r/Camellias

Mature camellia in my shaded garden in Port Coquitlam, BC. The blooms were incredible this year.

Hi everyone I got this Camellia Dr King in March and planted at the same level the garden center did… whoops.

I’ve just gone down a few cm to expose the root flare which I think I have done but this exposed a large girdling looping root coming out the back left, up and around the back of the trunk and down front right. It’s about a cm from the trunk, not touching it.

I’m concerned firstly this looks daft.
And secondly that this may pose a problem in the future.

- Leave?
- Sort it later - when, cut it off winter? Give it more time to establish first especially since so young into this pot and I’ve already removed quite a lot of fine roots getting down to this level
- sort it now

Grateful for all advice!

My Chinese (red with yellow center) Camellia is dying, I've had to cut off one of the stem/trunks already, not entirely sure what's causing it, I've attached photos, but otherwise I've seen some ants on and around it, some aphids that have been quickly dispatched, the trunk that Ive cut off died within a couple weeks, slowly getting browner and the leaves getting dryer and dryer, the 2 trunks left aren't getting dry leaves yet but some have black spots and are going brown and the buds aren't budding.

The plant gets sunlight for around half of the day, and I water it every couple days, no specific soil just generic soil if that's a thing, I live in south east england

Thanks in advance for any help