Camellia question

Hi all,

I'm wondering whether anyone can advise me on japanese camellia. Specifically, I want to know whether I can treat it like a tropical, or whether it needs a period of winter dormancy. The reason I ask is that the guy I usually get my trees from keeps them in a heated greenhouse year round, along with the rest of his tropicals. Can I bring it indoors with the rest of my tropicals? Light and humidity are not an issue: I use metal halides and even my humidity loving plants (e.g. sageretia) seem to like the indoor conditions I provide them. Of course, as soon as the whether permits, everything goes outside, but this is usually not until May 1st. Any suggestions here?

I think you've answered your own question.

The opposite, however, seems like a question. The coldest climates camellias can grow in is USDA zone 7 which is no colder than 5F (-15C). Bear in mind that this is for a plant with its roots in the ground, so if you sink the pot in the ground you could leave it outside and bring it in temporarily when temperatures were getting blow that limit. But your nursery guy has no problems treating them as tropicals, so why not, unless that creates some problem for you?