United Kingdom

I have a camilia about 35 years old. Always flowered well except when very cold and buds turned brown but leaves healthy. It flowered as usual this year but when I went to water it a couple of weeks later I found the whole plant had withered and the leaves curled, yellow and dead. Then I noticed a new healthy plant was growing out of the soil. I sawed through the the base of the dead plant because the new one was growing straight up from the soil, not out of its bark. I was worried in case it might infect the healthy plant. I also noticed the roots had grown out of the plant into the path and I freed them when lifting the pot to investigate. Did I do the right thing and do you know what might have caused its death and what should I do now?

Thanks

• 16 May, 2011