Camellia Care for the Indoors

Summer Care

• The potted camellia will benefit from being placed outdoors during the summer months, so it begins to form buds. Choose a location outdoors for the potted camellia that receives morning sun and afternoon shade. Once buds form, the camellia will produce blooms throughout the winter and into the spring. Move the camellia indoors when autumn arrives and the weather begins to become cold. A frost can seriously damage or kill the tender plant.

Sunlight, Watering and Fertilizing

• Place the potted camellia in a location in the house that receives bright indirect sunlight. The plant will benefit from morning sun. The camellia requires evenly moist soil when in bud and flowering. Excessively wet soil will cause the plant's buds to drop. Once the plant ceases flowering, allow the top 1 inch of soil to dry between waterings. Fertilize the camellia with a high-potassium fertilizer once every two weeks while the plant is actively producing buds and flowers. From April to September, the camellia will benefit from an application of fish emulsion and cottonseed meal.

Humidity and Temperature

• The camellia grows best with high humidity. Placing the camellia's pot on a saucer filled with moist pebbles helps raise the humidity around the camellia. During the winters months, the house air often becomes extremely dry. Consider using a room humidifier to raise the room's humidity and aid the camellia in growing. The camellia prefers a chilly room; maintain the room temperature at 45 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Re-potting and Pruning

• Re-pot the camellia once every two to three years. Pot the camellia in a pot that is one size bigger. Use an acidic potting soil. Instead of re-potting a large camellia, remove the top 2 to 3 inches of soil and replace it with new soil. During the spring, prune the camellia to help maintain its shape and size. The plant will tolerate hard pruning once it ceases flowering.