Q.Camellia Bush Moving In Texas
You site says to move Camellia bushes in winter when the plants are dormant. Here on November 6 – Rosenberg, TX, my bushes have buds on them. They are still green and about 3/4 inch long. Is this plant dormant? Do I need to wait until December or January to move it? I want to move the plants from parents’ old home before we sell it. Moving the bushes (4 of them) to Wharton, Tx. I could take pictures the next time I’m in Rosenberg if you need that to help me!!
My sasanquas have/are blooming here in Hurst, Texas but the japonicas are still waiting; they bloom in late December to April. Camellias do not go dormant in the Texas normally. They just enter a period of semi-dormancy in which they retain all foliage and blooms. Because of winter is colder in Jan-Feb temperature-wise, they will be subject to be dormant at that time. Watch out for our typically wildly fluctuating temps as these may cause the plants to break dormancy just as a cold snap arrives. I lost one bush in February 2022 because it was blooming when temps plummeted to -2°F. Unfortunately, it is hard to say "when" they are sleep but they stand a better chance in Jan-Feb. Prepare the new hole ahead of time to minimize the time that the plant is exposed. Water deeply the night before and get help to move it if necessary. The more of the rootball and of the fibrous roots that you transfer, the less the roots will be disturbed. Disturbing the roots may cause flower bud failures and cannot be helped (other than by mulching and watering when a finger inserted to a depth of 4" feels dry). Remember that their root system is shallow, tiny, fibrous, like a pancake and grows about 4" deep only. Do not fertilize until spring-ish weather arrives in 2022, probably in mid to late March or April. Protect the foliage from air drying when transporting them (like if you put them on the back of a pickup truck).
