In article ,
David E. Ross wrote:

Because a glazed pot does not allow moisture through it (which cools the
pot), it can cause roots to cook if the sun shines on the pot. In your
case -- with a camellia -- this should not be a problem because
camellias require shade (bright indirect light but no sun at all).

Yep, it's in the shade!

To recreate that environment, you need a lean, acidic potting mix that
drains very well. You need to keep the plant in the shade. (This
applies primarily to C. japonica; C. sasanqua can tolerate part-sun.)
And you need to water frequently but lightly. In general, feed the
plant only once a year, right after blooming; use a commercial camellia
food (usually also for azaleas and rhododendrons), which is relatively
low in nitrogen and releases the nutrients very slowly.

Ah, good thing I'm bad about remembering to feed my plants. :-)

In your case (the
plant in a container), you might also have to prune to keep the foliage
from exceeding the ability of constrained roots to supply moisture; in a
large pot (18 inches or more), however, this might not be needed.

I just checked yesterday, and although the plant has been in that
pot for 2-3 years, it is nowhere near being rootbound. And the
foliage hasn't gotten much larger. So I think we're okay on size.

If you move a camellia (i.e., repot it), the best time is while it is
blooming. Although it doesn't lose its leaves then, it is actually
dormant when in bloom.

Oh, that's interesting. Well, I may repot it now anyway, to improve
its chances for proper drainage between now and the next blooming
season. Thanks for the ideas!


Patty