Camelia - why are buds only on lower branches

Hi all

I have a question regarding my camelia, which is growing in a pot.  It has made new growth but the new buds are only showing on the lower branches - can anyone advise why this is please? 

Kind regards, Tony

Hi Tony, while camelia can flower on new growth, it takes the best part of a year for the new wood to mature enough, so when it was pruned will affect this.  The best time to prune it is immediately after flowering which give the new growth that pruning encourages time to mature.  If you did prune it at the right time last year, the lack of flowers may be down to the poor summer we had or it may need feeding.

Hi Bob and Lyn i never pruned it so as you say it must be down to the weather,ive just started feeding so ill see . All my others are fine so i keep you informed ,thanks for all your help.

Hello, Bob and Lyn areabsolutely in right, but be careful of a bigger pot (it need a bigger!). Don't like "cold and wet foot". Watering a little and look of the correct drain. I'sure, you have luck .

Ok Lyn will do once the snow has gone,either that or i,l dig a tunnel !

Thanks  ThaiGer i,l heed your advice .

have you got it in the right type of soil,it needs a lime free soil.

hi, tony, flowering rose speak right when she say : look at the soil. You can use a commercial camellia/azalea mix, or a super special soil-mix like this: "...equal parts small pine bark, sand, oak leaf mold (or coarse peat moss), fir bark, sphagnum peat moss, mushroom compost, volcanic pumice stone, earthworm castings, bat guano, kelp meal, feather meal and gypsum..."-  . I found this in an american(!) newspaper about camellia. But make you not crazy, tony...

Hi Flowering rose yes they ( i have 5 camelias alltogether ) are, all the others are various sizes from 5ft to 2.5ft the one pictured,they have all been treated the same and the rest have buds all in the right places. I will take all the advice given and greatfully received and let you know the outcome.As far as the magnificent mix of ThaiGer's i think i will stick to the commercial product as i havent got a degree in horticulture lol.

Hi. Camelias must have lots of water when they are forming their flower buds for the next spring and those in pots risk being too dry. The main time to keep watered is the late summer/autumn. 

I also find that they are more likely to have buds on one year old wood and older.