| 1. Growing temperature: even during the period of active growth, camellia should be kept in cool conditions - at a temperature of 7 to 15 ° C. In autumn, the temperature is lowered even more and the plant should spend the winter months in a cold room with a temperature of 5 - 7 ° C. |
| 2. Lighting: shading is possible on the hottest days, the rest of the time direct rays of the sun can hit the plants. Well lit location with plenty of reflected sunlight. |
| 3. Watering and air humidity: dry the soil between waterings by 1 - 2 centimeters in depth, significantly reduce watering in the autumn - winter period. Air humidity is high. |
| 4. Trimming: formative pruning is carried out after flowering, sanitary pruning is carried out as necessary, using a sharp and sterile pruning shears or a garden knife. |
| 5. Priming: must have an acidic pH and good drainage, as well as a loose structure that allows not only the passage of water, but also air to the roots of the plants. |
| 6. Top dressing: liquid mineral fertilizers for azaleas and rhododendrons every 2 weeks in spring and summer. In autumn and winter, camellia is not fed. |
| 7. Reproduction: camellia propagates by seeds or apical cuttings, grafting. |
Botanical name: Camellia.
Camellia flower - family . Teahouses.
The homeland of the plant where camellia grows. Japan, China, Korea.
Description. Camellia - what kind of flower is this? The genus contains magnificent shrubs with numerous branched stems bearing shiny, dark green, leathery leaves up to 10 cm long. The leaf blades have slightly serrated edges.
buds appear on the tops of young one-year-old shoots and in the axils of the upper leaves. Flowers large, rose-like in shades of white, pink, crimson, yellow, single, semi-double and double, single or in small inflorescences, each up to 15 cm in diameter. 
Varieties have been bred with two-color petals that have stripes and strokes. Each flower remains open for a week.
It is interesting that the period of active growth occurs after flowering - large buds located on the tops of the shoots near the buds begin to grow.
Height. Most species reach 3 - 4 m. in height, however, when grown indoors, their sizes become more modest, and, in addition, are regulated by pruning. Homemade camellias develop slowly.
2.9.Soil
Camellias need moist, well-drained, loose soils with a high organic content And acidic pH about 4 - 5.5. Soil that is strongly alkaline can kill the plant and, in any case, will cause chlorosis.
For growing a bush, a mixture of fertile garden soil with turf and light leaf soil, peat and sand is suitable. To acidify, you can add finely chopped pine needles to the soil.
You can also use ready-made soil for azaleas and rhododendrons for planting.
2.10.Fertilizer
Every 2 weeks, from the formation of the first buds to the beginning of flowering, camellia is fed with fertilizers with a high content potassium at half concentration. During the dormant period, feeding is stopped.
Fertilizers should also be applied after flowering, since it is at this time that active growth occurs.
Fertilizers for rhododendrons are used for fertilizing - camellias are very sensitive to excess salts in the soil.
Plants love it very much organic fertilizers and acidic fertilizers.
2.11. Spraying camellia
Air humidity must be high.
You can regularly spray foliage with soft water, but it is better to place the pot with the plant on tray with wet pebbles or use room humidifier.
Near the plant you can place a tray with damp sphagnum moss- by evaporating, the water will naturally moisten the atmosphere around the bush.
When spraying, do not get it on flowers and buds - the water will ruin their appearance.
In general, it is worth following the rule - the higher the air temperature, the higher its humidity should be.
Camellia does not like cold drafts, but prefers well-ventilated areas with good air movement.
2.12.Purpose
Camellias can be grown as attractive flowering miniature bonsai trees.
2.13.Note
At good care camellia can live for a very long time in room conditions. In nature, there are specimens whose age is approximately estimated at 500 years.
Camellia flowers - a symbol of cold and very attractive female beauty, which can break men's hearts.
In Japan the plant became symbol of fidelity subject to his master until death.
Drooping flowers are considered a symbol of modesty, while the buds looking up symbolize the desire for the high.
2.14.Growing in open ground
does not tolerate long and severe frosts, therefore in open ground plants are successfully grown only in the south of Russia - in Krasnodar region.For cultivation, select a location that will be protected from strong gusts of wind and direct sunlight during the daytime.
To the bottom planting holes lay out drainage in the form of expanded clay or crushed stone.
Plants are planted so that their root collar is slightly above the soil level.
The soil around the bush is compacted and the camellia is watered abundantly.
The base of the plant trunk is necessary mulch fallen leaves, straw or sawdust - this will delay the development of weeds and reduce moisture evaporation.
Further care of the plants will consist of timely watering, fertilizing and loosening the soil.
If frosts down to -5 -10 degrees Celsius occur in the region during the winter months, then before the onset of winter the base of the plant is covered with a thick layer of mulch, spruce branches or fallen leaves, and a shelter is also provided in the form of non-woven material.
Hydroponics.
3.Varieties:
3.1.Japanese camellia - Camellia japonica
The most common subspecies of camellia. IN natural environment habitat, the plant can reach a height of 1.5 to 5 - 11 m. The leaves are glossy, green, lanceolate, the leaf blades are hard, young leaves have a burgundy-copper hue. The flowers are pink, white or red, often double, the diameter of the flowers varies from 5 to 12 cm. The flowering period begins in spring and lasts 3 - 4 weeks.
Unfortunately, this capricious beauty is almost impossible to raise at home - it cannot stand stuffy and warm rooms.
a very delicate plant with large, double flowers of a soft pink hue, the main distinguishing feature of which is that the petals, gradually decreasing in size towards the center of the flower, are arranged one after another in even rows.
3.3. Chinese camellia - Camellia sinensis
Large flowering shrubs, from the upper leaves of which the familiar tea is obtained. In nature, plants can reach a height of 10 m. The leaves are green, lanceolate, glossy, and hard. The flowers are creamy-yellow, medium-sized, reaching 3-4 cm in diameter, with 7-8 rounded petals and large orange stamens.
The plants are evergreen shrubs with large, single red or pink flowers up to 2.5 - 3 m high. The flowers have a large number of bright yellow stamens and can be simple or double. The diameter of the flowers varies from 3 to 10 cm. Among this subspecies there are many varieties with flowers that do not emit a scent. Among all the varieties, this camellia has the smallest leaves. Leaf blades are dark green, glossy.
Based on these plants, modern frost-resistant varieties have been bred that can be grown in open ground.
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Camellia is a large shrub or tree, if it grows in open ground, endowed with a porous crown reaching more than 2 meters. Not all gardeners will be able to grow a flower at home, since the bush, which blooms in winter, does not take root very readily in indoor conditions.
Nevertheless, the wayward charmer is extremely popular thanks to its exotic-looking flowers and the presence of useful qualities that are applicable both as decorative elements of interiors and as practical ones that bring benefits.
blooming camellia
Belongs to evergreen, ornamental flowering shrubs from the Theaceae family. In the natural environment, most of the varieties are found in regions where tropical and subtropical climates predominate. So you can find blooming camellia in Southeast and Central Asia, Indochina, Japan, the Philippine Islands and the island of Java.
Nowadays, there are about 250 species of this amazing tree. One of the most famous varieties is the Chinese camellia or tea bush, thanks to the foliage of which the original variety of tea is produced. Some of the varieties are grown only indoors or for decorating certain areas.
It is very popular as it blooms for a long time in winter.
Characteristics and description of Camellia
Camellia is a flower that can be either a shrub or a tree. The height reaches from 2 to 20 meters. Endowed with simple elliptical or broadly ovate and oblong-ovate leathery leaves.
camellia bonsai
The glossy leaves, located in several pieces on short petioles, can be either pointed or blunt. Their length, depending on the variety, varies from 3 to 17 cm.
In their circumference, single flowers vary from 1 to 10 cm. The petals fused at the base are colored pink, red, white or variegated, and are also decorated with many stamens. The tree begins to bloom with the onset of cold weather, if the air temperature does not exceed +12 degrees.
You can enjoy bright colors for 1 to 3 months. After they wither, fruits are formed, which are a dry box with five compartments, in which no more than 8 seedlings are formed.
Some of the varieties are valued by gardeners due to their evergreen crown and flowers that bloom with cold weather. They decorate rooms and parks, giving them rich green shades.
Using the foliage of the hybrid Japanese-Chinese eugenolic camellia, an essential oil is created, which contains 97% eugenol.
What types of flower are found?
Only a few species of cameli are grown at home. Among them:
Mountain Camellia sasanqua - Camellia sasanqua
Sazanka variety
The Japanese call this species very beautifully and poetically - the flower of the winter sun, as it grows on the mountain slopes of the islands of Kushu and Okinawa, which are perfectly illuminated by the sun's rays.
The height of the bush varies from 3 to 5 meters. Deep green ovate or elliptical leaves, the upper part of which is shiny and the lower part pubescent, grow from 3 to 7 cm.
The circumference of red, pink and snow-white simple flowers can reach up to 7 cm. Both single flowers and several flowers can bloom on the bush. Abundant flowering in garden plots begins in November and lasts until February.
The most mega popular decorative varieties:
- Bicolor
- Bonanza
- Cleopatra
- White double
- Enishi
Chinese camellia - Camellia sinensis
tea tree
This variety is also commonly called tea bush or Camellia bohea. But the most popular “name” is tea tree, since its leaves produce black and green tea. Young bai-kho greenery is used to make bai-kho tea.
The bush contains lovely fragrant inflorescences, which are excellent aromatic additives with an exotic taste for teas. They originate in the tropical and subtropical forests of Indochina. On the territory of Russia, this species can be found in the Krasnodar Territory. It is grown quite rarely indoors.
On a small evergreen tree, no more than 10 meters high, fragrant single buds bloom, which can also be combined into inflorescences of 2-4 pieces. White flowers consist of petals, sometimes with a yellow-pink tint, the number of which can vary from 5 to 9. Flowering begins in August and lasts until late autumn. The fruits are formed from October to December.
Japanese - Camellia japonica
IN folk medicine Chinese varieties of Camellia japonica are used as an anti-cancer medicine. The flowers tone the body and have astringent properties.
The Japanese camellia flower is grown quite often at home and is incredibly popular among professional gardeners.
indoor camellia
After all, it was on its basis that many indoor flower hybrids were bred. In Japan, the variety is no less famous than the magnificent sakura.
There are simple, double, semi-double, symmetrical and unevenly double inflorescences, in white, pink and bright red shades. In addition, there are hybrid varieties whose petals are decorated with specks, dashes or streaks.
Flowers spherical have a lot of similarities with a rose, peony or anemone, only the aroma emanating from them, of course, is absent. They are formed in the leaf axils and are located throughout the crown of the bush. All flowers do not fade for a whole month. You can enjoy the flowering from the beginning of November until the end of spring.
As a rule, this species is planted in pots, tubs and open ground. It feels great indoors, but the temperature where it grows should be no more than 12 degrees. Specimens grown in greenhouses form fruits.
Common indoor varieties:
- Hippolight Toby
- Japanese Tsubaki
- camellia japonica Nagasaki
- Lady Campbell
- Empress
Video of indoor camellia variety:
Except already known species, you can also find:
Saulenskaya - Camellia saluenensis
Thanks to this species, frost-resistant varieties are developed that can be grown in completely open ground or in a greenhouse. The free-branching shrub reaches up to 1.5 in height and the same in width. Flowering begins in the last months of winter and continues until spring.
The color of camellia is snow-white or deep red, and sometimes you can see a burgundy flower. The diameter in circumference reaches 8 cm. It is one of the unpretentious garden varieties. It differs from other representatives in that it independently drops flowers from the bush. Thanks to this ability, the shrub always looks neat and tidy.
Camellia oleifera - Camellia oleifera
Distributed in forests and on the river banks of China, at an altitude of 500 to 1200 meters above sea level. It is often bred on an industrial scale for its seeds, which are saturated with beneficial essential oil.
Camellia oil acts as:
- Antiseptic
- Tones
- Local anesthetic
The height of this evergreen shrub reaches about 10 meters. The trunk reaches 20 cm in circumference and is decorated with brown bark. The regular, leathery, petiolate foliage is ovoid in shape with slightly pointed or blunt tips. Snow-white flowers can be either bisexual single or paired axillary. They form in September, and their flowering lasts until the second half of October. It bears fruit in large capsules, in which many round seeds appear, about 3 cm long.
Reticulated - Camellia reticulata
The height of the tree reaches 20 m. In China, Buddhist monks decorate their gardens with deep red double flowers. Characterized quite large sizes inflorescences whose circumference exceeds 20 cm.
The bush is strewn with an endless number of pink, white and red blossoming buds, in which all the colors are mixed together in bizarre transitions and unusually shimmering under the sun's rays. Thanks to this feature, gardeners call them chimeras.
Golden-flowered camellia - Camellia chrysantha
It differs from other varieties in its bright yellow opening buds, the number of which on one bush can reach up to 200 pieces. It is protected by law in China and is listed in the local Red Book.. It can be found in its natural environment in the hard-to-reach forests of Vietnam or China.
Camellia flower care and cultivation at home
how to care
Growing a plant indoors is quite difficult. The fact is that the camellia bush prefers to grow at temperatures not lower than +5 degrees and not higher than +10, and also practically does not hibernate. Maintaining such a temperature indoors is not easy, which is why growing it in an apartment causes a lot of trouble.
Important to remember! If you do not have a glazed loggia, balcony, winter garden or terrace, then you are unlikely to be able to see the flowering, since the shrub begins to bloom its buds with the onset of cold weather, and foliage forms only in the spring.
In order to enjoy flowering in your apartment, you have to create some special conditions for its successful growth.
Temperature regime for indoor camellia
The first thing to take care of is creating a suitable temperature. In order for the buds to emerge and actively develop, the camellia will need only 12 hours of exposure to the sun. But at this moment you should pay special attention to the temperature:
- Its limits should be about 8-15 degrees. If it falls a little lower, flowering will most likely not occur.
- If you provide the shrub with less than 12 hours of daylight, be sure to reduce the room temperature to 8-10 degrees.
- Flowering begins in December and lasts until February and during this time you should maintain the temperature in the room no higher than 10 degrees, but it should not drop below 8°C.
If the air in the room is too warm, the bush will begin to drop buds or they will open much earlier, which will affect the quality of the flowers.
Сamelia: what kind of lighting does it prefer?
What should the soil moisture be and how to water it correctly
At the moment of bud formation, as well as when camellia flowers bloom, it must be watered with well-settled water.
how to water camellia
As soon as you see that the top earthen ball has dried out, be sure to water the plant. But remember that under no circumstances should the water be allowed to stagnate. When the tree is dormant, it is necessary to water it moderately.
- Prefers to receive acidified citric acid, fresh lemon juice and vinegar water.
- If the tree does not receive enough moisture, it will begin to shed its leaves.
- If you water the shrub too often, its foliage will turn brown and the buds will fall off.
To increase humidity in the summer, spray twice a day, humidify the air by spraying the plant and adding water to the pan. You need to place the container with the bush in moistened coarse river sand, gravel, pebbles or moss. During the flowering period, be especially careful when spraying, as water should not touch the flowers. If you want the tree to develop well, be sure to install a humidifier.
What fertilizer to use
At the time of the growing season, which begins in the spring, you need to start regularly applying fertilizers. Feed the tree no more than 2-3 times a month, using mineral or organic fertilizers. They stop feeding it completely by the end of summer, which allows it to set buds and release buds.
What should the soil composition be?
Camellia care at home is not easy, because it needs special lighting and temperature conditions. In addition, special attention should be paid to the soil in which you will plant the tree. In order to feel good in apartment conditions, it should be placed in loose, nutritious soil that easily allows water and oxygen to pass through. The acidity level should be equal to pH 4.0-5.5 units.
Juliet variety
It is possible to prepare the soil yourself using:
- 1 share of leaf soil
- 1 share of perlite
- 2 shares of coniferous land
- 2 shares of high peat
- 0.3 parts of conifer bark
- 0.3 shares of sand, which will make the soil loose
If you cannot prepare the soil, then purchase a suitable substrate from a specialized store, suitable, for example, for indoor azaleas.
First of all, a drainage layer is poured into the pot, which is covered with a thin layer of soil, on which the tree should be placed, straightening its root system. Fill the container with the rest of the substrate and lightly compact it with your hand.
Do not bury the root collar under any circumstances. This should also be monitored when mulching with sawdust, shavings or crushed bark.
How and when pruning and pinching is done
One of the important procedures that should definitely be carried out is tree pruning. In addition to removing damaged, dried and weak branches from the shoot, it is imperative to shape its crown. If you do not do this, the shape will be lost, the bush will become too large, and you will no longer be able to grow it in the house.
This procedure is carried out when the flowers begin to fade one by one and new buds do not form on the bush. Based on the chosen camellia variety, its shoots are sometimes cut off almost in half. Large sections are processed using garden varnish. 
Experienced gardeners, using pruning, manage to create small bonsai trees or standard specimens. Thanks to pinching and pruning, branching becomes more active, which allows the bush to bloom much more and more beautifully.
It is not easy to keep track of such an unusual plant, because camellia flower care at home photo showing all its beauty requires special attention.
Important! Be sure to pinch the buds, leaving no more than 2 on each stem. This procedure will allow you to provide the bush with large flowers that will delight you for a long time.
How to transplant
When the bush is between 1 and 3 years old, it needs to be replanted annually. Adult specimens need to be replanted once every 2 years. The procedure is carried out in spring and summer, when flowering has already completed. At the same time, you need to pinch the top to allow the shape of a tree to form. It is constantly necessary to add soil to the tubs and pots, which is mixed in advance with complex fertilizers.
Reproduction methods
You already know that camellia garden planting and care, which is not easy to care for, is a rather capricious plant in terms of demands. Now you should find out how you can propagate this incredible tree.
There are several ways to propagate camellia:
Cuttings
It is the most common method of reproduction.
Typically, this method is practiced in January, July or August. To form a root system, summer cuttings need only a month, which cannot be said about January seedlings, since they will need more than one month for this process.
- To obtain cuttings, you need to take special care to cut off the top young shoots that have formed in the current season. Their length should be about 6-8 cm. Don't forget to leave about 5 leaves on them. Under the axillary bud, make an oblique cut.
- Seedlings must be planted in special boxes into which a mixture of peat and sand in a 1:1 ratio is poured in advance.
- The box is placed in a lighted room in which the temperature is maintained at least +20+23 degrees.
- Be sure to water and spray the cuttings.
- After the roots have fully formed, transplant the plant into a pot with a diameter of about 8 cm.
Seminal
This method is also often used by flower growers. You need to sow 1 seedling in small pots. As soon as two full leaves appear on the sprouted sprout, transplant it into a larger container. Camellia sinensis tea is grown from seeds in the same way as other varieties.
Graft
There are varieties that take root with difficulty. In such situations, they are grafted onto the apical bud. The rootstock in this case is tea tree or other slightly demanding varieties of indoor camellia. After grafting, the room temperature must be maintained at least +20 degrees. Excess shoots that form on the seedling should be trimmed. It is necessary to spray the grafted flower regularly and not allow the sun to burn the immature leaves again. After 2.5 years, the seedling is separated from the rootstock and transplanted into a separate container.
Garden care
Camellia indoors is grown in the southern part of Russia and in the garden in open ground and it will already be a shrub.
To do this, you must follow some rules, including:
- tested soil composition
- maintaining a certain temperature
- careful lighting
- humidity in the air
As a rule, all these items should meet almost all care requirements, as for indoor plants in room.
To decorate gazebos, loggias and other facades, a special variety of climbing plant was bred.
What problems do you encounter when growing camellia shrubs?
- Improper watering and excess moisture will lead to rotting of the root system and the formation of a crust on the foliage of the tree.
- Dry air causes black spots to appear on the leaves. To cope with this problem, you need to get rid of the affected greenery. Wipe those leaves that have not become infected with a soft, damp sponge. Place the container in a cool room or near a window, thereby distancing it from other plants.
- If you bury the root collar when planting, this will most likely lead to the death of the plant. The cervix does not deepen under any circumstances.
- It can easily drop all the buds and leaves if:
- change his usual potty position
- change the angle at which the light was illuminated
- soil acidity will be higher than normal
Red camellia, like other varieties, requires special care. If you do everything correctly, you will soon be able to enjoy the lush, bright flowering of an evergreen shrub that will delight you with its flowers throughout the winter.
Video secrets for caring for camellia at home:
Distributed in the southern tropics from Japan to the Philippines, camellia rules the evergreen forests in the southern regions of Russia. Gorgeous and sophisticated, you can't help but like her. Its flowers, vaguely reminiscent of roses, amaze the imagination with their regal beauty. Camellia is a very demanding crop to grow. summer cottage Some knowledge will be required, but being responsive to care and feeding, the princess will reward you with a long festive fireworks of flowers. Giving a luxurious garden needs care and maintenance.
Evergreen camellia: description
The genus Camellia of the tea family has up to 80 species, which are either trees. The decoration of the shrub is leaves - glossy, leathery, oval, pointed, single or fused at the base, as well as flowers of all shades of white-pink-lilac. Many species are widespread due to their high decorative qualities. Bush garden camellia blooms in winter time when the thermometer readings do not exceed 12°C. The duration of flowering of the bush is also surprising. It ranges from 1 to 3 months. Each flower can not fade for about a month. This amazing plant appears at the ends of shoots in winter. The blooming garden camellia, the photo of which is presented, is a festive and solemn spectacle. It is capable of radically changing any, even the most dull and unpromising area. That is why landscape designers place camellia on a high pedestal. These magnificent shrubs are invaluable in landscaping interiors and creating park and garden compositions. The most interesting object in the creation of landscape masterpieces is considered to be a garden - or shrub, reaching 10-15 m in height, common in the subtropical forests of Japan and China. Distinctive feature Japanese camellia is the presence of large red single flowers located in the axils and on the tops of the branches. Flowering is spectacular and long lasting. There are up to 1000 different garden forms and varieties in cultivation with a wide variety of double and semi-double flowers with a diameter of 4 to 15 cm. Japanese camellia is light-loving, but also tolerates slight shading.
Garden camellia: planting and care
The easiest way to propagate camellia is by seeds. Freshly harvested seeds are usually sown, the germination rate of which is 80-90%. They are not stored, as they quickly lose their ability to germinate. The ideal soil for sowing is a mixture of river sand and peat in equal proportions. To speed up seed germination, the air in the room where the seedlings are grown is heated to +22°C. Seedlings germinate and take root throughout the year. It should be remembered that the resulting young seedlings are characterized by a low level of resistance to adverse influences, however, with quality care they develop intensively, increasing the degree of winter hardiness that garden camellia is characterized by. Care and cultivation ends with flowering, which usually occurs in the fifth to seventh year, sometimes after 2-3 years.
Propagation by cuttings
More suitable for propagation of varietal camellias vegetative method- apical cuttings, for which shoots of the current year with two or three internodes with developed axillary and apical buds are selected. The size of the cuttings is purely individual, ranging from 3 to 12 cm and depending on the camellia variety. They are cut in July or August. A maximum oblique cut is made from the bottom of the cutting under the axillary bud, and the bottom leaf is also cut off. To increase the likelihood of rooting, the cuttings are placed in a solution of stimulants for 5 - 7 hours and planted in clean river sand, covered with glass or film. An important condition for rooting is maintaining a constant temperature in the region of 23-27°C. Rooting takes quite a long time - up to one and a half to two months. Treatment with a stimulant significantly increases the speed of rooting and forms a powerful root system of the plant.
Preparing the soil for planting in a permanent place
Garden bush camellia is a lover of acidic soils. Fertile and permeable soils are especially suitable for planting this shrub. When planting, it is important to remember: camellias should not be buried too deep; its root collar should be flush with the ground. Once a year the bush requires feeding. The best fertilizer for camellias it is considered organic. At the end of summer, when the plant begins to form buds for flowering next year, camellia is fertilized with humus and chicken droppings. There is no need to feed the bush later, as the buds may fall off. A necessary condition for good plant development is mulching with leaf humus, grass, crushed bark or wood chips, i.e., everything that ensures the preservation of soil acidity and moisture at the roots. When mulching, it is necessary to leave the root collar open, otherwise the camellia may rot.
Watering
Good development resulting from proper cultivation, garden camellia will appreciate. Planting and care, as well as proper watering, contribute to
rapid plant growth. Regular watering should be provided in all seasons. In summer, water more generously, taking into account weather conditions and planting location. If the summer is hot and dry, it is necessary to spray the bushes. In cool winter, watering is more careful and infrequent.
Camellia care
Camellias grow well in humid and temperate climates. They are quite winter-hardy and can withstand frosts down to -20°C, prefer shade, and in areas with dry, hot summers - a shady location. Camellias especially like to be located next to a fence, wall or other taller crop, i.e., a support that protects from winds and bright sun. The flowering time of the plant is unusual: autumn - winter - early spring. These are the biological characteristics of this genus: for the formation of high-quality buds and flowering of the shrub, short daylight hours and coolness are required. Comfortable air temperature for laying flower buds is 18-20 °C, for flowering - 8-12 °C. Camellias love diffused light, but not direct bright sunlight. Flowering representatives of the tea family are not afraid of night frosts, but when the flowers quickly thaw in the morning sun, they lose their appearance and die. Therefore, camellias are usually not planted on eastern slopes.
Trimming
The camellia crown is formed in the spring by pinching the tops of the shoots. This is done so that the garden camellia can branch better. Landing is not a complex operation. At the end of autumn, pruning of shoots is necessary to stimulate the growth of axillary buds. By repeating this operation annually, you can achieve excellent decorativeness and flowering of the bush.
Pests and diseases
Unfortunately, pests and diseases do not bypass camellias. It is often affected by fungi, aphids and scale insects. Fungal diseases are manifested by the appearance of gray and black spots on the leaves and brown spots on the flowers. A diseased plant cannot be restored, so it is better to remove it and burn it.
Garden camellia, which is amazing in its beauty and long-lasting flowering, gives incredible joy. Planting and caring for this crop is not as burdensome as it is written in many publications, but it is impossible to contain your emotions when looking at the regal decoration of a magnificent tree.
Grows mainly in the Asian region, where a subtropical climate prevails. It is grown to decorate an apartment or personal plot, as well as for the manufacture of homeopathic remedies. Despite the rather capricious nature of camellia, by adhering to the rules of caring for the plant, in the future you can enjoy the look of luxurious buds.
Description and features
According to botanical taxonomy, this exotic plant, which has an evergreen crown and is ideal for growing indoors, belongs to the Tea family. They cultivate both tree and shrub forms of camellia, which are bred in order to obtain exquisite flowers or.
The soil must be fertile and loose. When planting, make sure that the root collar is not too deep. Garden camellias are watered regularly to keep the soil slightly moist but not waterlogged.
With the onset of spring, mineral and organic fertilizers intended specifically for this type of plant are added to the soil monthly. In the fall, using crushed bark and fallen leaves, the soil near the trunk is mulched and then covered with spruce branches. If winters are not severe, then there is no need for additional shelter. In northern regions, where frosts occur regularly, the base of the trunk and crown are covered with fibrous non-woven material.
My friend grows beautiful flower! At first I thought it was a rose, but no, it turned out to be a camellia. I had never heard of this plant before. I decided to find out how it feels at home, whether it is demanding on lighting and soil.
A friend said that the flower was “capricious.” It should receive enough light, but not be exposed to direct sunlight. Should be selected for him suitable soil and fertilizers. I liked camellia so much that I decided to find out how to grow it correctly. And this is what my friend told me.
Camellia, a representative of the tea genus, grows in the tropics and subtropics; it is also common in Russia, Europe, Asia, Japan and Korea. The leaves of this ornamental crop are ovoid, leathery, and depending on the variety, they can be simple or pointed.
Red, pink, and white varieties are popular. Some gardeners prefer variegated leaves. In the photo you can see all the beauty of the plant.
Features of care
In order for camellia to bloom for a long time at home, you need to properly care for it. If you are a beginner gardener and don’t yet know how to care for... indoor flower, listen to my friend's advice.
Camellia stunts in growth if it does not have enough light. For full photosynthesis, home culture needs light and moisture.
It is recommended to spray not only the plant itself, but also the air around it. It is important to choose the right soil mixture; we will return to it later. A friend advises placing the camellia in the east or west. The plant prefers bright but diffused light. If placed in the south, it will suffer from direct sunlight.
Periodically you need to turn the pot, so the home culture will develop proportionally.
Be careful: the buds should not fall off! In hot weather, you need to take the plant out into the fresh air (only in the morning and evening). Remember that direct sunlight is harmful.
- In spring, camellia develops well at temperatures from + 19 to + 26 degrees.
- In order for the plant to form buds in a timely manner, at the beginning of spring and also in autumn, the air temperature should be from + 16 to + 18 degrees.
- Recommended temperature in winter is from + 9 to + 12 degrees.
A flower growing in unfavorable conditions drops its buds. Camellia must receive a sufficient amount of air; a draft is harmful to it. We recommend watering the plant as the soil dries out. Make sure that water does not get on the fragile buds.
For irrigation, it is better to use soft, settled water. To provide the plant with additional nutrition, you need to place the pots on a tray with wet expanded clay.
Fertilizer application, soil for camellia
I advise you to feed camellia once every 22 days. She positively perceives mineral products: 1 g of such fertilizers is calculated for 1000 ml of water. To improve photosynthesis, you need to trim the camellia. It is advisable to carry out the procedure at the end of autumn. Thanks to the adjustment, the buds grow better.
The home flower does not tolerate transplantation well, but it must be done every year. After picking, you can pinch the shoots. Camellia takes root in light, fertile soil with a pH level of up to 5. I advise you to make a mixture of soil, sand and peat, taken in equal proportions.
Before planting the plant, you need to lay drainage at the bottom of the pot.
Generative (seed) propagation and cuttings
For planting, you should choose compact pots. Seeds need to be sown one at a time. When they germinate and turn into seedlings with two strong leaves, they will need to be picked (transplanted into larger pots).
If you want the plant to retain its varietal qualities, propagate it by cuttings. In this case, seven-centimeter green cuttings are used. Reproduction occurs in early July or late January. The planting material should have several strong leaves. Each cutting is placed in a box.
Planting material develops favorably at an air temperature of + 22 degrees. Experienced gardeners use a soil mixture of sand and peat taken in equal proportions. If propagation is carried out in summer, the cutting will take root in 50 - 70 days, in winter - up to 90 days. We recommend not only watering, but also spraying the plants.
In order for the planting material to take root faster, it must be placed in a heteroauxin solution. Don't forget to water the plants. When they form roots, transplant them into separate containers. Make a soil mixture of peat, sand, leaf and turf soil, taken in equal proportions.
Diseases, pests, possible problems during cultivation
If the soil mixture turns sour, the plant begins to drop buds and its leaves turn brown. It is important to protect the crop from direct sunlight, otherwise burns in the form of brown spots will appear on the leaves.
You must add water on time, otherwise the plant will die!
This plant is not susceptible to disease, but if the air is too dry, it attacks spider mite. Insecticides are used to control the pest.
We met very beautiful plant. Caring for and growing at home will not take much of your time, but follow important rules. The main thing is to add water moderately and avoid drafts! Provide your home culture with bright, indirect lighting.