Impulse bought a Camellia. How to care for it?

Quite pleased. Stumbled across a 5'8 inch (in a planter) Camellia today. Price tag of £169.99. I managed to buy it for £69.99.

The planter is nice, although slightly damaged. And the plant itself is budding but has lots of yellow leaves. I've watered it but perhaps it needs a feed too?

I have lots of bone meal at home. Will that suffice to feed the Camellia going forward? A quick Google gives mixed results with some answers saying yes, and others saying that bone meal reduces acidity and is therefore not good for Camellias.

I also have two choices of location for it: either a shady garden (at times windy), or a sunny garden (away from wind).

 

I'd put it where it doesn't get morning sun when there's a chance of frost when the buds are opening. I wouldn't feed it just let it get on with it.

 

Some shade is always better, but it'll also be far better in the ground as long as your soil isn't too alkaline. Wind isn't a problem, but that early sun on new buds and flowers in spring can cause problems as @Logan says. Water is important - mainly in late summer, as that's when those buds form for the following year.
If it's been languishing long term in a pot, it'll possibly be starved of nutrients, and the roots could be filling most of it, but feeding is never a good idea for a sickly plant, as already said. If you don't have a suitable site in terms of soil, then you'll need a very large container to improve it's conditions. Soil based medium, with some ericaceous compost, although that isn't vital. Good drainage, and rainwater is better if you don't have nice soft water. You can also prune it to improve the shape and health, but you may not want to do that at this stage.

A photo will help too.

 

Some pics below for those interested. I will think about where it could be planted, but in the meantime I am enjoying it just outside my kitchen (where it's sheltered and in shade in the mornings, but in the summer it will get lots of afternoon and evening sun. Not sure if that's good or bad).

 

Camellias are amazingly robust. I would plant it in shade rather than sun, put plenty of ericaceous compost in the planting hole . Yellow leaves are usually an indication of chlorosis so a very light dusting of camellia feed might help your bush as it has flower buds on it and plenty of water. Many years ago I was given a sick camellia plant, I left it to soak in a bucket of water for 2-3 days, planted it in a very shady, sheltered corner and it has never looked back. I dug it up and put it in a pot when I moved to Cornwall, it is still in a large pot and never fails to flower each year. They are happier in open ground but my soil is barely acidic and very free draining so it gets better conditions in a pot.

 

I have just seen your pics. A good buy. It looks very healthy so get it in the ground. Avoid early morning sunshine, later in the day is OK. Exposed to wind is likely to end in wind scorched flowers. It doesn't need feeding if your soil is acidic.

 

It does need a bigger pot, as it looks like there are little roots showing on the surface. A square pot is a good idea from the point of view of stability.

 

I'm not sure, bar putting it in the middle of my back garden lawn, where I can plant it in the ground. And if it goes there it will get lots of summer sunshine (although not morning sunshine, only afternoons and evenings). So a bigger pot may be the way to go and leave it situated where it currently is. It's also near the house so it does have wind shelter.

It's a great plant. Glad I stumbled across it.

 

It's morning sunshine after a frost that is the bud killer. I don't think afternoon sun would be a problem, unless you live in a very cold spot where frost can linger all day.

 

I've got a couple that I have had for years, they have been hacked back a few times and are growing in neutral soil, its not acidic around here.
Yellow leaves can mean chlorosis but can also mean just not happy in the pot, its not big enough.

I find they grow well and flower in anything but baking sunshine, but once established I dont think they are fussy.
Mine flower in April, I wouldn't entertain any thing that flowers earlier in my garden as I do see some frosted ones in the area, just seems a waste of time growing them in that case.

 

No offense, but in the 2nd picture is that a weed growing next to it? Probably best to remove that if it is.

 

Quite possibly. I did notice but haven't got around to doing anything about that yet.

It's been in a B&M Garden Centre for a long time.

 

I'm sure it is pleased to have finally found a good home.

 

I actually have this plastic barrel pot (see pic) which I've been trying (and failing) to grow food in over the last month or so.

The barrel pot is about 2 feet diameter and 15 inches deep. The existing pot the Camellia came in is 12inchesx12inchesx12inches.

So perhaps it makes sense to transfer the Camellia to the barrel (having bought some acid soil tomorrow from B&Q or The Range.

Shame because I do like the planter the Camellia came in. Perhaps I can find another plant to put in it. Any suggestions? (Something inexpensive preferably!)