Camellia planting time and method

Camellia, also known as camellia, is an evergreen shrub or small tree belonging to the Theaceae family. Camellias are known for their graceful form, lush foliage and brightly coloured flowers. The flowers come in rich colors, some are red as fire, some are white as jade, and they appear particularly delicate and elegant against the backdrop of green leaves. Let’s learn about the cultivation time and methods of camellia.

1. Selection of soil and pots for camellia cultivation

According to the growth characteristics of camellia, a slightly acidic, loose, fertile, well-drained mixed soil should be selected as potting soil. Avoid using calcareous soil. The recommended ratio of mixed soil is: 6 parts red soil, 3 parts leaf mold, and 1 to 2 parts fine sand.

The size of the flowerpot should be moderate, not too big or too small. For example, camellia with a height of 40 to 50 cm and a crown width of 20 to 25 cm is suitable for planting in a purple clay pot or tile pot with a diameter of about 20 cm.

2. Time and method of potting camellia

The best time for potted planting is November in winter and February to March in early spring, when the flower buds are full and the flowers are in full bloom, which is most suitable for potted planting. After the flowers fade, new roots begin to grow. If you want to repot at this time, you must be especially careful not to damage the root system. Generally, repotting should be avoided around the germination period, because new buds have already formed and the leaves require a lot of water. Repotting at this time may damage the new roots and affect the growth of the year. Repotting should also be avoided during hot and cold seasons.

3. How to care for camellia in pots

First, place 3 to 4 broken tiles at the bottom of the flowerpot, then fill it with some coarse soil. After planting the seedlings, fill the roots with fine soil, and then slowly fill the area around the flowerpot with large-grained potting soil. Gently shake the flowerpot and press it to make the potting soil in close contact with the roots. Be careful not to damage the roots. When watering, the soil in the pot should occupy 4/5 of the height of the pot.

4. How to water camellia

Newly potted seedlings should be watered thoroughly for the first time until water seeps out from the bottom of the pot. The soil of newly potted seedlings should be kept moist, and they can be watered regularly after 2 months. The frequency of watering should be adjusted according to climatic conditions, and the principle is to keep the soil moderately moist.

5. Fertilization method of camellia

Camellia does not like excessive fertilization. Generally, fertilizer should be applied 2 to 4 times in October to November before flowering and around April to May after flowering. Mixed fertilizers are usually used, with phosphorus fertilizer as the main component and nitrogen fertilizer as the supplement, to prevent excessive branch growth. All fertilizers must be fully decomposed before use.

6. How to shade and protect camellia from cold

Camellia prefers a warm and humid climate. Too cold or too hot is not conducive to its growth. Potted camellia should receive sufficient sunlight in spring and the rainy season, and should be shaded and cooled in summer and autumn. When the temperature drops below zero in winter, the indoor temperature should be kept at around 3 to 4°C to protect the flower buds.

7. Pest and disease control of camellia

The main pests of camellia include stem borers and scale insects, and the main diseases include anthracnose, black sooty mold and moss parasitism. Damaged branches should be cut off in time and sprayed with pesticides for prevention and control.

8. Notes on camellia cultivation

Camellias should not be pruned frequently because their flowers, leaves, and buds have a long development cycle and the crown is naturally formed in a relatively uniform manner. You just need to cut off diseased and insect-infested branches, overcrowded branches, weak branches, and appropriately shorten long branches.

9. How to propagate camellia

Camellia can be propagated through sowing, cuttings, layering, grafting and other methods. The most commonly used methods are cuttings and high-branch layering. Cutting propagation is mainly carried out from May to June, and vigorously growing branches of the current year are selected as cuttings. The propagation of high-pressure branches is mainly carried out from April to May. Choose branches from the previous year, peel the bark of the high-pressure part and wrap them in moist culture soil.

The above is an introduction to the key points of camellia cultivation. The camellia cultivation method is actually not complicated, but it requires everyone to be careful. I hope the above content will be helpful to flower lovers.