Camellia Bonsai Suitability

[Webos]

Gday Guys,
I've been offered a couple of Garden Camellias and Im just wanting to ask those experienced and knowledgable people out there how well they do with transplanting, backbudding and bonsai development. Would I be able to chop off to a bare trunk or must I leave some foliage on the tree?

Thanks

[kcpoole]

IHave never had much luck with budding from bare wood, but they are supposed to do it

dig up and repot shodu be no worries, given normal after care.

the leaves will reduce, but most have really big flowers so woud suit a larger tree. If you find some of the varieties with small foliage and flowers thye they woudl be great

Ken

[GavinG]

About the only way you'll get a good solid trunk on a camellia is by getting a garden plant and cutting it back. Theoretically they shoot from bare wood, but I'm not 100% confident, and if the tree is dug up at the same time, it may make it less likely. Possibly consider bare-rooting into sharp sand or something similar- it may help with the thick root surgery you'll need to do. I've only done one, and it took a long time to reduce the heavy roots, one by one, and cut back the top down to the last leaves, then when it shoots lower, you have another stage to cut back to. Then when it's right down, ramify. Be careful with your first choice of trunk line, because it won't smooth out over a scar like a deciduous tree any time soon.

They aren't easy, but they can be very beautiful. Best of luck.

Gavin