In today's article we will take a closer look at such a beautiful indoor plant as camellia. So…
Camellia ( lat. Camellia) - a genus of evergreen trees or shrubs with beautiful flowers of the family Tea plants (Theaceae).
The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus in honor of the Jesuit missionary and botanist of Czech origin Georg Joseph Kamel (1661-1706), who worked as a doctor and apothecary in the Philippines, who first brought camellia to Europe from the Philippines.
Camellia is widespread in the tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast and East Asia, the South of the USA, on the peninsulas of Indochina, Korea, Japan, on the islands of Java, Sulawesi, and the Philippines.
The most famous plant species is Camellia sinensis (Camellia sinensis), from the leaves of which raw materials are obtained for making tea. Many types of camellia are used in ornamental gardening.
Camellia It is a small evergreen shrub or tree with a height of 2 to 20 meters.
The leaves are simple, elliptical to broadly and oblong-ovate, leathery, glossy, pointed or obtuse, one at a time, sometimes 2-3, alternate on short petioles, 3-17 cm long.
The flowers are solitary, 1-12 cm in diameter. The petals are fused at the base, pink, red, white or variegated, the stamens are numerous. Camellia blooms in winter at temperatures no higher than 12°C.
The flowering period of the camellia bush is 1-3 months. One flower lasts up to a month. The fruit is a dry capsule that is usually divided into 5 compartments with 8 seeds.
Some types of camellia have become widespread as valuable ornamental evergreens and flowering plants. They are widely used for landscaping interiors and creating exhibitions in the park during the summer. Others are used as tea, as you and I already know.
An essential oil containing 97% eugenol is obtained from the leaves of the Japanese-Chinese camellia eugenol (Camellia sasanqua).
According to various sources, the genus Camellia includes from 80 to 250 plants.
Camellia sinensis , whale. 茶 "cha" , Japanese 茶 "cha") . Other plant names: Tea, tea bush. Homeland - tropical and subtropical mountain forests of Southeast Asia (Indochina).
Camellia sinensis is an evergreen shrub or small tree up to 10 m high with spaced branches.
The leaves are alternate, oval or elongated-oval, narrowed towards the apex, short-petioled, dark above, light green below, 5-7 cm long, 3.5-4 cm wide, slightly pubescent when young. The pulp of the leaves contains branched supporting sclereids.
The flowers are fragrant, solitary or 2-4 in the leaf axils. Bracts and flowers are arranged in a spiral. The calyx is fused-leaved with 5-7 sepals, almost round, remaining with the fruit. The corolla is 2.5-3 cm in diameter, falling off after flowering, of 5-9 white petals with a yellowish-pink tint, fused at the base with each other and the calyx. Stamens in two circles: the outer ones grow together with stamen filaments and grow to the petals, the inner ones are free; anthers small, ovoid. The gynoecium is coenocarpous, with columns fused to the middle.
The fruit is a flattened tricuspid woody capsule. The seeds are round, dark brown, 10-13 mm long, 1 mm thick.
Blooms from August to late autumn. Fruits in October-December.
The tea bush was first cultivated in China, from where it came to Japan. In 1824, the Dutch began to cultivate tea on the island of Java, and in 1834 the British began to cultivate tea in the Himalayas. Currently, the main tea cultures are concentrated in China, India, Japan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Africa (Kenya and Natal), and South America. In Europe, it grows outdoors in Russia (Krasnodar Territory), the Caucasus, southern England, Portugal, Sicily, and western France.
. This type of camellia is common in forests and along the banks of rivers in China, at altitudes of 500-1300 m above sea level. Sometimes it is cultivated there for its seeds rich in fatty oil.
Camellia oleifera is an evergreen tree up to 10 m high. The trunk with a diameter of up to 20 cm is covered with brown bark. The leaves are alternate, simple leathery, petiolate, ovoid, pointed or obtuse at the apex. The flowers are white, bisexual, single or paired, axillary, appearing in September. Their flowering period lasts until mid-October. The fruit is a large capsule with numerous spherical seeds up to 3 cm long.
Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica) . Found in forests in China, Japan, and Korea.
Camellia japonica is a shrub or tree 10-12 (up to 15) meters tall. The leaves are elliptical or ovate, 5-10 cm long, pointed, along the edges, serrate, leathery, glossy, dark green. Flowers are single or collected in several, 4 cm in diameter (mainly garden varieties with large flowers, 7-12 cm in diameter, are bred in cultivation), simple, semi-double or double, pink, red, white, variegated, Seeds are large, almost rounded. Blooms profusely in December-April.
Various forms are widespread in culture, but mainly garden varieties, which differ in the degree of terry, flower size, arrangement of petals and color. Outside the subtropics, it is also a widely known plant in cultivation; it is grown in cool rooms as a potted plant, tub plant, and in the ground; grows and blooms well in rooms, requires no higher than 12°C in winter. It bears fruit in greenhouses.
In Chinese traditional medicine, all Camellia japonica plants are considered anti-cancer. The flowers have astringent and tonic properties.
Some varieties of Camellia japonica:
"Adolphe audusson"
Mountain camellia (Camellia sasanqua) . Synonyms: Camellia miyagii (Camellia miyagii), Camellia tegmentosa (Camellia tegmentosa), Miyagi tea (Thea miyagii), Mountain tea (Thea sasanqua), Tegmentosa tea (Thea tegmentosa). Lives in mountain forests on the islands of Kyushu and Okinawa.
Mountain camellia is a shrub up to 3-4 (up to 5) m tall, with thin branches and reddish hairy shoots. The leaves are elliptical or oblong-ovate, 3-7 cm long, 1.5-3 cm wide, bluntly pointed, serrated at the edges, glossy and dark green above, with a hairy pubescent midrib below. Flowers are single or collected in groups of 2-3, up to 6-7 cm in diameter, simple, white, pink or red, fragrant. Blooms profusely in November-January.
As evergreen and flowering plants, garden varieties are mainly bred in cultivation. Suitable for cool rooms.
There are five main groups of sazanka cultivars:
— “real” carp Camellia sasanqua;
— camellia Camellia x hiemalis;
— camellia Camellia x vernalis;
- a group of camellia hybrids with the common name “Egao”;
- frost-resistant Ackerman camellia hybrids.
Some varieties of mountain camellia:
"Bicolor"
Camellia grijsii
In the room, camellia grows, blooms and even bears fruit if it is provided with proper care.
Lighting. Camellia prefers bright, diffused light and is suitable for growing near windows with western and eastern exposure. At windows with southern exposure, the plant is provided with shading from direct sunlight. Near northern windows, the plant may not have enough light for normal growth. To prevent the crown from being one-sided, the plant can be turned towards the light. Just under no circumstances do this during budding: disturbing the plant during this period will cause the buds to drop.
In summer, the plant can be placed outdoors, in a place protected from direct sunlight.
Temperature. In the spring-summer period, Camellia prefers air temperatures around 20-25°C. For the formation of flower buds, a temperature of 18-20°C is required, and during flowering in December - February, on the contrary, 8-12°C. At higher temperatures, flowering occurs earlier, but the quality of the flowers will be worse, and there is a risk of buds falling off. With short daylight hours, the formation of flower buds can also occur at a temperature of 8-10°C.
Camellia needs access to fresh air.
Watering. In summer, camellias are watered evenly and abundantly; after the top layer of substrate dries, you should not overwater the camellias. When kept cool in winter, to avoid acidification of the soil, water carefully. As a result of soil acidification, the leaves turn brown and the flower buds fall off. Plants lose their leaves due to prolonged drying. The plant does not tolerate high levels of calcium in water, so it should be watered with soft, settled water.
Air humidity. Camellia prefers high air humidity; it is advisable to regularly spray it with soft, settled water, and place pots with plants on trays with wet expanded clay or peat. During the flowering period, spray carefully, avoiding moisture on the flowers.
Fertilizer. Once every three weeks, camellias are fed with complete mineral fertilizer at the rate of 1 g/l. Feeding is carried out all year round.
Features of cultivation. Camellias are short-day plants, and 12-14-hour daylight hours are optimal for the formation and normal development of flower buds. To set flower buds, adult plants also require a temperature of 18-20°C; When growing in conditions of low positive temperatures and in a shaded place, flower buds are not formed. During the flowering period (December-February), camellias are kept at a temperature of 8-10°C (12°C); at higher temperatures (18-20°C) there are premature flowerings, while the quality of the flowers is worse, and buds fall off; the latter is also observed when plants in the budding phase are moved to another place (affected by a change in light conditions). In areas with short daylight hours, flower bud formation can occur at temperatures of 8-10°C.
Trimming. In October-November, shoots are pruned to stimulate the growth of axillary buds.
Transfer. Young camellias are replanted annually. Plants that bloom annually are replanted every 2 years. Transplantation is carried out in the spring, at the same time the tops of the shoots are pinched so that the plant branches better.
The soil. For camellias, acidic soil (pH 4.5-5) is preferred. Of many subtropical plants, camellias have a unique ability to grow in acidic soils with a pH of 4 or lower. The composition of the substrate can be as follows: turf - 1 tsp, peat - 2 tsp, heather or leaf - 2 tsp, sand - 1 tsp. Potted plants are rarely replanted, but annual addition of soil and fertilizing are necessary. The bottom of the container provides good drainage.
Reproduction. Camellias are propagated by fresh seeds and cuttings.
Seeds are sown one at a time in 5-7 cm pots or boxes, then in the phase of two leaves they are planted in pots.
If you want to grow a varietal plant, you should propagate vegetatively - by cuttings, since when propagated by seeds, varietal characteristics are lost. In ornamental gardening, camellia varieties are especially valued, so they are propagated vegetatively in order to preserve the characteristics of the variety.
Ornamental camellias are most often propagated by apical non-lignified cuttings 6-8 cm long in a propagation box at a soil temperature of 20-24°C in January and July. The substrate for planting cuttings is made of sand - 1 tsp. and peat soil - 1 hour... Cuttings are cut with 3-5 developed leaves. They take root within 50-60 days (especially summer ones). Caring for cuttings consists of watering and spraying. Due to the long rooting period, it is advisable to soak the cuttings in a heteroauxin solution and then periodically water them, however, even in this case, rooting may be extended. Rooted cuttings are planted in 7-centimeter pots. Composition of the earthen mixture: leaf - 2 parts, peat - 2 parts, turf - 1 part, sand - 1 part; pH 4.5-5. Vaccinations are carried out on 1-2 year old camellia seedlings, sometimes on rooted cuttings. Water abundantly, then reduce watering to promote ripening of the wood.
Poorly rooted varieties are propagated by grafting, mainly in January, with developed buds from the top of the shoot. Vaccinations are kept at a temperature of 18-20°C. Germination is observed after 2 months. Caring for young plants consists of watering, spraying, shading from the bright rays of the sun (as leaves with burn spots fall off), creating air humidity and pruning shoots. In the 2nd year of culture, the plants are transplanted into 9-11 cm pots. The substrate is the same.
In the 3rd year of cultivation, the plants are transferred to 11 - 14 cm pots. The earth mixture is made up of turf - 2 parts, peat - 2 parts, leaf soil - 2 parts, heather - 2 parts, sand - 1 part.
As a result of soil acidification, the leaves turn brown and the flower buds fall off.
Brown spots appear on the leaves as a result of being burned by direct sunlight (especially in summer).
The main reasons for the failure of an amateur trying to grow camellia at home: low air humidity, lack of light, high temperatures and unsuitable soil composition.
Plants lose their leaves due to prolonged drying.
From a lack or excess of moisture, camellia can shed its leaves.
The main reasons for the failure of an amateur trying to grow camellia at home:
— low air humidity;
- lack of light;
- high temperatures;
- unsuitable soil composition.
The first written mention of camellias dates back to the 1st century AD, when the governor of the province of the island of Kyushu dealt with the leader of a gang of criminals using a club made from camellia wood. Therefore, this part of Kyushu is called Tsubaki after the Japanese name for the Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica), and the battle site itself is called “Bloody Field”. The name reflected the fact that the flowers of wild Tsubaki are bright red, and the first white flower of this species in history appeared only in the 7th century and aroused such interest that it was even brought to show Emperor Tenmu.
The culture of camellia cultivation in Japan experienced several periods of decline and prosperity. In the 11th century, camellias lost popularity; interest in them awakened only during the Muromachi period (1333-1568), the era of the formation of the traditional style of the Japanese garden. Breeding camellias became one of the occupations of the samurai class. In addition to Tsubaki, Sazanka (Camellia sasanqua), an autumn-blooming mountain camellia, was popular. It is smaller in size than Tsubaki, but it blooms more profusely and has a flower of a more asymmetrical shape, and easily tolerates open sun.
Throughout history, camellias have represented cultural symbols with often opposing meanings. At first, the Tsubaki camellia was one of the symbols of the sun goddess Amaterasu, and during the ban on Christianity in Japan, it also became a symbol of Jesus Christ for Japanese Catholics, who were forbidden to wear a cross.
To this day, the Catholic Church in Nagasaki is decorated with an ornament of Tsubaki flowers. Initially, this camellia was also a symbol of longevity. And in the 15th century, a belief arose that a samurai who touched it would be beheaded. The explanation for this belief is that the Tsubaki flower falls to the ground as a whole, like a severed head, and does not rain down petals, like Sazanka.
Members of the Japanese Higo Camellia Society believe that this superstition was part of the “black PR” of some samurai clans against others. Even stranger, in America in the 19th and 20th centuries, members of the racist Ku Klux Klan organization used the Japanese camellia as a symbol of the white race and called themselves the Knights of the White Camellia.
Contact with America - the arrival of Commodore Perry to the islands in 1858 and the subsequent opening of Japan to the world caused a decline in interest in camellias in Japan, as the Japanese quickly began to copy everything Western, from Western roses to warships. With the destruction of feudalism, many samurai, who were the guardians of the culture of growing camellias, lost their collections, and the younger generation began to perceive camellias as flowers for cemeteries. It was only a century later, in 1958, that a group of flower growers in Kyushu decided to revive the tradition of Higo, the flowers of the Kumamoto samurai clan. They found about a hundred varieties, many of which grew on ancient graves. Thanks to the enthusiasm of this group, as well as the Italian florist Franco Ghirardi, Higo camellias spread throughout Europe and the United States. This flower perfectly conveys the Japanese taste, based on simplicity, asymmetry and closeness to nature. Traditionally, Higo is grown as a bonsai, although Higo enthusiasts in Europe also grow them as regular-sized camellias.
Tea seeds in Japan and China are used to obtain fatty oil. Refined oil is used for food, while unrefined oil is used for technical needs.
Camellia sinensis in medicine
A significant part of the leaves and branches of tea, cut when caring for tea plantations (during molding), as well as tea dust generated in tea-packing factories, are used as raw materials for the factory production of caffeine and theophylline alkaloids. Caffeine is an important medicine. It has a stimulating and tonic effect on the central nervous system, improves mental and physical activity, is a diuretic and a remedy for migraines. Theophylline is used as a means of improving coronary circulation and as a diuretic for circulatory disorders of cardiac and renal origin. Tea alkaloids are included in a number of drugs (aminophylline, diuretin, etc.) used for coronary insufficiency, hypertension, bronchial asthma, angina pectoris, cardiac edema, etc.
In addition, a complex of catechins with P-vitamin activity is obtained from old tea leaves and tea dust, which is used for disorders of permeability and increased fragility of blood vessels, hemorrhagic diathesis, hemorrhages in the retina, radiation therapy, hypertension, etc. Due to the presence of caffeine and tannins substances, the tea drink and the isolated alkaloid caffeine are used as an antidote for poisoning by poisons, narcotic substances and alcohol.
Along with black, so-called long tea, green tea is widely consumed. Green tea is less aromatic, but physiologically more active. Experimental studies have found that green tea has antimicrobial properties. Its decoction was proposed to treat dysentery. It is also indicated for whooping cough, enterocolitis and dyspepsia. In combination with other drugs, it stimulates hematopoiesis, increases elasticity and reduces the permeability of the walls of blood vessels, and has an anti-radiation effect.
In folk medicine, strong tea compresses relieve pain and heat from sunburn and inflammation of the eyelids.
Camellia sinensis in cooking
From tea leaves, through complex processing, the well-known dry tea is obtained, which is used to prepare a tea drink. The most important components of the tea drink (tea) are tannins, caffeine and essential oil. The taste, color, aroma and medicinal properties of tea depend on these substances. Tannins and catechins give tea a bitter and astringent taste, and essential oil gives a subtle fragrant aroma. The invigorating effect of tea is due to caffeine.
The ways of drinking tea are unique. In Central Asia, slab tea is used to make a stew with salt, fat and milk (sometimes sheep's blood is added). In Central Asia, in some places they drink green tea with salt, in Tibet - with the addition of rancid oil. In England and many regions of Russia, they prefer a strong infusion of tea, diluted with milk or cream.
The leaves contain 9-36% tannins, including up to 26% soluble and up to 10% insoluble, resins, nucleoproteins containing iron and manganese. The composition of soluble tannins includes gallocatechin gallate, L-epiatechin gallate, L-epigallocatechin, L-gallocatechin gallate and L-epicatechin, free gallic acid and other substances. Also found in the leaves are alkaloids - caffeine, theophylline, theobromine, xanthine, adenine, hypoxanthine, paraxanthine, methylxanthine, isatin and other organic bases. Flavonoids were discovered - kaempferol, kaempferol 3-rhamnoglycoside, quercetin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, rutin, etc.
The stems, roots and seeds contain steroidal saponins. The seeds contain 22-25% fatty oil, 30% starch and sterols - stigmasterol and β, γ-sitosterol, up to 8.5% protein.
The leaves also contain coumarins, vitamins - ascorbic acid (more than 0.230%), thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, phylloquinone, nicotinic and pantothenic acids, essential oil.
The composition of the essential oil from fresh unfermented leaves (yield 0.007-0.014%) includes hexene-3-ol-1 (66%), methyl alcohol, hexene-2-al-1, isobutyric and isovaleric aldehydes, acetic, propionic, butyric, n-caproic and palmitic acids, salicylic acid methyl ester.
Fermented green leaf oil (yield 0.003-0.006%) consists of β, γ-hexenol (25%), n-hexanol, methyl alcohol, n-octyl alcohol, geraniol, linalool, citranellol, benzyl alcohol, phenylethyl alcohol, secondary alcohols, butyl-isobutyl and isovaleric aldehydes, hexene-2-ala-1, benzaldehyde, acetophenol, n-hydroxybenzalacetone, cresol, phenol, acetic, butyric, caproic, salicylic and phenylacetic acids and methyl salicylate.
The components of black tea oil are as follows: citronallol, geraniol, linalool, secondary terpene alcohol, benzyl, phenylethyl, butyl, isobutyl, isoamyl, hexyl, octyl and 3-methylbutyl alcohols, aldehydes (capronic, isovaleric, benzaldehyde), propionic, isovaleric, caprylic and palmitic acids, esters of these acids, cresols, quinoline, methyl mercaptan, methanesulfonic acid, 2-acetylpyrrole, methyl-, dimethyl-, trimethylamines, ethylamine, n-propylamine, etc.
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Camellia is a genus of evergreen shrub and tree plants of the Tea family (Theaceae). In nature, these plants are common in the tropics and subtropics. But knowing how to care for camellia, you can try to grow this wonderful flower at home. If everything is done correctly, you will be able to admire its magnificent appearance and luxurious flowering year after year. After all, camellia is deservedly considered one of the most beautiful and graceful plants.
Camellia flowers are very similar to roses, for which the plant received its second name - Japanese rose.
Camellia is native to Japan, Korea, the island of Java and the Philippine Islands, the Indochina Peninsula, central and southeast Asia. The plant was brought to Europe in the 17th century by the naturalist monk Camellus (the plant is named after him). Now the Asian beauty can be found not only in Asia, but also in the south of the USA, the Caucasus, and the Black Sea coast.
Camellia is grown in many greenhouses and winter gardens, used to decorate closed interiors, and in regions with a mild, humid climate, the plant has become an indispensable element of landscape design.
Most species are shrubs, but tall trees are also found. The dark green leaf blades of the plants, from 3 to 17 cm long, are oval in shape, pointed or semicircular at the ends.
Large, elegant flowers that complement the rich greenery can be delicate white, cream, pink or bright red. Two-color double or variegated camellia flowers look no less impressive. Delicate flower petals seem to be made of wax, which gives the buds a special attractiveness.
Camellia leaves are the raw material for obtaining essential oil, a decoction of flowers has an antiseptic, analgesic, tonic effect, and in Chinese medicine Japanese camellia is used as an anticancer agent.
The genus includes more than 200 species, the most famous of which are Chinese and mountain camellia. And in indoor floriculture, the Japanese variety is most often grown.
Camellia is a capricious flower that can be considered one of the most demanding and difficult to grow. But if you care for camellia according to the rules, the plant will quickly develop and grow, and bloom profusely.
The indoor camellia flower is light-loving and grows well on windows facing east and west. When choosing a place for cultivation, you need to take into account the characteristics of a particular variety: Japanese camellia does not tolerate direct sun (it needs to be shaded), but mountain camellia feels great under the scorching rays of the sun. The plant cannot be placed on the north side - there will be little light.
To achieve uniform formation of the crown, the flower pot needs to be rotated around its axis from time to time. But during the bud-laying phase, it is forbidden to disturb the flower, otherwise you will not be able to admire the beautiful flowering.
The plant needs to be moistened evenly. Japanese rose reacts poorly to both excess moisture and drying out of the soil. In the summer, when flower buds are being laid, the plant needs to be watered only when the top layer of soil dries out. In winter, watering camellias should also be moderate - this will help avoid rotting of the roots. Water for irrigation is taken at room temperature.
The room in which camellia grows should be well ventilated. In summer, the temperature should be in the range of 18–20 ° C, in spring – from 13 to 17 ° C. In winter, it is better to place the flower on a glazed balcony or loggia, where the temperature is kept in the range of 8–12 ° C. In rooms with working heating devices, the plant feels bad: withers, begins to hurt, does not bloom.
Indoor camellia does not react well to drafts and temperature changes.
The air in the room where the plant is kept must be humid. In summer, the required humidity can be maintained by spraying the plant twice a day. In winter, additional moisture will be provided by placing a container of water next to the plant. You can also place the flower pot in a tray with damp small pebbles or expanded clay, moss.
Japanese rose grows best in acidic soil. The alkaline soil substrate can be acidified with a few drops of lemon juice or special fertilizers.
The soil for camellias should be light, well-permeable to air and moisture, since in heavy soil the roots of the plant quickly rot.
As a rule, indoor flowers are planted in ready-made purchased soil intended for growing azaleas, camellias, and rhododendrons. The composition of such soil in equal quantities includes:
To ensure good drainage, place a large layer of expanded clay on the bottom of a wide pot.
You can prepare the soil mixture yourself. In this case, it is important that the soil has an acidic reaction and is well permeable to moisture and air. Can be mixed:
Fertilizers begin to be applied in the spring, when the first young shoots appear. Frequent feeding of camellia is not required; it is enough to apply fertilizer once every 3-4 weeks. At the end of summer, when flower buds begin to form, feeding is stopped completely.
Fertilize the flower with organic or complex mineral fertilizers for flowering plants, containing nitrogen, potassium, sulfur and phosphorus, microelements (copper and zinc, manganese, iron, boron and molybdenum). Complexes containing calcium and magnesium should not be used. Their source is ordinary tap water, which is used for irrigation. And an excess of these elements can cause the death of the plant.
When diluting fertilizers, it is better to reduce the concentration indicated in the instructions by half, since an excess of nutrients does not benefit the camellia, but is harmful. As an organic fertilizer, you can use chicken manure in low concentration.
Camellia at home is replanted in February - immediately after flowering ends, before active growth begins. Young camellias are replanted annually, but it is enough to replant an adult indoor plant once every 3-4 years. It is better to take wide pots for replanting. The bush cannot be planted deep, and the root collar, located between the roots and the stem, is strictly forbidden to be sprinkled with soil.
The plant must be replanted very carefully, trying not to damage the roots.
Home care for camellia also includes regular pruning of shoots. The procedure is best carried out from the beginning of October to the end of November.
It is important to remember that camellia is poisonous, and all transplanting and pruning procedures must be carried out with gloves.
A characteristic feature of camellia is that it blooms during the dormant phase - from mid-autumn to the end of winter. During this period, it is important to provide the plant with a temperature within 12–15 ° C. In hotter conditions, the plant may shed its buds. Flowering duration is from 1 to 3 months. In spring, flowering ends, the plant wakes up, and vegetative growth is activated.
When growing camellias, difficulties associated with care errors, attacks by pests, or damage to a susceptible flower by one disease or another cannot be ruled out.
To grow a houseplant, camellia is propagated:
Camellia grown from seeds blooms in 2–3 years.
As camellia seeds are stored, their germination rate decreases. Therefore, sowing is carried out immediately after collecting planting material in a container with a pre-prepared soil mixture of high-moor peat, perlite and a small amount of sand. Containers with crops are kept at a temperature of 18 to 22 ° C until germination. When 2 leaves appear on the seedlings, they are planted in separate pots.
For propagation, semi-lignified cuttings about 8 cm long with well-developed growth buds are cut in late spring or early summer. The cut sites are treated with rooting agents and growth stimulants. Then the cuttings are placed in damp sand, vermiculite or a mixture of sand and peat (taken in equal quantities), covered with film or a glass jar, and bottom heating of the soil is provided (temperature about 25 ° C). Under such conditions, the rooting process lasts about 2 months.
If you simply place the cuttings in a glass of water, they will not root.
Grafting is the most labor-intensive method of propagation. However, if the procedure is carried out correctly, the plant will bloom next year.
Vaccination is carried out in August or January. Semi-lignified apical shoots about 10 cm long are used as cuttings. The cuttings must have 3-4 elongated swollen buds (future leaves). The side shoots of the mother plant are cut off, and the cut points are sprinkled with powdered coal. The central trunk is trimmed horizontally at a height of 10–15 cm from the ground level. Vertical cuts are made on the cut of the trunk, grafting cuttings are inserted into them. The cuttings are pressed tightly against the trunk and secured with electrical tape.
Only lignified cuttings are suitable for propagation, and young green shoots are not suitable for cuttings.
It takes about 2 months for the grafts to germinate if they are kept at a temperature of 20 ° C. Young plants need to be regularly sprayed, watered, and protected from direct sun. In the second year, the plant can be transplanted into a pot.
As young plants develop, it is important to prune the side shoots of the mother bush that form below the graft. This will ensure a flow of nutrients to the grafted cuttings.
You can buy camellia at a specialized flower shop or greenhouse. Moreover, it is best to buy a flowering plant that is in the dormant phase. The cost of camellia is determined by its variety and size, and is:
The main difficulty in growing camellias is ensuring a suitable temperature regime. This is quite difficult to do in an apartment. If there is no glazed loggia or balcony where you can maintain low above-zero temperatures in winter, there is no point in growing an Asian beauty - in a heated apartment the plant will get sick and will not bloom. But if it is possible to create comfortable conditions and provide complete care for camellias, at home you will be able to grow an unusually beautiful, exquisite, luxuriously flowering bush.
My friend grows the most 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. You should select suitable soil and fertilizers for it. 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.
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 an 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.
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.
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.
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.
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, spider mites attack. Insecticides are used to control the pest.
We met a 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.
Homemade camellia is a beautiful oriental beauty that looks like a luxurious rose. Beautiful buds look gorgeous against the background of dark green foliage, but in order to admire the plant, you need to properly care for it. Camellia has gained the love of flower growers due to the fact that, in addition to the decorative properties of the bud, its leaves are used as tea leaves.
Camellia (camellia) has been known since the times of the Japanese samurai. Interest in the bright flower continues to this day. Proper cultivation of camellia at home guarantees abundant flowering in winter. There are these types of flowers:
The garden camellia, common in the mid-latitudes of Europe, and the domestic varieties common among our compatriots were bred on the basis of a Japanese variety.
To grow indoor camellia, you should study in detail the conditions that the capricious flower prefers. Even a slight deviation from the norm can cause it to begin to shed leaves and flowers.
Important! This is not a flower for the lazy, so be prepared to pay due attention to caring for this indoor beauty.
An indoor flower requires certain lighting:
Important! Rich green foliage requires protection from direct sunlight on particularly hot days. Therefore, it is better to place the pot in a slightly shaded place.
The camellia flower is a winter bloomer, so the temperature of its cultivation, like many other flowers, varies greatly during the autumn-winter period.
If the temperature is abnormal, you may experience the following problems: the ovary will fall off or flowering will occur much earlier, but the buds will be small and inconspicuous.
Caring for camellia requires a complete absence of drafts and the presence of fresh air.
Camellia loves moisture, but this process also follows clear rules.
Important! The flower prefers watering with settled water at medium temperature. Water rich in lime can destroy the sprout.
The flower does not tolerate dry air in the room where it grows. You can ensure optimal humidity in the following ways:
In summer, the plant does not require active feeding, but for harmonious development it should still be carried out. For these purposes, buy a special mineral fertilizer, and if you don’t have it, a rose substrate or liquid fertilizer for azaleas will do. Apply fertilizers according to instructions no more than once a month. During the flowering period, increase fertilizing to 2-3 times a month. Before applying fertilizers, be sure to pay attention to expiration dates. Delay can only harm the pet.
The perennial requires systematic replanting. The frequency of changing the pot directly depends on the age of the plant.
Plant propagation occurs in several ways:
How you care for camellia depends on how it blooms. Errors in care are the main cause of plant disease and death.
The video below clearly shows how to grow camellia and make it the queen of the winter garden. Have you had experience growing camellias? Write about the most important, in your opinion, in this process for readers.
Camellia is a shrub or tree, a member of the tea family. Some varieties grow up to 15 meters. The original leaves and large flowers of this plant served as the reason for its adaptation to growing indoors. There are several varieties of shrubs - Chinese, mountain, Japanese camellia. Care and cultivation at home have their own subtleties. You will learn about them from this article.
Decorative species are really very good. These are tall plants, covered with many large flowers of different colors in the autumn-winter period. It is often called the Chinese rose due to the similarity of flowers in appearance and smell. The camellia leaf is dense, with a glossy surface, so the decorative qualities of the plant are high not only during flowering.
In an apartment, with good, attentive care, it grows up to 4 meters in height. There are many varieties, but not all of them are suitable for an apartment. The following types are considered the best varieties for growing at home:
Williams hybrids, bred by crossing two species - reticulated and Japanese, deserve special attention. Their distinctive feature is resistance to negative factors.
Advice! If you don't want to pay too much attention to the plant, choose mountain camellia. It is distinguished by its moderate growth and ease of formation.
The camellia houseplant, despite its beauty, is not very common. This is due to the difficulties of growing it at home. Inexperienced gardeners often encounter the death of a flowering and apparently healthy plant some time after purchase. For the plant to grow properly, you need to create the appropriate conditions for it:
Important! Proper care of camellias involves creating favorable temperature conditions. In winter, the plant needs cold; it will quickly die in an apartment. Therefore, in winter, camellia should be kept on a glazed balcony at a temperature no higher than +10...+15°C.
Due to its developed root system, camellia must be replanted into a larger container once every 2-3 years. The soil for planting should be light and acidic. Using heavy soil will make it difficult for the root system to breathe and cause it to rot as a result of high humidity. Calcareous and alkaline soils are unsuitable for growing camellias - the plant quickly dies in them.
To avoid damaging the roots, the plant is transferred to a larger pot along with a lump of earth, adding fresh soil mixture to the free space. The first days after transplantation, camellia should be sprayed daily and monitor soil moisture. Adding a small amount of hydrogel to the soil will help maintain optimal moisture, avoiding root rot.
Flower growers have different opinions about the timing of transplantation. Some believe that the optimal period is the end of flowering. Others prefer to replant camellias while they are in bloom. The second option has a drawback - the flowers will inevitably suffer. It is prohibited to transplant camellias during the period of active growth, which begins in April and ends in autumn.
Advice! It is best to grow camellias in oak tubs and unglazed ceramic pots. Be sure to choose a large container for the harmonious development of the root system.
Camellia propagation is usually carried out by cuttings. This is the simplest but most effective way to obtain a plant with unchanged characteristics of the variety. In addition to cuttings, planting with seeds and grafting are sometimes used.
Camellia is a capricious plant; if not properly cared for, it gets sick and suffers from pests.
Camellia requires constant care, but the time spent is fully compensated by the very beautiful and long-lasting flowering of the plant.
