Mike,

Four inch pots Camellia is really small plants. I wouldn't even let them bud much. Flowering too much can be fatal to young plants or severely set them back. I would only leave two flowers for each plant, keep one bud on the strongest shoot. Pinch all other buds ASAP, this can save them lots of energy.

Now to keep the bud is the challenge, you have to remember that Camellia Japonica needs the hibernation to open their flowers. Hot plus dry air means bud drop. You have to keep them cool and humid, and some decent sunshine, then they will open their buds.

I have 4 beautiful Camellia flowers last year on a 8 inch pot plant.

Good luck.

YT

Mike, they are totally safe in those temperatures. Don't forget that they can survive temperatures below freezing, including the buds. (I'd be wary about that for young container plants, though.) I'd let them be until the night temps dip below freezing or colder.

Do you have a cold place to keep them throughout the coming months? If they are Camellia sasanquas, they could open a little later this fall. The C. japonica varieties will keep those fat buds all throughout the winter months, opening at anytime during the late fall and winter, depending upon the variety. But they must have a chilly environment.

Hi Yellowthimb and Rhizzo!

I do have a cooler spot in my plant room, where these particular ones bloomed last winter after bringing them home from the nursery while they were in bud..

Underneath my skylight with a shelf right up to it..It gets pretty chilly under that skylight with lot's of light, and late afternoon west sun..I measured a temp of 45 right in the cubby hole up to the glass, while the rest of the room was in the low 50's...The only time they turned brown and fell off fast, in fact I had a couple of buds fall off too, is when I ccidently put the heat on in that room and the temps sored to the 70's..

You gave me an idea and took away my fear of leaving them out so long..

I really appreciate you very much and for your help..

Mike