Indoor Gardening: Planting a Camellia

With the right temperature and a slightly acidic soil, a camellia plant will thrive indoors. This shrub produces large flowers that bloom in shades that vary from white to pink, red and even yellow. Read on to learn about some of the required care and environmental considerations for a healthy camellia.

Needed Light

Indoors, place a camellia in a location that receives full sun, like directly below a skylight or next to a window. If the summer is excessively hot, provide partial shading to keep the plant from drying out. During darker months, it may be necessary to use artificial light.

Temperature

Camellias thrive in temperatures between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They need a cooler period closer to the 50 degree mark followed by warmer temperatures in order to produce buds. Pay attention to the temperatures in order to create theses buds. If there is not a cooler (dormant) period first, the buds will not likely form that year.

Soil Acidity

Use a peat-based potting soil to create a well-aerated and moisture-rich environment. The peat also helps to keep the acidity of the soil in the correct territory. Use distilled water or rainwater to help keep the acidity correct.

If your soil reaches above a 7.0, you will need to flush some of the acid out of the soil or add different nutrients to help counteract the acid. Be careful with acidic fertilizers as these tend to have too much nitrogen. This will create a healthy plant, but might scare new buds and resulting flowers away.

Watering and Moisture

The camellia likes to be kept moist, but not left in standing water. During dry times of the year, the plant will appreciate a light misting on its leaves and branches at least every other week. Use distilled or rain water for best results. If the area you live in is dry year round, bring in a humidifier to help keep the moisture level ideal.

Pruning

Pruning is not generally necessary, but you can prune in the spring right after the last blooms.

Pot Size: When to Re-Pot

As your plant grows, you will have to move it to a larger pot. Even once it reaches full growth, plan on re-potting the camellia at least every 2 years. You will be able to create a perfect soil environment for your plant and make certain that all of the needed nutrients are being absorbed.

There are a lot of factors to consider when planting a camellia in your indoor garden. Will it be compatible with plants you already have? Will you need to purchase special equipment? Are you prepared to offer it the care it needs to survive? If you already live in a humid, sunny environment, adding this plant to your garden will only involve a new pot and some well-draining acidic soil.