pruning a camellia

maureen smith asked 15 years ago

I have a 12 year old camellia in a tub. It has flowered well, is beginning to put out new growth.However, over recent years it has become leggy with lots of bare patches, and less foliage than before. In my view It needs pruning. Can I do this now wnen the last of the flowers have gone, can I take the top off?

1 Answers

Gerry Daly Staff answered 6 years ago
A camellia in a pot for 12 years would be suffering from being pot-bound and hence bare in places. Pruing will help to re-shape it but it will not alone encourage vigour. That can only be done by regualr watering and feeding every three weeks until September, but be careful not to feed a dry pot.

Even so, it will probably need a bigger pot or to be planted in the open ground within a few years.

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