Pruning at the wrong time can be a cause as well as not giving them enough water through the summer as the buds are forming, as regards pruning a large camellia, you can prune hard down and it will respond well, this is best done if the camellia were to be out of control, if the camellia is flowering well each year and it needs reducing a little then take a few shoots out here and there over a couple of years and this will keep the camellia flowering well, sometimes though a camellia that has been renovated can take a few years to start flowering well, give it a feeding program and water well in the summer and hopefully this will help.

I wonder if it is just not getting enough water in the summer to form the buds. Did you see buds on it in the autumn/winter?

Thanks for the reply's yes its well watered over the summer I feed about 3/4 times over the summer and mulch with compost, its sheltered on 3 sides I didn't see any buds this year, But I have been very busy though and possible I have missed them as I'm not out that often during the winter, I was wondering if the heat of the sun on a frozen bud early in the morning could make it drop by basically heating it up to quickly? when I pruned it i just took of some of the older middle branches as it was really packed tight I thought it may help let in some light.

Hi, they do not like early morning sun as you say, so it could be something to do with that.

That's what I'm thinking Daylily

Definitely do not like sun on frozen flower buds, if you are expecting a frost cover with fleece overnight.

Would it be ok to move it now Moon_growe if I take a lot of soil with it?

Much better to wait until late autumn to move as the sap will then have dropped back down into the roots. They aren't the easiest of shrubs to move but it can be done. Either Google for advice nearer the time or come back on here and ask for info.

I've never fed any of my camellias, even the potted ones and they have always flowered well. I had two big trees and two in pots in my last garden.

Thanks guys ill move it and google as much info as I can thanks

If you're saying its been in the ground for ten years, you've about as much chance of moving it successfully as I have of being 35 again, frankly. You can give it a try if you like though, in late autumn/early winter...

Thanks Bamboo If I thought it would die I'd rather just leave it as it looks healthy it's just not flowering, I can always get another and plant that somewhere it will flower.

Aye, that's what I'd do - and this time, plant it somewhere it won't get morning sun in winter and where there's more likely to be damper soil...

I now know the perfect place you live you learn! thanks for the advice Bamboo it's appreciated.

;-)