Relocate Camellia

owd potter

I have discovered that I have a small Camellia located in the shadow of a very large, mature Rhododendron. I think it must surely struggle to compete and will never reach it's potential. 
When is the best time to relocate?
Can I do this now? 

Fairygirl

If you don't mind it not  flowering, now is as good a time as any 

owd potter

Thanks @Fairygirl
Yes, I always think of March as moving month, but that is the trade off I suppose. It has buds, which I'm a little surprised about tbh considering it's location (maybe due all the rain we've had) but whether these will develop into flower or not I'm not sure.

Fairygirl

The buds start forming in late summer, which is why they suffer if they don't get enough at that time of year. Cooler, shadier conditions suit them best, as it helps prevent moisture loss in hotter weather, but as long as they don't get too dried out, they can cope with some sun.
If you can get a decent rootball when you lift it, and have the new site prepped, it'll barely notice the move.

The recent rain will have had  no effect. 

dappledshade

Mine is in total shade along a north west fence, sheltered though and it flowers well. It’s white and I find that the blooms are better lasting without direct sun on them.
Agree with Farygirl that now is as good as ever. Give it some good, ericaceous soil, but don’t feed it yet, as it may drop its buds.
It may well drop them anyway, once moved, but best to leave off feeding until it has flowered.
I moved an inherited, potbound camellia last February, because that is when we got the keys to our new house and it didn’t drop its buds.
It just didn’t have many to start with, as it wasn’t too happy in a pot.

owd potter

@Fairygirl @dappledshade thanks both,
Mine also is white and in (virtually) total shade sheltered as it is under a large Rhodi. 
It had a few flowers 2 years ago but none last year, possibly due to lack of water because of it's location.
I would like to be able to leave it where it is, as shady spots are few in my garden, but the Rhododendron is now crowding it out and there is insufficient space for it to grow, notwithstanding the competition for water.
2018
2020.
Just need to find a suitable spot for it now...
Thanks for the advice.
Owd  

Fairygirl

Don't forget that you can prune the rhodie. 
You can either give it an allover haircut, or you can do the same as you can do with other shrubs - ie, remove some stems right back to the main trunk. The latter would allow more space for the camellia if you didn't want to move it, or didn't have a suitable site. 
The competition for water though, is more of an issue, and it would be shame if it suffered from that. 
I suggested that to someone on here a few years ago, and I got grief from another poster for saying you could prune a rhodie. I simply said that we'd be overrun with them up here if they didn't get pruned.
I really wanted to say something more direct....

owd potter

Thanks @Fairygirl
you're a star.