How to Pot Camellias

Select a container with drainage holes that is large enough to accommodate the plant. Your container should be at least four times wider than the widest section of the plant’s root ball to ensure that the roots have the space necessary to spread. Camellia plants also do not do well in overly moist soil, so it is vital that the container you select has drainage holes.

Fill the container with loosely packed soil. Select a top soil rich in organic compounds and dump it into your container. Do not pack the soil down, as camellia roots aren’t hearty enough to break through hard-packed soil.

Nestle the camellia in the soil. Using a small shovel or your hands, create a hole at least as deep as your root ball in the center of your pot. Place the camellia plant in this opening and gently press the soil back around it.

Water the plant regularly. Give the plant a healthy dose of water any time the soil gets dry. Because the container has holes, any excess water you give should run out of the bottom. Take care not to allow the plant to sit in a saucer of water. If so much water runs out of the bottom that it starts to pill this saucer, dump the extra.

Fertilize the camellia with a compound intended for use with acid-loving plants. Select granules or a spike of fertilizer and place it in the soil next to the plant. Fertilize no more than twice a year.

Replant the camellia every two to three years. After this amount of time, the camellia will likely have used up all of the nutrients in its current soil and require replanting in fresh, nutrient-rich top soil. If the plant has grown, you may also need to select a more sizable container.