Camellia Wilting After Transplanting

Q: I moved three camellias that were four feet tall because I read it was good to transfer them in winter. Now the leaves are wilting and the white flowers are turning brown. Should I be concerned?

A: I was expecting to see a lot worse than this! The leaves are drooping a little bit but nothing that concerns me yet. I would pull off all of the flower buds. They consume energy that I would rather the camellia use to grow new roots.

Because this shrub is evergreen, it can lose lots of water on a windy day even if it’s cold. But the process of moving them inevitably cut lots of water-absorbing roots. Continue to water often enough that the soil around the roots stays moist but not soggy.

You might need to do this through the summer…but you’ll have beautiful, free new plants!