Camellia Japanese description. What is camellia and where does it grow and how does it smell. Temperature conditions for room camellia

ornamental plant Camellia refers to evergreen shrubs that naturally grow in China, Vietnam and Japan. Its dark green shiny leaves adorn the plant all year round. However, during the flowering period, the most charming period of the camellia's life begins. At this time, the bushes are covered with exquisite flowers that are very reminiscent of roses. In regions with a warm climate, the plant can be grown in gardens. With proper care, camellia grows and blooms well at home.

Description, types and photos of camellia

Depending on the type of shrub plant in height can reach from 3 to 12 meters. The glossy leaves of the plant are oval in shape. At the ends they are blunt or sharp. Large single camellia flowers in diameter can reach from 5 to 15 cm. They consist of five petals and many stamens. The color of the petals can be red, pink, white. There are also bicolor petals with various stains, spots, dots or specks. Each flower of the plant blooms for a month.

When grown at home, the most three types of plants are popular:

Features of growing camellias at home

Room camellia requires certain growing conditions and proper care.

Temperature and humidity

Camellia refers to plants of a short day. Only 12-hour daylight hours will be enough for the laying and development of flower buds. However, at this time it is required to monitor the temperature in the room:

1. The temperature should be within 18C-20C. At lower temperatures, the camellia will not bloom.
2. If daylight hours last less than 12 hours, then the temperature will need to be lowered to 8C-10C to lay the kidneys.
3. Camellia blooms in winter from December to February. During this period of time, it must be kept at an air temperature of 8C to 10C.

If the room is too warm, then the buds will begin to fall off the bushes, flowering may come ahead of time, and the quality of the flowers will deteriorate.

When caring for camellia at home, it is necessary to ensure that the room has high humidity.

Plant requires regular spraying. Water for this should be settled and at room temperature. If there is no settled water, then it can be boiled and cooled. During flowering, spray the plant carefully. Water should not fall on the flowers.

To increase the humidity of the air, a flower pot can be placed on a pallet with wet peat or expanded clay. A specially purchased air humidifier will also have a good effect on the development of the plant.

Lighting

Camellias need a bright place:

In order for the crown on the plant to grow equally from all sides, and the bush to turn out even, from time to time it needs to be turned in different directions to the light. In this case, in no case should you change the position of the bush during budding and flowering. A disturbed plant may drop buds.

In the warm period, camellia can be put on the balcony, loggia or front garden on open air. In this case, the plant should be protected from direct sunlight.

Watering and fertilizing

If the substrate dries out, the plant will begin to lose leaves. In winter, camellia is watered very carefully. If the substrate turns sour, then the buds will begin to fall off, and the leaves will turn brown.

Throughout the year, camellia needs to be fed every three weeks. special mineral fertilizers. They need to be diluted at the rate of 1 gram of fertilizer per 1 liter of water.

Transplant and soil for camellia

When caring for young bushes, they need to be replanted annually. Older plants that bloom every year are transplanted every two years. In order for the bushes to grow better, it is recommended to pinch the tops of the shoots after transplanting.

Transplantation is done in the spring. The soil must be acidic. Its composition may be as follows:

• two parts of leafy or heather land;
• two parts of peat;
• one part of sod land;
• one part sand.

Drainage must be poured at the bottom of the pot.

Pests and diseases

The most serious plant disease can be root rot formed as a result of too low temperatures or waterlogging of the soil. In this case, the camellia must be urgently transplanted into breathable soil. By reducing watering, the plant can be saved very rarely.

Brown spots on the leaves are signs of phyllosticosis. The disease appears due to high humidity. Treatment is carried out by treating the leaves with copper sulphate. The humidity in the room decreases, the affected leaves are removed.

On room camellia can start spider mite, aphids or scale insects. When they are found, the plant should be urgently treated with summer oil emulsions, soap solution or chemicals.

The plant reproduces in three ways:

1. cuttings.
2. Seeds.
3. Inoculation.

Reproduction by cuttings

January and July decorative varieties Camellias can be propagated by apical cuttings that have not yet become stiff. To do this, cuttings are cut with 3-5 leaves 6-8 cm long, and soaked in a heteroauxin solution. Planting material is planted in boxes filled with peat and sand (1: 1). The temperature for rooting should be between 20C-23C.

Caring for the cuttings consists in regularly spraying them and watering the soil. After about two months, the roots will sprout, and the cuttings can be plant in separate containers, the diameter of which should be about 7 cm. At first, young plants are watered abundantly, and after rooting - as needed.

Sowing seeds

When growing camellias from seeds, varieties may be lost. However, seeds sold in specialized stores retain such characteristics.

Seeds are sown in boxes at a distance of 5-7 cm. Seedling containers covered with glass or film should be placed in a bright, warm place. After two true leaves appear on the seedlings, they will need to be picked into separate pots.

Reproduction by grafting

Some varieties of camellia do not root well when cutting. In this case, they can propagate by grafting in January, choosing for this the upper parts of the shoot with well-developed buds.

A year later, the bushes are transplanted into separate containers with a diameter of 9 cm. In the third year, pots with a diameter of 11-14 cm are prepared for plants. The soil should consist of heather and leafy soil, sod, peat and sand (2:2:2:2:1). Best young bushes transplant with transshipment. In this case, the roots will not be damaged and the plant will quickly take root.

Camellia is famous not only for its beautiful flowers, but also for its use in pharmacology and medicine. Essential oils are extracted from its leaves, which have an antiseptic, anesthetic and tonic effect. And the flowers of the Chinese camellia can be brewed and drink delicious tea.

Behind garden camellias, identification with roses has taken root, only those that bloom in winter, when all plants are sleeping. Although the similarity of these two colors lies only in their appearance: splendor and form. But the garden camellia in its agricultural technology differs from other ornamental shrubs, planting and caring for it are special.

Frost-resistant camellia varieties

To date, among the many cultivated varieties of camellias, there are also varieties that are adapted to the winter cold. They can be grown on open ground even in places where the winters are very severe.

Just for success to be justified, you, as a gardener, will need to carefully select the growing conditions and ensure careful care for the camellia. And then the beauty of the blooming camellia will pay back all the efforts.

Camellia as a species combines a lot of varieties with a wide variety of forms: from small shrubs to huge trees.

But frost-resistant varieties of camellia have been bred for hundreds of years, and only in the 21st century seedlings of crops that can grow on open soil even in frosty winters began to massively spread. The following best frost-resistant varieties of camellia can be distinguished:

All of them begin to bloom in spring, and even in winter they retain their foliage.

Camellia variety - seemingly fragile and delicate purple-pink ornamental shrub. The rounded flower petals vaguely resemble an orchid. The flower is 10 cm in diameter.

This variety is very slow-growing, forgiving of small missteps in care and suitable even for novice gardeners or those who have no experience growing camellias. The lush dark green crown only emphasizes the luxurious scattering of large bright flowers.

Camellia variety also has purple-pink flowers, only more saturated colors. Unlike the previous variety, Debbie grows quickly, and her abundance of flowering does not suffer at all.

Her flowers are smaller and more double, and the petals are rounded, but in general, these two varieties are very similar. Debbie is not afraid of either precipitation or late snow, she does not require complex care and is very well suited for getting to know the world of camellias.

The Japanese camellia variety blooms with pearly pink buds with overflows. But flowers are actually chameleons. With further blooming, they turn white.

This is a slender ornamental shrub with elongated branches and a dense crown. Camellia grows slowly and mostly upwards, adding a little in crown diameter.

Camellia flowers are red in color with a slight coral overflow and a silky texture. This is a real work of art among plants, decorated with bright stamens.

The branching of Freedom Bell is very dense, straight growth and large beautiful glossy leaves. This variety tolerates pruning very well. In case of deformation and freezing of the shoots, they can be shortened without fear.

The Japanese camellia is strikingly different from the previous variety with its bright and variegated red flowers. White and scarlet spots stand out interestingly on them. White streaks on the petals increase as the buds open.

Did you know? To date, more than 10,000 species and varieties of camellias are known.

How to buy a young seedling in a store

It is better not to purchase camellia seedlings in advance, but to buy immediately before planting. Choose only those seedlings that are at least four years old. They should have powerful lignified shoots.

If you purchase a frost-resistant variety, check its properties in the store. The supplier must provide full information on the possibility of growing camellias in regions with snowy and frosty winters and on the range of tolerable temperatures.

The meaning of this is that the variety, although frost-resistant, but a certain batch of seedlings can be grown in milder climatic conditions. And this can turn into disastrous consequences for the camellia in the very first winter.

Confirm the cold hardiness of each plant you purchase by asking leading questions to the seller/supplier.

Planting a garden camellia

A gardener planting camellias must know where it is best to plant it, how to properly care for it, what soil should be, how much to water it and in what quantities to feed it. Full life the bush begins with its landing in the open ground.

Planting dates in open ground

Camellia planting must be done in the period from the twentieth of April to the tenth of June.

How to choose a place to land

For camellia, moderate and humid climatic conditions are most preferable. For planting in other regions, the plant must undergo adaptation. Further cultivation of camellia in the garden should begin with the choice shady place where strong winds do not penetrate.

The eastern side and constant exposure to direct sunlight do not have a beneficial effect on camellia. The shrub will grow well in partial shade or in constant shade - just not in the dark.

For the emergence of buds, camellia needs cool air and a short light day. Camellia flower buds are laid at a temperature of 17 to 20 ° C, and bloom - from 8 to 13 ° C.

How to prepare the soil for planting a seedling

The optimal soil can be prepared independently. It is enough to mix peat soil, sand, coniferous litter and ground bark. You can buy ready-made soil in the store, which is intended for growing azaleas and rhododendrons.

Often a purchased camellia is planted in the country. In this case, you need to opt for a flowering copy. During this period, the plant is in a state of rest, and with the accumulated forces of camellia, it will be easier to transfer adaptation to a new habitat.

The shrub must be carefully removed from the container, keeping the fragile roots intact. When planting a camellia, do not deeply deepen its root collar into the soil.

But do not leave the root system too close to the surface, because there is a high probability that the plant will die at the first onset of frost. After planting the camellia, water it abundantly and mulch it.

Did you know? One of the ancient legends says that beautiful maidens from Saturn were turned into camellias, who did not succumb to the spell of the god of love, Cupid. In memory of this, camellias are symbolized with coldness and insensibility.

Features of caring for camellia in the garden

Despite its unpretentiousness, garden camellia needs mandatory and proper regular care.

Watering and feeding plants

When watering the camellia during flowering, make sure that water does not fall on the buds or flowers. In summer, the plant needs regular moisture, which must be produced very generously. In winter, the intensity of watering should be significantly moderated.

But it also happens that the camellia sheds leaves, and sometimes buds, what to do in this case? Firstly, this is the very first sign that the soil is either not sufficiently moistened or poorly fertilized. The solution is obvious - the normalization of watering and improving the quality of top dressing.

Important! Camellia growing in the garden is demanding on the composition of water and its quality. Do not water the plant with water that contains lime. For this purpose, soft, well-settled water is best suited.

Camellia needs high-quality top dressing, especially in spring, during the formation of new shoots, when the active period of its growth begins. Feed until the end of summer twice a month.

Important! Don't overdo it with feeding. The root system of camellia does not require a large number food. Feed the plant only when the soil is well moistened.

It is necessary to introduce top dressing only based on organic matter and mineral fertilizers. You can buy them at any store that specializes in gardening. When the summer season gives way to autumn and new buds are formed, feeding can be stopped.

Overfeeding the plant will cause it to grow at the right time to rest. In this case, an adult camellia can suffer greatly, and a young one can freeze completely.

Pruning and transplant

Camellia should be transplanted during its rest period, namely with the onset of winter. There are two active periods of plant growth:

1. The first - from the beginning of April and for three weeks.
2. The second - from the beginning of July until autumn.

Important! Transplanting a camellia in the growth phase is fraught with disastrous consequences: the plant can stop its growth or even die.

With proper care for a young plant, it should be transplanted annually. And during the flowering period, camellias need to be transplanted to a new place every two years.

For greater density and branching, camellia shoots need to be pinched during transplantation. To stimulate bud formation, you need to cut the camellia in mid-autumn.

Camellia is unpretentious regarding pruning, but it will only be useful if pruned at the end of the flowering period. If the bush has been cut too much, then it will need more thorough care. The affected shrub will need to be moistened more often.

Preparing the bush for winter

In the summer, the camellia grows in the garden, for the winter it can be dug up and transferred to the wintering place indoors. It is quite difficult to save a shrub, since heating has a bad effect on the plant.

The best place for camellia, it is a warm balcony or any other room with conditions similar to a cold greenhouse.

In winter, the flowering of camellia is the most intense, but this is achieved only at a night temperature of 0 ... + 5 ° С. This is the main factor in which garden camellia blooms most intensively and for a long time.

Reproduction of camellias at home

Camellia can be propagated like most other plants: by seeds, layering, grafting and cuttings.

Garden camellias reproduce best with half-lignified cuttings, which are cut closer to August. The stalk should be with five leaves, about 8 cm long.

How to root camellia? Her stalk must be planted in sand or a mixture of sand and peat soil in a ratio of 1: 1. The end of the cutting is dipped in a phytohormone, which helps better heating soil.

Its temperature should be about 25 degrees. Under such conditions, the cutting will take root for two months.

Be sure to take only semi-lignified cuttings. Green young shoots are not suitable for propagation. Rooted cuttings are planted in separate pots.

seeds

The seed method of propagation of camellia is the most effective. When should you plant camellia seeds? They ripen by mid-autumn. Seeds must be sown immediately after harvest, otherwise their germination will quickly be lost due to the high oil content.

Sow seeds in a mixture of peat and sand in wooden boxes. Seedling growth accelerates at 20°C and lasts from several weeks to one year. Then, with the appearance of two leaves, the seedlings dive one by one into separate pots with a diameter of 7 cm.

Seed-grown camellias adapt much better to harsh conditions and grow faster.

Usually the plant blooms in the fifth or seventh year, but some varieties bloom already in the second or third.

Did you know? Camellias appeared in Europe in 1738 thanks to the Jesuit monk Joseph Kamel. In his honor, the plant began to be called "camellia".

Frequent growing problems, possible diseases and pests of camellias

Camellia diseases can be both treated and prevented, the main thing is to know the methods of control and prevention.

Yellow spotting. Individual leaves and shoots of the plant are covered with yellow spots of various shapes. The disease can manifest itself as a result of genetic abnormalities, and under the influence of viral diseases.

How to fight: mother liquors must be carefully selected. Plants with even the smallest signs of yellow spot should be removed.

Phyllostictiosis. The leaves are covered with brown spots of irregular shape. This disease manifests itself as a result high humidity air and leaf damage.

How to fight: affected leaves must be removed. For the fastest drying of the plant, the humidity of the air must be reduced. Before the onset of winter, camellia should be treated with one of the preparations: Saporol, blue vitriol, Bordeaux mixture, Abiga-Peak.

Weevil-mower. This pest can be identified by the leaves gnawed at the edges. The larvae of this insect are much more dangerous than the mother. They damage the root system. They look like white worms 1 cm long with a brown head.

How to fight: perfectly cope with pests Bazudin in granules, Iskra gold, Mukhoed and Medvetoks.

Shields and false shields. They damage still young shoots, and tubercles of golden or golden color are visible on the surface of the stems. Brown color. Insects can be simply picked off with something thin.

How to fight: with a small lesion, you can get rid of pests with a toothbrush. After that, moisten a cotton swab in kerosene and wipe the stems. A dense film does not allow air to pass through, and insects die from asphyxia. If the lesions are more global, then the camellia should be treated with insecticides. Mineral oil works well.

The leaves of the plant throughout the mercy acquire an uneven yellow-white color. There are dark spots on the underside of the leaves. Thrips are tiny elongated yellow or brown insects that live on the underside of leaves. They appear with an increase in air temperature and an increase in humidity. Severely affected leaves dry and fall off.

How to fight: you need to hang blue sticky traps near the plants. To completely get rid of pests, camellias are sprayed with insecticides Aktara, Aktellik, Fufanon, Fitoverm, Tanrek, Iskra, etc. After five days, the treatment must be repeated, since the insects go through several stages of development.

The leaves are stained with yellow dots, which expand over time, discolor and dry out. The mites, only 0.5 mm in size, live among the cobwebs on the underside of the leaves. Ticks appear from high temperature and dry air.

How to fight: in the first stages, you can treat the camellia with soapy water or mineral oil. With a more extensive fitoverm, Akarin, Vertimek, Lightning and others will help.

The use of camellia plants in different areas

Camellias plant light cool rooms. Their flowers are great for decorating apartments and halls.

Medicinal preparations are made from the buds and leaves of camellia. It is young buds that are used to make drinks, as fermentation takes place in them.

Young buds and camellia leaves contain enzymes that increase the metabolic processes of the body and promote the removal of excess fat.

Phenolic compounds contained in the leaves have a calming effect and break down lipids. Thus, fewer calories enter the body. A decoction of camellia roots treats diarrhea.

On the basis of camellia seed oil, all kinds of cosmetics. For example, lipsticks with camellia oil are applied in a thinner and lighter layer. A decoction of the leaves makes the hair more manageable and silky.

A healthy and fragrant tea is prepared from dried camellia leaves. It can also be prepared at home. Five-leaf shoots should be collected from May to September. They are laid out on a wooden board and withered for half a day.

Then they are twisted into tubes and laid out on a wet towel with a layer 7 cm thick and left for five hours. When the leaves begin to smell and take on a copper-red color, they should be dried in an oven at 50°C. Tea can be brewed.

In China, camellia leaves are used to treat dysentery, heal wounds, soothe stomach upsets, treat malaria, epilepsy, and anemia. Good for helping with fatigue.

Thanks to the tonic and astringent properties of camellia flowers, hemorrhoids are successfully and painlessly cured. A decoction of the flowers stops internal and external bleeding.

Important! Be sure to follow the dosages when taking camellia raw materials as a remedy.

And finally, I would like to understand one more question: what does the camellia flower symbolize?
For a long time, the camellia was the "flower of the samurai." Only representatives of this class could grow camellias and decorate their clothes with them. But in the 15th century, such a belief suddenly arose that a samurai who touched a camellia would inevitably be beheaded. It is explained simply.

A plucked camellia flower does not crumble when it hits the ground, and the associative fantasy of the Japanese added its own colors.

In ancient times, according to the Shinto tradition, the camellia was a symbol of the sun goddess Amaterasu, later of Jesus, with the advent of Christianity. Today, the camellia symbolizes resilience and longevity.

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Camellia) - evergreen, ornamental flowering shrubs or trees of the Tea family ( Theaceae). Most species of the genus grow in regions with a tropical and subtropical climate, in the South-East and Central Asia, Indochina, Japan, Java, Philippine Islands. At the moment, more than 250 species of camellia have been described. The most famous species is the Chinese camellia (Camellia sinensis), or tea bush, from the leaves of which tea is made. Many types of camellia are used in indoor and decorative floriculture.

Camellia. © winwardhome

Camellia leaves are oval, leathery, glossy, with pointed or semicircular tips. The flowers are large in diameter, very decorative, of various colors. There are plants with white, cream, pink and red flowers. Camellias with two-tone, double flowers look very impressive. The petals can have small spots, stripes and color transitions, so we can say with confidence that camellias are not in vain considered the most beautiful and graceful plants.

The flowering period of camellias is long and lasts from early autumn to mid-spring. Camellias are widely used for landscaping interiors and for creating landscape design. The leaves of the plant are used to make essential oils.

Content:

Types of camellia

The most common species: Chinese camellia, mountain, Japanese, Williams. no less beautiful and hybrid varieties camellias. Despite the fact that the camellia is quite demanding and difficult to care for indoor plant, given the secrets of cultivation, you can achieve long flowering and good plant development.

Camellia red and pink. © ciarrocchi

Camellia care at home

Camellias are light-loving plants, so it is best to place flower vases with a plant on the windows of the western or southern exposure. It should be borne in mind that mountain camellia tolerates bright sunlight well. But the Japanese camellia needs to be shaded. The plant is very sensitive to sudden changes in temperature and absolutely does not tolerate drafts. Also, during the flowering period of camellia, it is not recommended to rearrange flower pot with the plant from place to place, so it is best to immediately choose the most optimal place to place the plant.

In winter, camellia can be kept on a glazed, insulated loggia, while the temperature should not be below 10-12 degrees Celsius. The climate of heated rooms adversely affects the development of plants.

Plants prefer moist air, so to increase the level of humidity in the room, you can place a container of water next to the plant or place potted plants on pallets with wet expanded clay or small pebbles. It is recommended to regularly spray camellia leaves with soft water, however, the water should not fall on the flowers or plant buds, as this can lead to rotting of the flowers or dropping of the buds.

In summer, the plant must be watered regularly using filtered or settled water. room temperature. In winter, the frequency of watering is reduced. It is impossible to allow either a strong overflow of camellia, or a long drying of an earthen coma. During the formation of flower buds, it is recommended to slightly dry the earthen substrate, but not until it is completely dry.

With the onset of spring, after the appearance of the first young shoots, camellia needs fertilizer. To do this, you can use complex mineral or organic fertilizers for flowering plants. When diluting fertilizer in water, it is better to reduce its concentration by 2 times compared to that indicated in the instructions. Camellia does not need frequent feeding, and an excess of nutrients can even lead to the death of the plant. At the end of summer, feeding camellias is stopped, since during this period future buds are laid.

Camellia bushes. © Lidl Kamelien

Camellias grow well and develop on acidic soils, therefore, when transplanting plants, it is necessary to purchase a special soil for camellias or regularly acidify the soil mixture with a few drops of lemon or special fertilizers. The earth mixture should consist of high-moor peat, sand, vermiculite, ground bark. Perlite. A small layer of expanded clay is laid at the bottom of the flower pots. plant transplantation can be carried out from late autumn to February, since during this period the camellias are at rest.

Young forms of camellias need regular transplantation, adult plants can be transplanted once every three to four years. Transplantation must be carried out very carefully and to prevent damage to the root system of the plant. Between the roots of the plant and the trunk is the root neck, which can not be sprinkled with soil. Camellia pots are best chosen wide.

After flowering, you can prune the branches of the plant. It is also necessary to regularly inspect the camellia for pests. For prevention in the summer, it is recommended for preventive purposes to spray and treat the plant with fungicidal or insecticidal fertilizers.

Camellia. © Jocelyn Kinghorn

Reproduction of camellia

Camellia is propagated by dividing the bush, side shoots, seeds, grafting, cuttings. The seed planting method is considered more effective. Since camellia seeds quickly lose their germination capacity, it is recommended to plant them immediately after harvest. Sow seeds in flower containers with a pre-prepared soil mixture, which consists of high-moor peat, a small amount of sand and perlite.

The optimum germination temperature is 18-22 degrees Celsius. After the appearance of the first two leaves. Seedlings dive into separate seedling pots. Camellias planted in this way may already bloom in the second or third year.

Varietal forms of camellias are best propagated by semi-lignified cuttings, which are carefully cut at the end of summer. Young, green shoots are not suitable for propagation. The cuttings are rooted in a moist substrate, while for faster rooting, you can cover the top with plastic wrap or glass jar. For successful rooting, growth stimulants and rooting agents are used.

The most time-consuming method is the propagation of camellia by air layering, however, with this method, it is possible to obtain varietal compact forms of a plant that will please with their flowering in the second year after planting.

Camellia (Camellia) is an evergreen plant belonging to the Tea family. This amazing flower was named after the Jesuit monk Kamelius Georg Josef, who first brought it to Europe. In conditions wildlife the plant grows in tropical, subtropical zones in countries such as Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, India, China, on the islands of Java, Sulawesi.

Surely the description of the camellia flower will be of interest to many florists. it beautiful plant is a shade-tolerant bush or tree, the height of which can vary between 2 - 20 m. Dull or pointed leaves have a simple, elliptical, broadly or oblong-ovate shape, leathery structure, glossy surface, short petioles. They are single, sequential. The length of the leaf plate is about 3 - 17 cm.

Getting an answer to the question of what a flower of a plant looks like is a must. Camellias form many single buds. The diameter of blooming flowers with numerous stamens can vary within: 1 - 12 cm. At the base, the petals are fused. Their color is pink, red, white, variegated.

Popular types of camellia

Modern breeders have bred numerous varieties, camellia hybrids, based on various plant varieties. Below are the most popular types.

camellia japonica

This variety is considered the most famous, often used in breeding events to breed indoor flowers. In the Land of the Rising Sun, this plant is revered on a par with the iconic sakura. The magnificent flower Japanese camellia (Camellia japonicaa) is cultivated as indoor, greenhouse, garden. It is often used as an interior decor, for making bouquets.

AT natural conditions the plant can have a height of 1.5 - 11 m. Caring for home care for Japanese camellia, you can count on getting a tree-like shrub with stems up to 1 m long, blooming in November - January. Semi-double, double spherical flowers may have white, pink, red colors. In hybrid specimens, the petals often have a spotted or striped color. Flowers form in leaf axils and cover the entire crown.

camellia sinensis

This variety also has another name - tea bush. The leaves of the plant are used to produce green, black, long leaf tea. Dried flowers are components of various aromatic additives.

If you are interested in the question of where the Chinese camellia (Camellia sinensis) grows, you can find out that the industrial cultivation of the plant is carried out by many countries: China, India, Kenya, Japan, Georgia, etc. Our state is also engaged in the cultivation of camellia tea (Krasnodar Territory). Indoors, its cultivation is carried out quite rarely.

mountain camellia

Mountain camellia (Camellia sasanqua) in nature grows on the islands of Kyushu, Okinawa (Japan). In a cool room, it is fashionable to observe its flowering in the period November - February. The species is often taken as a basis for breeding indoor, garden varieties. The plant forms single buds or rosettes with 2-3 flowers. The red camellia flower looks very impressive, also, the petals can be white or pink.

camellia saluyonskaya

This species is actively used in breeding cold-resistant varieties suitable for garden and greenhouse cultivation. A slightly branched shrub reaches a height of 1.5 m. Large flowers (8 cm in diameter) gradually bloom on it, the color of which can be snow-white, pink, dark red, burgundy. Saluyon camellia (Camellia saluenensis) is considered the most unpretentious of garden plants of his family.

Camellia oleifera

The cultivation of this evergreen tree with a height of about 10 m is practiced in the Chinese mountainous areas. Large seeds of the camellia oil (Camellia oleifera) flower are formed in a large fruit box. For single bisexual or paired axillary flowers, the presence of a white color is characteristic.

Indoor camellia: cultivation and reproduction

As practice shows, home care for a camellia flower, which is quite capricious, will be very successful if a number of rules are followed. To master the skills of growing such a plant is quite within the power of any grower.

Requirements for location, lighting

So that the home maintenance of camellia does not cause problems, you will initially need to decide on the most successful place to install a pot with a plant.

For this purpose, it is worth giving preference to windows oriented to the west or east. Camellia also feels great in winter garden, greenhouse, on a glazed loggia.

An inexperienced florist caring for and propagating a camellia flower should take into account that the plant (especially in the first year after planting) does not like moving, turning the flowerpot, being exposed to direct sunlight, and drafts.

A new flower bought or donated must be kept in a shaded cool room for 2 weeks, and then transferred to a permanent sunny place, where the temperature will not exceed + 16 ° C.

AT summer time the plant is allowed to be put on Fresh air with obligatory shading. Beautiful flower camellia in a pot will show good growth, bud development in diffused light lasting 12 - 14 hours per day. In the cold season, it is worth providing camellias with additional illumination.

Temperature regime for the plant

During the laying of flower buds, it is necessary to provide for maintaining a temperature of + 5 ... + 6 ° C. The plant will show the best flowering at + 8 ... + 12 ° C. In the dormant phase, camellia tolerates temperatures + 20 ... + 25 ° C well.

Organization of watering camellia

When deciding how to care for a camellia flower, you will need to ensure that it is regularly watered using settled water. During budding, flowering, irrigation is carried out immediately after the drying of the upper soil layer is detected. It is very important to prevent stagnant water, acidification of the earth. In the dormant stage, moderate watering should be dispensed with.

To increase the humidity of the air on hot days, it is recommended to spray the bush twice a day. Also pouring water into the pan has proven itself well. Justified will be the installation of the pot in a container filled with moistened gravel, moss, sand or pebbles.

The plant likes acidified water lemon juice, vinegar. With a lack of moisture, the bush is able to shed its leaves. Excessively abundant irrigation can provoke a situation where the leaves and stems of camellias turn brown. Subsequently, flowers and buds may fall off the plant. If the situation is not corrected, the flower will die.

Soil quality for crop

Camellia is very demanding on the quality of the soil. She feels best when planted in acidic soil with a pH level in the range of 3 - 5. The use of a soil substrate for azaleas has proven itself well. Self-preparation of the soil mixture involves the use of turf (1 share), sand (1 share), peat (2 shares), leafy soil (2 shares).

Transplanted shoots are best placed in a flowerpot filled with a substrate with the following composition: sand (0.5 shares), peat (1 share), coniferous soil (2 shares). Drainage should be provided at the bottom of the landing tank.

Performing top dressing camellia

Camellia reacts positively to organic fertilizers. In the autumn-spring period, monthly application of liquid dressings is practiced. During budding, flowering, this event is performed 2 times a month. For camellias, it is advisable to purchase ready-made fertilizers suitable for orchids, azaleas.

Pinching and pruning the plant

In order to prevent crushing of flowers, pinch the buds, leaving a maximum of 2 copies per branch.

In autumn, the plant is pruned. Damaged, weak shoots are removed from him. This activates the formation of axillary buds.

The procedure for transplanting to another pot

Camellia undergoes an annual transplant for the first 3 years, and an adult, well-flowering bush - every 2 years. A similar procedure is carried out after the flowers wither in spring or summer, while pinching the apical sections of the shoots.

Reproduction of camellia in different ways

When propagating the camellia flower, it is advisable to give preference to the cutting method.

To get high-quality planting material, you need to trim the apical shoots that have formed over the current season. The recommended length of the cuttings is 6-8 cm, they should have 4-5 leaves. An oblique cut over the axillary kidney is practiced.

The optimal months for vegetative breeding of a plant are January, July-August. The rooting of summer seedlings will take about 2 months, winter seedlings will form a root system over a longer period.

The cuttings are planted in boxes filled with a mixture of peat (1 share), sand (1 share). The containers are to be installed in a bright room with the temperature maintained at + 20 ... + 23 ° C, the soil is moistened by spraying. Germinated specimens are determined in pots with a diameter of 7 - 8 cm.

Florists with experience practice growing camellias from seeds to simultaneously obtain a large number young bushes. As part of this procedure, each seed is sown in a separate container. The 2 true leaves that have appeared are a signal of the need to pick the plants into a larger container.

It is worth noting that often flower shops may offer a mixture of seeds for sale. different varieties. In order not to subsequently encounter a solution to the problem of how to care for camellia mix, you will first need to carefully read the information published on the package. The preferred choice is planting material certain variety, hybrid.

Garden camellia: care features

Experienced florists are sure that keeping a camellia flower in the garden is guaranteed not to be problematic for a person who has studied the appropriate agricultural techniques. A young plant is transplanted in open ground conditions every two years, an adult culture is transferred to a new place with a frequency of 5-7 years.

AT landscape design, basically, the garden curly camellia flower is used. In regions with a severe winter period for growth in open field many small varieties have been bred. In anticipation of frost, they are transplanted into flowerpots and transferred indoors.

Diseases, crop pests

Unfortunately, camellia in the open field, like indoor flower, often becomes the object of attack by pests such as aphids, scale insects, whiteflies, worms, spider mites, thrips.

The appearance in the leaf axils, in the areas of the stems of a white, dense coating indicates the defeat of the plant by the mealybug. To get rid of the pest, it must be removed with a cotton swab, toothpicks, and then wipe the affected areas with a sponge dipped in a solution of laundry soap.

Due to aphids and scale insects, sooty spots begin to be visible on the plant - the black camellia looks very unpresentable. Heavily damaged specimens must be treated with specialized fungicides, insecticides. Blackened leaves must be removed.

Brown, gray spots on the sheets signal a fungal infection. Yellowing veins on the surface of the leaves indicate a mosaic virus. Having identified the disease in time, it is urgent to start treating the plant, because otherwise the decorative properties of the camellia will be lost for a long time, and sometimes the flower may even die.

Reward for patience and hard work

Many have heard about camellia - this delicate flower, originally from China and Japan, won the heart of more than one grower. Despite the difficulties in caring for this shrub, it is still possible to get it in your collection. The article is devoted to the secrets of caring for an Asian guest.

Camellia is a member of the tea family., and one of its varieties - Chinese camellia - is grown precisely as a tea culture. In the wild, this charming flower can be found in the mountainous and forested areas of China, Indonesia, India, Vietnam and Japan. Today, in Asian countries, camellia is grown in large quantities for essential oils and tea.

The Asian guest in its original form is an evergreen shrub or tree-like plant of small size, on which large pale pink buds bloom in autumn. The stamens of camellia flowers can transform into petals - this shrub strongly resembles a rose. Another characteristic feature is beautiful leaves with a "glossy" surface of saturated green color. It should be noted, that today the market offers flower growers a huge range of camellia varieties with unusual color inflorescences: for example, red or cream. Camellia can bloom within 28-70 days.

Features of caring for room camellia (video)

Description of camellia species

Thanks to the efforts of breeders to date, approximately 80 cultivated varieties of exotic shrubs have been bred, and the genus itself has more than two hundred species of plants. Unlike species that grow in the wild, many horticultural varieties have longer duration flowering, resistance to cold and unusual shape and color of flowers and leaves. Below are the most popular types of camellia in floriculture.

Camellia japonica and its varieties

The Japanese beauty has become the progenitor for a number of varietal crops. Characteristic features of the variety are leathery oval leaves, small sizes and large flowers up to fourteen centimeters in diameter. The color of the buds may vary depending on the variety. So, General Colletti is decorated with bright double flowers with white and scarlet spots, and Hagoromo - with buds with pale pink petals on the outside and dazzling snow-white inside. Other varieties: Alba Simplex with white non-double flowers, Pink Perfection with pink double and Adolphe Audusson with scarlet semi-double.

camellia japonica

Camellia mountain (Miyagi)

Other names - carp, flower of the autumn sun; this type of camellia is the most "prolific", since more than a hundred cultivated varieties have been created on its basis. The species is characterized by a love of sunlight and, blooming in September and falling only in January.

Camellia mountain (Miyagi)

camellia sinensis

Usually, grown for the young leaves used to make tea. Among flower growers, this species is not so popular because of the low decorative properties compared to flowering camellias and because of the complexity of care. The variety is distinguished by pointed leathery leaves of a rich dark green hue with a serrated edge and modest paired inflorescences of a whitish or pink hue with a yellow center.

camellia sinensis

Gallery: camellia (25 photos)

Camellia reticulata

Stands out among relatives for its height: The tree can grow up to 20 m. Before this variety could often be found near Buddhist monasteries: large red buds with a subtle mesh pattern were very popular with the Chinese people.

Camellia reticulata

Camellia oleifera

Homeland - forests and river banks of China, height - 10 meters. Characteristic features: a trunk with a diameter of 20 cm, petiolate ovate leathery leaves and bisexual milky flowers. The flowering period falls on the first half of autumn. Often cultivated for seeds with a high content of fatty oils.

Camellia oleifera

Camellia Saluenskaya

Appearing in the 19th century, the variety became the basis for the breeding of many cold-resistant varieties. It differs from other species and has a long flowering period: it is decorated with bright pink flowers from November to May.

Camellia Saluenskaya

Camellia aureus

The most unusual species, which is under protection as an endangered species. On the territory of Chinese nature reserves you can see this tall tree with many (up to 200) flowers of a yellowish-golden hue. The tree also gained its popularity due to its bright foliage.

Camellia aureus

Camellia propagation methods

Asian beauty is able to reproduce in different ways: by seeds, cuttings, grafting and layering. Cutting is considered the easiest to perform and effective way, while seed breeding of camellia is resorted to much less frequently.

cuttings

The procedure is carried out in May-June. For this method, it is recommended to cut off semi-lignified olive-colored shoots that appeared in the same year. If the shoot is very hardened, then it is better to cut the cuttings from its upper part, and if not enough, then from the bottom. To preserve the maternal decorative qualities of the variety, flower growers are advised to propagate the flower with non-lignified shoots.

The cut parts must necessarily have several well-developed growth buds, preferably 3-4. Under this condition, the plant will take root faster and bloom earlier.

Camellia grafting procedure is carried out in May-June

Young shoots are planted to a depth of 1.5-2 centimeters in a substrate consisting of 3-4 cm of sand, under which a layer of rotted coniferous earth, peat and sand is placed in proportions of 2: 2: 1, respectively. Young cuttings are recommended to be sprayed and kept at a temperature of 18 to 24 ° C, providing lower soil heating. Humidity should be high, not lower than 80%. To speed up the process, in some cases it is recommended to create sprouts greenhouse conditions. Under normal conditions, the cuttings should take root in 1.5-2 months.

Rooted sprouts can be planted in small containers with a diameter of 9 to 11 cm with a slightly changed composition of the earth: now peat, humus and greenhouse soil are mixed in a ratio of 1:1:2 and urea is added. Young camellias should be watered abundantly throughout the entire maturation process, starting in May and ending in mid-August. Then watering is reduced to accelerate the maturation of the wood.

How to transplant camellia (video)

seeds

It is preferable to propagate camellia with fresh seeds. The main disadvantage of this method is the lack of guarantees that sprouts will appear and that they will inherit the varietal characteristics of the parent specimen.

Seeds are stratified(in case not quite fresh), and then sown in small pots, one "eye" down. Soil mix for this method It is made from two parts of sphagnum and one part of perlite. After the appearance of two well-formed leaves, the seedlings are transplanted into larger containers. To stimulate branching, it is recommended to shorten the root system, leaving 2/3 of its original length. It must be remembered that excessive watering can destroy seedlings.

With seed propagation, camellia can bloom for 3-5 years of life.

It is preferable to propagate camellia with fresh seeds.

Camellia care at home

For its uniqueness and exoticism, camellia requires a lot of diligence, patience and care. However, the most stubborn flower growers will still be able to achieve success if they follow a few rules.

Choosing a place in the house

Immediately after the purchase, it is recommended to put the plant in a cool place in the shade, and after a couple of weeks move it to a warmer room, where the temperature does not exceed + 16 ° C. Choosing a place for an Asian guest follows the principle of the golden mean: the flower loves light, but does not tolerate direct sunlight on the foliage. The ideal daylight hours for camellias are 12 hours, and the temperature is from 12 to 17 ° C; in winter, you should even lower the temperature a little so that it stays within 10-15 degrees above zero.

Camellia does not tolerate heat well, you need to make sure that the mark on the thermometer does not reach + 27 ° C. In addition, the plant will gratefully respond to regular airing, so it can be placed on a glazed loggia or balcony. Having chosen a place, you should avoid changing it frequently: the Asian beauty does not tolerate a change in position relative to the light source.

Ideal daylight hours for camellia - 12 hours

Soil and potting requirements

The flower will successfully grow and develop in a light, air- and water-permeable drained soil with hyperacidity(pH level 4.5-5). You can take it as a ready-made mixture specially designed for rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, or make it yourself. To do this, you need 1 part of coniferous, leafy and peat soil and a little sand. A pot for camellia should be chosen wide, and an impressive layer of drainage (for example, perlite) should be laid on its bottom. So excess moisture will not stagnate in the soil and cause rotting of the rhizome.

Attention! The neck of the plant - the junction of the trunk and roots - should not be sprinkled with earth.

How to grow camellia at home (video)

Watering and humidity

Camellia loves fairly high humidity (55-65%), so caring for it includes regular spraying, especially in the heat. However during the flowering period it is better to humidify the air not with a spray bottle and moss around the pot.

The plant also prefers moderate watering. At an average temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, the tree should be watered when it dries out. upper layer soil, and when it cools down to 12 ° C - when the soil is half dry. Wherein the soil must always remain loose so that enough air enters the root system. Watering should be carried out with filtered, warm (slightly above room temperature) and soft (without calcium and salt impurities) water, previously infused for at least half a day.

Camellia prefers moderate watering

Top dressing of room camellia

When it comes to fertilizers, you should not be overzealous: the camellia has a pronounced dormant period, during which it is strongly not recommended to feed the plant in order to avoid stimulating premature flowering. You need to fertilize the Asian guest 1 time in the spring, when the plant has woken up from hibernation and is preparing for the growing season.

Complex fertilizers with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur are well suited for top dressing. In no case should you feed camellia with calcium and magnesium: their excess in the soil will lead to the inevitable death of the plant. Feeding should be dosed by mixing 1/2 of the norm indicated on the package in water.

Complex fertilizers with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur are well suited for feeding camellias.

Pinching and pruning room camellia

Pruning of bare shoots is carried out to give the plant a shape and a more attractive appearance. This should be done with extreme caution and only when necessary., since the camellia painfully endures such procedures. Usually, lateral processes and weak, diseased branches are removed - this is done either before the appearance of the buds, that is, in October-November, or in March-April.

During the flowering period and during transplantation, it is also customary to pinch the inflorescences, leaving up to two buds on one branch: this way the plant will not be too depleted, trying to give nutrients to a huge number of flowers, and the buds themselves will be larger.

Camellia is a plant of extraordinary beauty, which not everyone can conquer. To some, it seems too capricious, while others gather all their patience into a fist and receive a luxurious flowering in gratitude. A Japanese guest can become the pearl of any home collection.

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