Why is my Camellia dropping its leaves?

I planted mine in a garden bed in the end.

No matter what I did, it didn't like being in a pot and got munched by some insect that took neat pieces out of the leaves.

I don't think some of the ericaceous compost from some garden centres is very good, other plants have failed to thrive in it.

My camellia was planted in three different places before it would flower. It must like its final home as its has now flowered for many years.

To be honest, I think it is dying. Mine did exactly that until every leaf was gone and it died. I hope I am wrong, and you could try replanting it elsewhere. Good Luck

Maybe too much water and feed?
I agree that modern day composts are pretty rubbish so I would, as a last resort plant it in the garden!

Have you checked for any fungi that can cause leaf blight?

Or it's possible that it has root rot, caused by fungus in waterlogged soil.

I only have a yard, so things in pots is a must.I have a lovely Camellia, bright pink flowers in March in a large pot, planted four years ago.I took advice and clipped it every year which makes a bushier shrub instead of tall and gangling.
Ericaceous compost and water it once a week if dry.I placed the pot to face West, thanks to Monty Don.I feed when it flowers and then once again a couple of months later.
No loss of leaves.
Could your Camellia be dry? Too wet? Not fed?

Thank you all for your comments, I am at a loss with this they have both flowered beautifully this year (one flowers over the Christmas period). They have been treated no differently this year to previous years! I think I might prune them both and see what happens, I'll probably have to forsake flowering next year that's if they survive! Thanks again.

Take it put of the pot and plant it in the garden .
They don't like being confined in a pot .
I have a huge collection and haven't some potted ones .
Preferably water with rain water .
Good Luck

I’m wondering if my pots in the middle of the garden are too exposed to the sun with the result that the roots get too hot.

I don’t have camellias but my little olive trees have dropped their leaves this summer so I have plunged the pots into the garden soil and they seem to be recovering.

Hope your camellia comes back for you.

Esmay

Take it put of the pot and plant it in the garden .
They don't like being confined in a pot .
I have a huge collection and haven't some potted ones .
Preferably water with rain water .
Good Luck

My Camellia is doing just fine in a pot.Yes rainwater is a good point.

I learn everything from Monty Don.😍

Different I know but I have a very mature honeysuckle at least 30 years old and every year it’s full of most gorgeous smelling flowers This year nothing but leaf drop half a dozen very late and puny flowers but I have done nothing different this year to every other year !!

My mother used to swear by used tea leaves for anything ‘ericaceous’. Her azaleas used to be literally covered with flowers.

I trimmed off the dead leaves & put coffee grounds & s few stones around the base of mine 🙏 it seems to have worked ? I’m no gardener!!

Quite possibly vine weavil has got in and is attacking the roots. I would gently ease it out and look

karmalady

Quite possibly vine weavil has got in and is attacking the roots. I would gently ease it out and look

I had different coloured vouchers in pots then realised they looked a bit sad and were just sitting on top of the soil.
No roots left at all!

I had a sad looking hydrangea in a pot, thought it needed a bigger pot but when I took it out of the pot it was full of vine weevil grubs, took me hours to get rid of them all, still the birds had a feast. It's always a good idea to check what's in the compost.

A neighbour had a beautiful camellia in a pot, vine weavil destroyed the roots and made me paranoid about my own pots. Bought compost can bring them in.

My Camelia is fine, it’s my lilac that is shedding its leaves 😥

Callistemon213

karmalady

Quite possibly vine weavil has got in and is attacking the roots. I would gently ease it out and look

I had different coloured vouchers in pots then realised they looked a bit sad and were just sitting on top of the soil.
No roots left at all!

Sorry, I love only just looked back at this thread.

Not vouchers!!
Autocorrect changed it from heucheras

Oh, for flip's sake.
Give in.

Have not love ..........