Camellia

The genus Camellia (Camellia) includes approximately 80 species of evergreen trees and shrubs, among them a crop whose leaves are used to make tea (Camellia sinensis). This is a relatively unpretentious plant, preferring a place closed from winds and frosts and acidic soil. The leaves are usually oval and pointed, glossy, dark green in color, lighter on the reverse side. Very decorative large single axillary flowers with a corolla of 5 petals and many stamens collected in a bundle, or with a semi-double or double corolla and stamens that have been reborn into petals. The range of colors is very wide: from white to pink and red with all possible intermediate shades. Very often the flowers are bicolored, with various streaks, stripes, spots and specks. In Camellia japonica (C. japonica) and most hybrids, flowering is extended from late winter to early summer. Japanese camellia and tea bush are the most common and well-known species. Other species include camellia reticulata (C. reticulata) native to Western China, which is pampered compared to other species.

The genus Camellia (Camellia) includes approximately 80 species of evergreen trees and shrubs, among them a crop whose leaves are used to make tea (Camellia sinensis). This is a relatively unpretentious plant, preferring a place closed from winds and frosts and acidic soil.

The leaves are usually oval and pointed, glossy, dark green in color, lighter on the reverse side. Very decorative large single axillary flowers with a corolla of 5 petals and many stamens collected in a bundle, or with a semi-double or double corolla and stamens that have been reborn into petals.

The range of colors is very wide: from white to pink and red with all possible intermediate shades. Very often the flowers are bicolored, with various streaks, stripes, spots and specks. In Camellia japonica (C. japonica) and most hybrids, flowering is extended from late winter to early summer. Japanese camellia and tea bush are the most common and well-known species. Other species include camellia reticulata (C. reticulata) native to Western China, which is pampered compared to other species.

Cultivation

Usually camellias can be grown outdoors - remember that they prefer a temperate climate, because the flowers can be damaged by frost. At home, in rooms, camellia often suffers from dry air. In this case, use 30-40-cm pots filled with acidic soil rich in organic substances. Pots can be exposed to the open air from May to October, but in autumn and winter they are kept in a cool, lighted room at a minimum temperature of 5-7 °C. The main condition for cultivation of camellias is that the soil is acidic. Therefore, you should carefully check the soil reaction using appropriate pH indicators. If it is clear that the soil is unsuitable, neutral or alkaline, add peat, heather or leaf humus (check the acidity of the latter). Another important factor is drainage. Accidental stagnation of water can cause root rot, which will almost certainly lead to the death of the plant. In the garden, they can be planted in september-october or in march-april, digging holes corresponding to the size of the root system of plants. When planting, organic or mineral fertilizers must be applied. sometimes it can be well-rotted manure or substitute preparations (bovine dry blood, horn and bone meal). In winter, it is necessary to mulch the soil with leaves, straw, sawdust or other materials to avoid frost damage to the root system. In addition, camellias should be planted in sheltered, slightly shaded areas in summer, because they are very sensitive to wind.

Usually camellias can be grown outdoors - remember that they prefer a temperate climate, because the flowers can be damaged by frost. At home, in rooms, camellia often suffers from dry air. In this case, use 30-40-cm pots filled with acidic soil rich in organic substances.

Pots can be exposed to the open air from May to October, but in autumn and winter they are kept in a cool, lighted room at a minimum temperature of 5-7 °C. The main condition for cultivation of camellias is that the soil is acidic. Therefore, you should carefully check the soil reaction using appropriate pH indicators. If it is clear that the soil is unsuitable, neutral or alkaline, add peat, heather or leaf humus (check the acidity of the latter). Another important factor is drainage. Accidental stagnation of water can cause root rot, which will almost certainly lead to the death of the plant. In the garden, they can be planted in september-october or in march-april, digging holes corresponding to the size of the root system of plants.

When planting, organic or mineral fertilizers must be applied. sometimes it can be well-rotted manure or substitute preparations (bovine dry blood, horn and bone meal). In winter, it is necessary to mulch the soil with leaves, straw, sawdust or other materials to avoid frost damage to the root system. In addition, camellias should be planted in sheltered, slightly shaded areas in summer, because they are very sensitive to wind.

Location

These plants, especially in the first years of life, prefer a semi-shaded or shaded place. They can also be grown in the sun, as long as the temperature is not too high, and the soil is excessively moist.

Temperature

Camellias, as a rule, are quite resistant to temperature conditions. The root system (especially in cold climates) still needs to be protected - mulch the soil around the plants. They grow well and develop at a temperature of 5-25 °C.

Watering

It is very important that the water for irrigation is dry. Camellias are watered very abundantly, primarily during flowering and the beginning of the growing season. In the summer months, it is recommended to spray the leaves, this operation is carried out in the evening hours. If sprayed during the day, burns may occur on the leaves.

Transplant

Plants can be grown even for several years in one pot, transplanting into a new one only when it becomes necessary, in september-october or in march-april.

Care

After flowering, the flowers are removed, trying not to leave anything - this can cause diseases. When the buds have not yet opened, removing some of them can improve the flowering of the remaining ones. During budding and flowering, you can not move the pots with camellias - this causes the buds to fall off.

Reproduction

The most common method of propagation of Camellia japonica, its varieties, hybrids and varieties is cuttings. The best time to take semi - woody cuttings from the shoots of the current year is summer. Less used are leaf cuttings with a bud and part of a branch. Apical 10-15-centimeter cuttings are cut at an acute angle. Remove the leaves. Cuttings are planted in an earthen mixture with an acidic reaction - based on peat and perlite expanded clay-or in a peat-sand mixture. Maintain very high humidity. The rooting period varies: depending on the species and variety - from 2 to 4 months. You can use phytohormones for rapid root formation. Young plants are transplanted only when they reach a sufficient size.

Diseases

Due to some fungal diseases, black-gray spots appear on the leaves and brownish-on the petals, in case of severe damage - with subsequent falling of the flowers. You can use fungicides, but it is better to throw away the infected plant. Excessive soil moisture causes root rot. From oidium, which is manifested by grayish spots on the leaves, you can get rid of using sulfur or another fungicidal drug. Camellia is susceptible to the cucumber mosaic virus, which causes yellowing of the leaf veins. Aphids and worms feed on plant juices and, in addition, secrete a pad on which the rabble develops. These pests are eliminated by treating them with a cotton swab or brush soaked in alcohol, or with special insecticides (against aphids and anti-coccidal drugs). A big problem for camellias is Othiorrynchus sulcatus, a coleoptera whose larvae are destroyed roots, and adult beetles damage the root neck, which leads the plant to death. This pest is disposed of with a solution of the appropriate drug, spraying it with the aboveground part of the plants or moistening the soil with it.

Due to some fungal diseases, black-gray spots appear on the leaves and brownish-on the petals, in case of severe damage - with subsequent falling of the flowers. You can use fungicides, but it is better to throw away the infected plant. Excessive soil moisture causes root rot.

From oidium, which is manifested by grayish spots on the leaves, you can get rid of using sulfur or another fungicidal drug. Camellia is susceptible to the cucumber mosaic virus, which causes yellowing of the leaf veins. Aphids and worms feed on plant juices and, in addition, secrete a pad on which the rabble develops. These pests are eliminated by treating them with a cotton swab or brush soaked in alcohol, or with special insecticides (against aphids and anti-coccidal drugs). A big problem for camellias is Othiorrynchus sulcatus, a coleoptera whose larvae are destroyed roots, and adult beetles damage the root neck, which leads the plant to death. This pest is disposed of with a solution of the appropriate drug, spraying it with the aboveground part of the plants or moistening the soil with it.

Japanese Camellia The most common species, Camellia japonica (Camellia japonica), native to Japan and Korea, is a shrub with oval serrated dense leathery dark green leaves. It can reach a height of 6 m or more. On the tops of lateral shoots from the beginning of February to May, large bright flowers are formed. The flowers can be damaged by frost, so in areas with harsh winters, Japanese camellia is grown in pots, and from October to March it is kept in a cool, lighted room. Usually, varieties with white and pink flowers are more sensitive to frost than red-flowered ones. Camellia flowers they come in various shapes: simple, semi-double, and terry. Sasankwa Camellia Camellia sasanqua, a plant of Chinese origin, is usually more resistant than camellia japonica. It is less demanding on the acidity of the soil and tolerates direct sun better. Thin leathery leaves have a dark green color. The flowers, often simple, bloom in autumn. This quality was met with great enthusiasm by amateurs. Common varieties: 'Bonanza' with large double dark red flowers; 'Beatrice Emily' with medium-sized anemone-shaped flowers-purple-red, with a few white petals in the center; 'Cleopatra' with bright pink semi-double hair flowers; 'Hime Botan' - a little-known variety with bright white flowers and gorgeous leaves with a silvery pattern; 'Hinode Gumo' with simple large white flowers with wrinkled petals and a rose smell; 'Gin Mei' with large double ash-pink flowers; 'Pink plantation' with very large simple bright pink flowers. Other types A little later, camellia sasankwa blooms spring camellia (C. vernalis) and camellia hiemalis, resembling the variety 'Kanyiro' with large semi-double flowers of intense pink color with a pink-red tint along the edge. Camellia saluensis (C. saluensis), native to Western China, has elongated toothed leaves and simple bell-shaped pink flowers with a darker tint. Sometimes the genus Camellia includes tea bush (C. sinensis) - a shrub with elliptical saw-toothed leaves and white flowers. In Italy, it is grown as a garden and ornamental plant. Let's name some of the most common varieties of tea bush: 'Waiting' with large peony-shaped light red flowers; 'Dark lace' with velvety, very dark colored flowers; 'Debutante' with double or semi-double flowers of very rare lilac-pink color; 'Gift' with large semi-double, similar to the flowers of an orchid rose. From other, less common varieties of tea bush are popular: 'Maiden's dream' with large semi-double flowers with wavy petals of dazzling salmon-pink color; 'Elsie Jury' with large peony-shaped light pink orchid-scented flowers; 'Francie L.' with very large flowers and wavy salmon-pink petals; 'Leonard Messel' with large semi-double flowers with wavy shiny pink petals; 'Spring Festival' with miniature double pink rose-like flowers, lighter in the center; 'Teryl Weaver' with very large flowers with wavy fiery red petals. Not very common, but a very beautiful variety 'Tipto' with semi-double silvery-pink flowers. Among other species, let's call camellia reticulata (C. reticulata), native to Western China. Its varieties are incredibly good: 'Captain Rose' with half-double carmine flowers; 'White Comb' with half-double white flowers; 'Dr. Clifford Parks' with peony-shaped red flowers with an orange tint.

Japanese Camellia

The most common species, Camellia japonica (Camellia japonica), native to Japan and Korea, is a shrub with oval serrated dense leathery dark green leaves. It can reach a height of 6 m or more. On the tops of lateral shoots from the beginning of February to May, large bright flowers are formed. The flowers can be damaged by frost, so in areas with harsh winters, Japanese camellia is grown in pots, and from October to March it is kept in a cool, lighted room. Usually, varieties with white and pink flowers are more sensitive to frost than red-flowered ones. Camellia flowers they come in various shapes: simple, semi-double, and terry.

Sasankwa Camellia

Camellia sasanqua, a plant of Chinese origin, is usually more resistant than camellia japonica. It is less demanding on the acidity of the soil and tolerates direct sun better. Thin leathery leaves have a dark green color. The flowers, often simple, bloom in autumn. This quality was met with great enthusiasm by amateurs. Common varieties: 'Bonanza' with large double dark red flowers; 'Beatrice Emily' with medium-sized anemone-shaped flowers-purple-red, with a few white petals in the center; 'Cleopatra' with bright pink semi-double hair flowers; 'Hime Botan' - a little-known variety with bright white flowers and gorgeous leaves with a silvery pattern; 'Hinode Gumo' with simple large white flowers with wrinkled petals and a rose smell; 'Gin Mei' with large double ash-pink flowers; 'Pink plantation' with very large simple bright pink flowers.

Other types

A little later, camellia sasankwa blooms spring camellia (C. vernalis) and camellia hiemalis, resembling the variety 'Kanyiro' with large semi-double flowers of intense pink color with a pink-red tint along the edge. Camellia saluensis (C. saluensis), native to Western China, has elongated toothed leaves and simple bell-shaped pink flowers with a darker tint.

Sometimes the genus Camellia includes tea bush (C. sinensis) - a shrub with elliptical saw-toothed leaves and white flowers. In Italy, it is grown as a garden and ornamental plant. Let's name some of the most common varieties of tea bush: 'Waiting' with large peony-shaped light red flowers; 'Dark lace' with velvety, very dark colored flowers; 'Debutante' with double or semi-double flowers of very rare lilac-pink color; 'Gift' with large semi-double, similar to the flowers of an orchid rose. From other, less common varieties of tea bush are popular: 'Maiden's dream' with large semi-double flowers with wavy petals of dazzling salmon-pink color; 'Elsie Jury' with large peony-shaped light pink orchid-scented flowers; 'Francie L.' with very large flowers and wavy salmon-pink petals; 'Leonard Messel' with large semi-double flowers with wavy shiny pink petals; 'Spring Festival' with miniature double pink rose-like flowers, lighter in the center; 'Teryl Weaver' with very large flowers with wavy fiery red petals. Not very common, but a very beautiful variety 'Tipto' with semi-double silvery-pink flowers. Among other species, let's call camellia reticulata (C. reticulata), native to Western China. Its varieties are incredibly good: 'Captain Rose' with half-double carmine flowers; 'White Comb' with half-double white flowers; 'Dr. Clifford Parks' with peony-shaped red flowers with an orange tint.