Pruning camelias

Hi all

I have a 6'x 3'camelia that is currently in bloom, and against a fence, however the growth is leggy and the flowers all sag & hang upside down with the weight so cant realy see flowers.

Question 1]- when is a good time to prune it and by how much?
Question 2]- do camelias make good cut flowers?

 

Hello Nic S - suggest you prune after your Camelia has flowered. I have pruned them severely (50% shorter) and have also lightly pruned - they respond very well especially if you add a bit of fertiliser after pruning. Not sure about use as cut flowers but guess the blooms do not last very long.

 

Hi Nic S, I had the same problem but was told that if you prune them hard you don't get any flowers the next season. I pruned half the shrub one year and the other half the next that way I had flowers each year. Did look a bit strange though, good luck

 

how long do the flowers last on the plant?

 

Hi, miraflores. Do you mean individually or on the shrub as a whole? Individually they are short-lived (a few days) but the whole shrub is in flower for about 3 weeks. I've never tried using them as a cut flower. Mine has big double flowers so I just float them in an open bowl. Looks quite pretty, or so my better half says! All the best.

 

Thank you, cajary.
What a brilliant idea to float them in a bowl...