The camellia needs a lot of light to thrive, and it also prefers slightly acidic soil. If the location is unsuitable, the hoped-for abundance of flowers will quickly fail to materialize. Then you can move your camellia without worry.

Planting large camellias is a challenge

When is the best time to transplant?

It is best to transplant your camellia shortly after flowering, which is also a good time for planting outdoors. If you have cultivated your camellia in a pot, then repot the plant about every two to three years, also after flowering. If the camellia is repotted too often, it will only form a few buds and the abundance of flowers will suffer.

How to properly transplant a camellia?

Since the camellia has very sensitive roots, it should be dug up as generously as possible and transplanted carefully. A large board or something similar that you push under the root ball of the camellia can help. Then drag the plant to its new location. The camellia can also be carried by two people on the board.

Before transplanting your camellia, dig a planting hole slightly larger than the root ball. Put some nitrogenous fertilizer or a good amount of rhododendron soil in the hole and carefully plant the camellia as deep as it was in the ground before. Fill the hole with (rhododendron) soil and water your camellia well.

Does a newly transplanted camellia need special care?

In the initial period after transplanting, you should water your camellia regularly, about every two or three days, especially if the weather is warm and dry. But be careful not to get waterlogged. Further care measures are usually not necessary.

However, if the root ball has been significantly damaged when transplanting the camellia, then cut back the plant generously. This reduces the need for water and evaporation from the leaves and prevents your camellia from drying out.

The essentials in brief:

  • Dig up the root ball generously
  • Damage roots as little as possible
  • Carefully transport the plant to the new location
  • Cut back generously if roots are damaged
  • put some rhododendron soil or nitrogenous fertilizer in the planting hole
  • Insert camellia, as deep as before
  • Fill the planting hole with rhododendron soil
  • water well

What should I consider when repotting a camellia?

When repotting, proceed just as carefully as when transplanting outdoors. Choose a pot that is only slightly larger than the old one. About five centimeters more in diameter are sufficient. Use rhododendron earth here too, because your camellia feels most comfortable in this slightly acidic environment.

tips

Make sure that the sensitive root ball of your camellia is damaged as little as possible when transplanting.

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Vegetable garden