Camellia pruning before after flowering

[Cindy77]

Hi everyone, I’m new to camellia

 

. I bought this Camellia Cinammon Cindy from Bunnings last week. There are lots of buds on the plant. I’m loving it! 
however, I realised the side branches are starting to bend down towards the ground. There are new growth and new buds coming through so I assume they are too heavy? 
Should I prune the whole side branches or use a stake to support the weight and wait till flowering done ? 
I haven’t repot it into bigger pot too due to lots of buds on the plant. Should I repot them now? Will that affect buds ? 
Many thanks in advanced. 

[mich1972]

Good morning @Cindy77  it’s a beautiful Camellia !! If it has buds don’t cut it yet, you can if you need to. Maybe add a couple of stakes in there for now and once it’s flowered prune it back. It will definitely need it as some stage to keep it bushy. When you replant it, use a potting mix that’s suitable for it like Osmocote Rose Planting Mix - suitable for acid loving plants like Camellias, Azaleas, Gardenias, Blueberries. 
Good luck, looking forward to seeing it flower. 😃🌿

[mich1972]

 

[EricL]

Hello @Cindy77 

Thanks for sharing your question about your camellia. It's great that you've received excellent advice from @mich1972. Since your camellia is still in its original pot and full of buds, repotting now could cause stress and lead to bud drop. I recommend waiting until after flowering before moving it into a larger pot with Scotts Osmocote 25L Rose Gardenia And Azalea Premium Potting Mix designed for camellias and azaleas. In the meantime, make sure it’s well-watered, especially in warm weather, and feed it with a liquid seaweed solution to encourage strong roots without overstimulating growth.

Once flowering is done, you can repot it into a slightly bigger pot with fresh acidic soil and a slow-release fertilizer formulated for camellias. With the right support and care, your 'Cinnamon Cindy' should continue to thrive and put on a stunning floral display.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric