounts of brown in them. Some are ok. I’ve looked after this plant the most and it has been the worst.
I used ericaceous compost when I planted it with ericaceous root growth, mulched it with ericaceous compost. Watered it with rain water. It’s in dappled/heavy shade in a sheltered spot like GW website says. l have been looking after this plant more than myself 😂
Any ideas? Or should I put it down to the harsh weather/snow this winter?
It isn't anything to do with snow, it's just not established properly yet. The problem with the roots has also had an effect, and you may have needed to open them up more, but as it's still alive and doing well enough, that wouldn't seem to be a major problem.
Plants drop flower buds or foliage to help sustain themselves when they're a bit stressed. If you get a few flowers on it this year, it'll have done well. It takes months and months for a shrub that size to establish properly. Keep mulching around it every so often with a layer of compost or similar - leaf mould is ideal, but a layer of bark is also useful for retaining moisture, after the ground's well dampened of course. Patience is what's needed.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
If you are getting bud-drop it is most likely from things you did wrong last year. Nothing you do now will help. Stop looking so much!
Many of your flower buds are still on; good. Calyces are the leaf-like things that protect a growing flower bud. Eventually these will go brown and be shed. Sometimes they stay on the plant when the flowers eventually die.
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."
Alfie, if I remember rightly you are only about 10miles from me (I'm in Luton). I found my camellias do better (flower more) in pots than in the soil. I think possibly it is the chalk layer quite deep down under the garden that they don't like- do you have that, too?
Your plant still looks good to me, though. I'd follow @Marlorena's advice about sequestered iron... didn't know that you could/should spray the leaves, too, thanks M.
The problem with the roots has also had an effect, and you may have needed to open them up more, but as it's still alive and doing well enough, that wouldn't seem to be a major problem.
If that big circular root wrapped around the plant doesn’t open out, what would I be looking for? Slow or no new growth?
Alfie, if I remember rightly you are only about 10miles from me (I'm in Luton).
Yes, just outside Luton. Interesting about chalk. I don’t think I’ve noticed any but haven’t done that much deep digging. I will look out for it. I got the Camellia from Savins nursery. They all flowered beautifully there last spring so wanted one for my birthday. I guess it’s a lot more controlled environment there plus it’s in a pot.
The growth could be slower, but you have to bear in mind that shrubs don't grow quickly. Your camellia will hardly grow this year because it'll be getting the root system established. Planting in pots is never as good for a shrub [of any kind] as planting in the ground. The only time you'd actively choose that is if the soil you have isn't suited - ie wrong pH or heavy, solid clay etc. A purpose built raised bed would be far better in that situation than a pot. Much easier to maintain ,and more room for growth. Camellias don't like alkaline soil [generally] so neutral to acidic is best. That's only one factor of course. Plenty of moisture [rainwater ideally] plus good drainage, and decent quality soil.
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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Hopefully the root bound situation is ok, but you'll really just have to wait and see, as much depends on the soil etc. The snow and that temp won't have worried it at all as it would need to be very heavy snow, and very prolonged cold [colder than minus 8] weather for it be any problem. Even then, it would be minimal
Too much sun, dry soil, and the wrong soil, is usually a far bigger problem for them, and rough weather when they flower is also a pain. It's the main reason I stopped growing them- the flowers get annihilated very easily as the weather is often hideous here just when they open, and just destroys them.
You've done a good job so far so it's a 'wait and see' how it develops. Fingers crossed
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I, personally, wouldn't give it any more water until the spring, and only then if the weather is very dry. Apart from the bud-drop problem, camellias are very drought tolerant. Mine on a very poor sandy soil got no watering at all in a very hot, dry summer.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Plants drop flower buds or foliage to help sustain themselves when they're a bit stressed. If you get a few flowers on it this year, it'll have done well. It takes months and months for a shrub that size to establish properly.
Keep mulching around it every so often with a layer of compost or similar - leaf mould is ideal, but a layer of bark is also useful for retaining moisture, after the ground's well dampened of course. Patience is what's needed.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
If you are getting bud-drop it is most likely from things you did wrong last year. Nothing you do now will help. Stop looking so much!
Many of your flower buds are still on; good. Calyces are the leaf-like things that protect a growing flower bud. Eventually these will go brown and be shed. Sometimes they stay on the plant when the flowers eventually die.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Your plant still looks good to me, though. I'd follow @Marlorena's advice about sequestered iron... didn't know that you could/should spray the leaves, too, thanks M.
Planting in pots is never as good for a shrub [of any kind] as planting in the ground. The only time you'd actively choose that is if the soil you have isn't suited - ie wrong pH or heavy, solid clay etc. A purpose built raised bed would be far better in that situation than a pot. Much easier to maintain ,and more room for growth.
Camellias don't like alkaline soil [generally] so neutral to acidic is best. That's only one factor of course. Plenty of moisture [rainwater ideally] plus good drainage, and decent quality soil.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I have given it a dose of sq. iron tonic as advised so hopefully that will help.