Thanks guys I thought the light was probably the culprit. I'm still learning. I left the plastic on longer because it covered 3 flats and I was trying to give other things a chance to germ. I guess germ rates make it a bad idea to put em all together. Personally I didn't expect them to germ. so quickly. All I've done before is perennial seeds and those took awhile. Mine aren't near as bad as that pic though LOL. Makes me feel better. But mine also aren't as old as those. I went ahead and moved them out to my GH today. I didn't start them in there because we have still had a few cold nights. I have them under a triple layer of insect screen for a shade cloth and it was cloudy today and supposed to be for the next few days. I'm hoping this will be enough to harden them up, unless we get a lot of sunshine, but I can always make some more shade for em. I would think the less time they have spent with poor light they faster they should adjust to higher light levels. If I start anymore it will definitely be in the GH since it has warmed up nicely in the past week. Let's hope it stays that way. Thanks for the help, I'm hoping they'll recover.

Unless it's one of those 'instant garden' plants, I suggest you remove it from the ground and check the root ball. You said it had been parked in a basement over winter: it may be that the root ball is internally dry. Drop it into a bucket of water. If it bubbles like a kettle on the boil that's where you start. Sometimes, if a plant has been in it's container for a while the roots will have felted across the bottom and there won't be much available to take in food and moisture. Brutal though it sounds, cut off the bottom inch, and gently scrape off the old surface soil. When you've done this, plant it into a container that is no bigger than an inch wider than the root ball. Shallow is fine. This is because Camellias can be slow to send out roots and having too much potting mix means water will be sitting - a sure bet for rotten roots further on. Put some fresh mix on the surface to replace what you took off but don't add any extra fertiliser. Be sure that the mix you use has NO 'water crystals and is very free draining to encourage root growth. Stand the pot on feet in a spot that is sheltered from the wind and midday sun. Wait. It may take all summer for a recovery. Keep it lightly moist. It's probably best to dunk the pot in water once a week so it is thoroughly wet, then slowly dries out, rather than spritzing it with the hose. When you see new leaves emerging sprinkle about a teaspoon of a reliable slow release fertiliser on the surface. Another possible is pelletised sheep manure. Just make sure it doesn't crust and stop water getting through. As summer moves on, give it more light and let it get its new leaves toughened up. If you're prepared to provide it with frost shelter over the winter (frost cloth or a hessian cover) and it has recovered, you might want to plant it out at the end of August when the soil is still warm and you've got about eight weeks before Frost in Earnest begins. (I'm assuming you're at the southern end of the Island.) If you check over the hole you created for it - is it flooded at all? If so, choose a better-drained spot. You could do it now and use the site for annuals - weeding and feeding until it's time to plant out. PS - I've had Apple Blossom in a 20l bucket since 1987. Flowers reliably. In good health. It's an option, anyhow.

Hey Lisa, Those cuttings look okay. Don't worry about the leaves wilting. It's all about the stem at this point. Trim the bottom up to a node and remove leaves so that the plant concentrates on roots. Don't cut the mother "way" back. Be sure to leave the Y area at the top. Some of this is hit and miss, but like you say "But hey its worth a try! " Take your time. You have another few weeks (in your zone) to figure out what you think is best. And, I found there's no mastering plants, they master us. ;-) Treat this one, and the cuttings well, and you should be rewarded. Gail This post was edited by monet_g on Fri, Sep 13, 13 at 18:07

They'll be fine.. They are tough buggers.. Mine has fallen out of it's pot over a dozen times because of my cat, and it is still happy as a lark! You should see how some people handle theirs while in rest mode...Like how about throwing them on the floor, barerooted, till they are ready to get potted up. How about hanging from rafters, naked, upside down, until it's time to put them in soil. Mike..:-)