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, in the autumn winter period covered with many large flowers different colors. She is often called Chinese rose for the similarity of colors 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 best varieties The following types are considered for growing at home:

• Japanese. Widely distributed in nature in Japan, China, and Korea. The tallest variety, which is a full-fledged tree up to 15 meters high. Camellia japonica is interesting for its pointed glossy leaves, which are so smooth that they sparkle in the sun. Decorative varieties Japanese camellia form a fairly compact bush or tree.
• Mountain. An equally beautiful shrub with erect or hanging shoots. The leaves are ovate with slight pubescence on the underside. It blooms from early autumn to mid-winter, the flowers exude a delicate aroma.
  
• Mesh. The camellia reticulum flower reaches 20 cm in diameter. In some varieties, the flowers have multi-colored strokes and iridescence. They are called chimeras.
  
• Chinese. Another name for the tea bush. The leaves are elliptical in shape with a serrated edge. There are many flowers - 2-3 pieces in the axil.
  

Williams hybrids, bred by crossing two species - reticulated and Japanese, deserve special attention. Their distinctive feature- 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.

Features and rules of cultivation

The camellia houseplant, despite its beauty, is not very common. This is due to the difficulties of growing it at home. Inexperienced flower growers are often faced with the death of flowering and externally healthy plant some time after the purchase. For the plant to grow properly, you need to create the appropriate conditions for it:

1. Lighting and location. This is a light-loving plant, but it must be protected from direct sun. It grows well on the windowsills of windows facing west, east or on the floor next to them. The tub or pot with camellia is periodically rotated to uniformly form the crown.
2. Temperature. The main difficulties in growing arise from the need to maintain optimal temperature. Without this, she will simply disappear. For each season, flower growers recommend adhering to a certain temperature regime. In summer, the optimal temperature is from +20 to +25°C, in spring from +13 to +17°C, in winter from +5 to +8°C, in autumn from +15 to +16°C. Such conditions can only be created if there is a glazed balcony in the apartment.
3. Soil. It is better to choose acidic soil for camellias with a pH value of 4.5-5. The recommended composition is one part each of humus and peat and half as much fine sand. You can use ready-made soils for rhododendrons or camellias themselves, consisting of peat, perlite, crushed bark and fine sand.
4. Watering. Regular but moderate watering. Excess humidity is unacceptable. It is better to take soft water - snow, rain or standing for 1-3 days. In summer, during the period of bud formation, the frequency and intensity of watering is limited.
5. Humidity. The flower responds gratefully to air humidification. It is recommended to systematically spray it with a spray bottle using soft water. There is another way - the pot is placed on a tray filled with expanded clay, decorative pebbles and a small amount of water. Flowering plants are sprayed carefully, avoiding water getting on the flowers. Purchasing an air humidifier will simplify the task of maintaining high humidity.
6. Feeding. Feed the plant during active growth using mineral and organic fertilizers. Camellia responds well to watering with a very low concentration of chicken manure solution. Feeding is completely stopped during the formation of buds.
7. Pruning and crown formation. Shaping allows you to get more beautiful and neat bushes by thinning the crown or stimulating the growth of buds in the axils. It is recommended to prune towards the end of the flowering period.

Important! Proper care of camellia is to create favorable temperature conditions. In winter, the plant needs cold; it will quickly die in an apartment. Therefore, in winter, camellia should be kept on glassed balcony at a temperature not higher than +10…+15°C.

Camellia transplant

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.

In order not to damage the roots, the plant is transferred to a larger pot along with a lump of earth, adding more free space fresh soil mixture. 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 optimal period- 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 container large size For harmonious development root system.

Reproduction methods

Camellia propagation is usually carried out by cuttings. This is the simplest one, but effective way obtain a plant with unchanged characteristics of the variety. In addition to cuttings, planting with seeds and grafting is sometimes used.

1. Propagation by seeds. Camellia can only be grown from seeds, which are sold in specialized stores. When Camellia is propagated by seeds collected independently from the plant, it will lose the original characteristics of the variety. The seeds are sown in boxes, laid out on the surface of light, moist soil. Lightly sprinkle the seeds on top soil mixture. To speed up germination, the boxes are covered with polyethylene or glass and placed in a warm place. Seedlings dive into separate pots when true leaves appear.
2. Cuttings. The apical woody cuttings are taken from adult plants in July or January. The optimal cutting length is 6-8 cm with 3-5 leaves. The cuttings are briefly soaked in a heteroauxin solution, after which they are planted in a moistened mixture of sand and peat. For rapid rooting, a temperature of about 20-23°C is required. After about 2 months, they are planted in separate pots.

Diseases and pests

Camellia - capricious plant, if not properly cared for, it gets sick and suffers from pests.

• The appearance of brownish spots on flowers and black-gray spots on leaves indicates a fungal disease. Fungicides are used to combat it.
• Scale insects and aphids can completely destroy young shoots of a plant. To get rid of them, they are treated with insecticides.
• Appearance brown spots on the leaves in summer indicates sunburn.
• Falling leaves indicate a lack or excess of moisture in the soil.

Camellia demands ongoing care, but the time spent is completely repaid by the very beautiful and long flowering plants.

Nov 28 2016

Camellia in an apartment - growing and care

Many people are familiar with a beautifully flowering indoor plant that resembles a rose. But unlike a rose, it has no thorns, and the leaves are shiny and glossy. We'll talk about camellia. The plant, which grows in countries with tropical climates, has taken worthy place on the windowsills of our apartments and is very popular. In this article you will find useful information about growing and caring for camellia at home.

The camellia is native to the countries of Central and Southeast Asia:

• Philippine Islands;

  countries of Indochina.

IN natural conditions camellia grows as a shrub or tree, depending on the species. The most common type - Camellia sinensis is called the tea bush. Its leaves are dried and used to make tea, hence the name “tea bush”. The decorative nature of camellia makes it an adornment of parks and gardens. Thanks to the work of breeders, new hybrid varieties have been developed.

The most known species camellias that are grown indoors are the following:

Japanese;

Chinese;

In places of natural growth it grows up to 12 meters. Flowers of double or semi-double structure have different shades from white to red. There are specimens with variegated flowers, solitary or collected in inflorescences. The leaves have a dark green tint.

Chinese camellia grows up to 15 meters, distinguished by oval leaves with white edges along the edges. Flowers white have a delicate aroma.

Mountain camellia grows as a bush up to three meters. On thin branches with oval leaves framed by teeth, large flowers grow up to 7 cm in diameter and emit a delicate aroma.

Chinese camellia Mountain camellia

For indoor growing, camellia montana and japonica are more often used. The basis for selection is the species of Japanese camellia, which has good survival rate. Camellia blooms in winter, from November-December to April.

Subtleties of care

Camellia is one of the plants that requires certain conditions to be successfully grown. Therefore, let's talk about how to grow camellia in city apartments and make it bloom. Seen on sale flowering plant, there is a desire to purchase a luxurious flower. But often such a purchase ends in the death of the plant after flowering ends.

Creating a comfortable temperature regime

The most important thing is to ensure temperature conditions, because for normal development a flower needs conditions close to natural. For flowering in winter, camellia is recommended to be kept at a temperature of 10-15 degrees. It can withstand slight sub-zero temperatures. In an apartment with central heating impossible to keep cool. But if you have a glazed, insulated loggia, balcony or cool veranda in a private house, then you can admire the flowering plant all winter. In summer, camellia prefers moderate temperatures in the range of 20-25 degrees.

Camellia is demanding on lighting, so with short daylight hours it is necessary to provide it with additional lighting. As a result, daylight hours should reach twelve to fourteen hours. Placing a flower on a window facing south side, care must be taken to protect it from direct sunlight and moisturize it. The most suitable would be an eastern or western window, where the camellia is not threatened by the hot midday sun. On a window facing north, the plant shreds and stretches out.

Watering, moistening and fertilizing

Camellia is one of the flowers that begins to grow shoots in the spring. At the beginning of autumn, buds are laid and flowering occurs in winter. Therefore, watering and the application of mineral fertilizers must be organized taking into account the annual growth cycle. Camellia needs bottom watering through a tray, draining the remaining water after an hour and a half.

In the spring, when new shoots begin to grow, and in the summer, camellias need to be watered frequently and abundantly. But the soil should not be allowed to become waterlogged, because this will lead to rotting of the roots. In winter, watering is reduced to once a week. Camellias are harmed by an increase in calcium salts in the soil, so the water must be settled. You can use melted or boiled water. Sometimes, to increase the acidity of the soil, it is recommended to add a small amount of vinegar or citric acid to the water.

Camellia needs air humidification, especially if the pot with the plant remains in the apartment for the winter. Hot radiators dry out the air greatly, which can lead to buds and leaves falling off. Therefore, the foliage is periodically sprayed without moistening the soil. You can place the pot in a tray with damp expanded clay or moss. If possible, we recommend installing a humidifier, which will create a comfortable microclimate not only for the flower, but also for people.

In the spring, when young shoots begin to grow, you can start feeding camellias. To do this, use fertilizers for azaleas. The amount indicated on the package is halved. Fertilize no more than 1-2 times a month. In July, fertilization is stopped until next spring. When choosing fertilizers, you should pay attention to ensure that they do not contain calcium and magnesium. Excess calcium in the soil causes buds to fall off.

Crown formation

In order to give a compact shape and remove weak shoots, camellias are pruned. This procedure is performed at the end of flowering. After pruning, the plant produces new shoots more actively. Flower growers who have been growing camellia for many years already know how many shoots need to be left so as not to weaken the bush with abundant flowering.

By cutting shoots, you can form a bush or tree. After pruning, the cut of large woody branches is treated with garden varnish. It is permissible to trim shoots to half their length.

Transfer

Camellia is not transplanted in February-March, like others indoor flowers, and in late autumn or winter. She begins a period of rest, coinciding with flowering. Therefore, you can replant a flowering plant, being careful. Young plants need to be replanted every year. Large bushes can be replanted by transshipment once every two to three years, when the roots fill the entire volume of the pot.

When preparing for transplantation (planting), it is necessary to prepare a wide pot, at the bottom of which a layer of drainage is poured. You can buy land ready for azaleas and camellias. Since different manufacturers allow deviations in composition, when purchasing a ready-made earthen mixture, you should pay attention to the presence of the following components in the soil:

• leaf soil;

  vermiculite.

You can prepare the mixture yourself by mixing peat, sand, leaf and coniferous soil. All ingredients are taken in equal parts, and sand - half as much. The soil must be loose to prevent stagnation of water. Soil acidity should be between 4.0–5.5 units. To increase its permeability, it is recommended to add ground bark coniferous trees. Its pieces are usually sold for planting orchids.

When replanting a flower, you should pay attention special attention on root collar, which should not be covered with soil, but located at ground level. When transferring an adult plant to a larger pot, add fresh mixture. If it is necessary to increase the acidity of the soil, mulch it on top with sawdust or in small pieces bark.

Reproduction

Camellia propagation is carried out in several ways:

seeds;

cuttings;

layering;

vaccination.

Growing from seeds



Seeds appear on a faded bush in the fall. If you want to start growing from seeds, they must be planted soon after collection, before they lose their viability. Unfortunately, in apartment conditions, camellia practically does not produce seeds. They are obtained either in natural conditions or in greenhouses. Therefore, you can purchase seeds at flower shops, but there is no guarantee that they will sprout. Additionally, if the plant is grown from the seeds of a hybrid plant, it may not inherit all the traits and the flowers will look different from the parent. And the representative of the species, Camellia sinensis, transmits its characteristics when propagated by seeds.

Let's look at the steps for planting seeds:

1. Ripe seeds should be dark brown, almost black. The main thing is that the purchased seeds do not dry out, so before planting they can be put in a bag and placed in the refrigerator. Before planting, the seeds are dipped in water. If they surface, it is not recommended to sow them.

   Before planting, it is enough to soak fresh seeds in water overnight. We recommend scarifying dry seeds to speed up germination. This can be done in two ways. The first is to cut or pierce the shell of each seed, being careful not to damage the core. The second method is to alternately immerse it several times for a few seconds, first in boiling water, then in cold water.

   From equal parts The planting mixture is prepared using peat and sand. You can take soil for azaleas and camellias. The seeds are placed in the soil, slightly pressing. Place each seed with the “eye” from which the root will appear, down or to the side. You can sprinkle a thin layer of sand or vermiculite on top.

   Propagation by seeds requires careful adherence to temperature conditions. The pot is placed in a place with a temperature of 23 degrees. It is also covered with glass and cellophane to maintain humidity. It is also necessary to provide slight shading from sun rays.

   It will take several months for the seeds to germinate. After the second leaves appear on the sprouts, they are planted in separate pots, picking. Camellia grown from seeds is characterized by good adaptability to new conditions. Flowering of a young plant occurs after approximately five to eight years.



Planting seeds

Growing from cuttings

It is easier to grow a flowering plant using cuttings, which are taken in late May - early summer. At this time the shoots become brown, and they are ready for cuttings.

You cannot take green shoots, as they will not take root. It is worth paying attention to ensure that the growth bud is well developed. The soil is taken the same as for camellia seeds - a mixture of peat and sand in equal proportions.



Rooted cuttings

Before planting, it is recommended to dip the end of the shoot, which goes deep into the ground, into a rooting powder, for example, Kornevin, when wet. There are other rooting agents on the market, so don’t stop at Kornevin only. The soil should be moist, and it is recommended to cover the planted cuttings with film or a jar to maintain the humidity level. Four months are enough for cuttings to root. During the rooting period it is necessary to maintain constant temperature 23 degrees. With more high temperature leaf growth may begin, and root system development will be delayed and the sprout may die. Flowering occurs after two years.

Reproduction by offspring

Root shoots that appear in an adult plant and have reached a sufficient size, when transplanted, are separated from the parent bush and planted in a separate pot. This is one of the most simple ways reproduction, but you have to wait a long time for the appearance and development of offspring.

Reproduction by grafting

Camellia grafting is performed using two methods:

butt;

The butt drive makes it possible to achieve propagation for camellia species that do not root well from cuttings. The root system of the scion is preserved until its complete survival.



Reproduction by grafting

Camellia is also grafted using a new method specially developed for it. A cutting is taken for rooting and a shoot grown from seeds. The shoot must be at least five centimeters. Its root is split and cut off at the level of the cotyledons. The cut is split and the tip of the cutting is inserted into it. Rooting of cuttings is carried out in pots in soil consisting of peat and sand (1:1 ratio). The pot is covered with cellophane and a jar.

Diseases and pests

Most problems with camellia are associated with violations in the maintenance and watering of the plant. Let's list possible reasons and their consequences:

Dropping of camellia buds and browning of leaves is often associated with overwatering. In this case, soil acidification may have occurred. It is necessary to establish proper watering, or, as a last resort, replace the soil, paying attention to good drainage.

Brown spots that appear on the leaves in summer indicate sunburn. It is recommended to shade the flower.

Irregular watering, which leads to dry or waterlogged soil, causes leaves to fall off. There is only one way out - to establish proper watering.

Diseases and treatment

Stains gray on the leaves means that the camellia is affected by oidium. At the onset of the disease, you can apply treatment (washing, wiping) of the leaves soap solution. In case of severe damage, it is recommended to use fungicidal preparations for treatment according to the instructions.



Camellia affected by oidium

Camellia japonica is prone to cucumber mosaic disease, which manifests itself as yellowing of the leaf veins. Insecticides are used for control.

Due to fungal infection, the leaves become covered with black spots and the flower petals become brown. Progression of the disease can lead to shedding of flowers. Treatment with fungicides will help in the initial stages of the disease. If the treatment is not successful, then such a flower should be thrown away.

Pests

The main pests of the beautiful camellia are aphids, mealybug, scale insect, spider mite, single mower.

White larvae are easy to spot on leaves. They are removed with a cloth moistened with soapy water or alcohol or cologne. Damaged leaves can be trimmed. As a last resort, the plant is treated with karbofos at the rate of twenty to forty drops per liter of water.



Mealybug

Controlling aphids, which cause leaves to turn yellow and wrinkle, requires patience and persistence. Adults can be removed with a soap solution or special aerosols. It is recommended to carry out treatment every two to three days to destroy new insects.

To combat spider mites, the best and safest for others are oil emulsions that are sprayed on the plant.



Spider mite

When the scale insect appears, the leaves turn black and brown tubercles appear on them. They are removed manually and then treated with insecticides. Be sure to move the flower away from other plants.



The mower damages the root collar of the flower, which leads to the death of the plant if the pest is not recognized in time and the bush is not treated with insecticides.

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Camellia (Camellia) was brought to Europe by the Jesuit monk from Moravia Georg Joseph Camelius, after whom it was later named.

Belongs to evergreen plants from the Tea family (Theaceae). Grows in the tropics and subtropics - Japan, Korea, Indochina, Malaysia, Sulawesi Islands, Java, and the Philippines. Bushes or small trees with glossy, leathery, waxy leaves bloom with large flowers (from 5 to 15 cm in diameter) of various colors and shapes.

Valued for long winter flowering - up to three months.

Main types of camellia flowers with descriptions and photographs

Breeders have developed many varieties, hybrids, and cultivars based on several parent species.

Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica) is the most famous and most often used for breeding indoor plants view.

In Japan it is revered along with the famous sakura. Entire thickets of carefully preserved centuries-old Japanese camellias are known.

Japanese camellia flowers can be simple, symmetrical, semi-double, double, unevenly double. Color can vary from white to all shades of pink and red. Hybrids and varieties with spotted, striped petal color are known.

The spherical flowers are similar to roses, peonies or anemones, but without their inherent aroma. They grow directly from the axils of the leaves, covering the entire crown of the plant. Each flower does not fade for about a month. Flowering lasts from November to May.

Cultivated as a houseplant, greenhouse, garden, interior plant and for cutting.

In the wild, the height of Japanese camellia varies from 1.5 to 11 meters. Home grown tree shrubs grow up to one meter.

Chinese

Chinese camellia (Camellia sinensis) or Camellia bohea (Camellia bohea) is better known as tea tree, from the leaves of which green and black tea are made. Long-leaf tea varieties are made from young leaves covered with silvery fluff - bai-ho. Single flowers with a pleasant specific smell are used as an aromatic additive.

Tea camellia is cultivated in industrial scale in China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Ceylon, Kenya, South America, Portugal, Sicily, France, Georgia. In our country it is cultivated in the Krasnodar region. Rarely grown at home.

Sazanka, mountain camellia (Camellia sasanqua), called by the Japanese “Flower winter sun", grows on the sunny mountain slopes of the Japanese islands of Kushu and Okinawa. In gardens and cool rooms it blooms profusely from November to February.

More than 100 garden and indoor varieties of sazanka have been bred, blooming with single flowers and rosettes of 2-3 flowers. The flowers are different in shape and color: red, pink, white.

It is the basis for breeding work to develop cold-resistant varieties for open gardens and greenhouses. The free-branching shrub grows up to one and a half meters in width and height. Blooms from late winter to spring.

The color of large (8 cm in diameter) flowers varies from snow-white to dark red, burgundy. The most unpretentious of all garden species and the only camellia that sheds flowers.

The oil camellia (Camellia oleifera) is cultivated in the mountainous regions of China for its large oilseeds.

Camellia reticulata

Reaches a height of 20 meters. Tall trees Camellia reticulata with double bright red flowers decorate the gardens of Buddhist monks in China.

The type of reticulated camellia is distinguished by the size of its flowers - up to 20 centimeters or more, with numerous white-pink-red shades that flow and mix into one another. Flower growers call such iridescent flowers chimeras.

Camellia goldenflower

Golden-flowered (Camellia chrysantha) stands out among other types of camellias due to the golden, rich yellow color of its flowers and their number. Up to 200 flowers bloom on one plant. Listed in the Red Book of China. Grows in humid, inaccessible forests of China and Vietnam.

Basic rules for caring for mamelia at home

Camellia is a capricious plant. At home, it requires compliance with a number of agrotechnical rules.

Location and lighting

Camellia is placed on western and eastern windows

The optimal place for growing is a winter garden, greenhouse, glazed loggia, near windows facing west and east.

During flowering, it does not like to be moved, not even to turn the pot around. Camellia does not tolerate direct sunlight or drafts, especially in the first 10-12 months after planting.

The new plant is kept for two weeks in a shaded room with cool temperature. Then they are placed in a permanent sunny place with a temperature above + 16°C.

In the summer they take it out to fresh air and definitely shade. For good growth and development of buds indoor camellia diffused light is needed for 12-14 hours a day. IN winter time additional illumination is carried out, and in the summer they are closed to shorten the photoperiod.

What should the temperature be?

Plants with developing flower buds require a temperature of + 5-6°C, during flowering - + 8-12°C, during the dormant period, depending on the variety, within + 20-25°C.

Proper watering and humidity

During the formation of buds and flowering, water with settled water. Water immediately when the top layer of soil dries, but do not allow water to stagnate or acidify the soil. During the dormant period, watering is moderate.

To increase air humidity in the summer heat, spray twice a day, pour water into a tray, and move the pot into a container with moistened large river sand, gravel, pebbles, moss.

He loves water slightly acidified with lemon juice, citric acid, and vinegar.

If there is not enough moisture, the plant sheds its leaves; if watered too much, the leaves turn brown, the buds and flowers fall off.

Soil composition for indoor plants

Camellias require acidic soil.

For camellias you need acidic soils(PH 3.0-5.0). A ready-made soil mixture is suitable for azaleas.

When preparing the soil mixture yourself, take:

• 1 part each of turf and sand;
• 2 parts each of peat and leaf soil.

For transplanted shoots:

• ½ part sand;
• 1 part peat;
• 2 parts of coniferous land.

Drainage is placed at the bottom of the pot.

Feeding camellia plants

Plants are responsive to organic matter. From spring to autumn, liquid fertilizer is applied once a month. During the period of bud formation and flowering, the procedure is carried out twice a month.

Camellias are suitable ready-made fertilizers for azaleas and orchids.

Pinching

To avoid crushing of flowers and stronger flowering, pinch out the buds, leaving no more than two on each branch.

Trimming

At the end of autumn camellia is pruned

In the wild, camellia bushes and trees grow rapidly. In indoor conditions, to make the plant look neat and decorative, pruning is done at the end of autumn, getting rid of damaged, weak shoots.

The procedure helps activate the axillary buds.

Camellia transplant

Camellias aged 1 to 3 years are replanted annually. Adults, bloom profusely every season, once every 2 years.

Bushes are transplanted in spring and summer months with the end of flowering, while pinching the apical part of the shoots for better formation of the bush.

Large flowerpots and tubs are regularly filled with soil mixed with complex fertilizers.

Propagation of indoor camellia

The most popular method of propagating indoor camellias is propagation by cuttings. To do this, carefully cut off the apical cuttings formed in the current season, 6-8 cm long with 4-5 leaves. An oblique cut is made under the axillary bud.

Optimal months for vegetative propagation January, July, August. Summer seedlings take two months to take root; January seedlings take longer to form a strong root system.

The easiest way to propagate camellias is by cuttings

The material is planted in distribution boxes with a prepared soil mixture of equal parts of peat and sand. In a bright room the temperature is maintained at + 20-23°C. Water, spray. After germination of the roots, they are transplanted into pots d = 7-8 cm.

Camellia can be grown from seeds. Sow one seed at a time in small containers. When two true sheets appear, pick them into a larger container.

Some camellia varieties are reluctant to take root. In this case, the plant is grafted with a well-formed apical bud. For the rootstock, tea bushes or less demanding varieties of camellias are used.

For the grafted plant, maintain the temperature at +20°C, water and spray it, cut off excess shoots, and do not allow direct sunlight to fall on the leaves. After 2-2.5 years, the grafted seedling is transplanted into a pot d = 9 cm with soil of identical composition. In the third year of life, the plant is transferred to a large container d = 11-14 cm. Prepare the soil mixture:

• 2 parts of leaf, peat, heather, turf soil;
• 1 part river sand.

Often, with the seed propagation method, the qualitatively important decorative characteristics of the variety are lost. Seed camellias bloom for the first time after 5-9 years.

IN southern regions In Russia, camellia is successfully grown on garden plots in open ground, observing the requirements for soil, temperature, air humidity, lighting. Basically, they do not differ from the requirements for camellias grown at home.

Transplantation is carried out in a two-year cycle for young plants, adult plants are transferred to another place with an interval of 5-7 years.

For landscape design, decoration of gazebos, facades of garden cottages, special climbing varieties camellia.

In areas with harsh winters Low-growing species are planted in open ground, which are transplanted into pots for the winter and transferred to a warm room.

Pests, diseases and plant care during this period

Camellia can be attacked by scale insects, aphids, whiteflies, thrips, spider mites, and scale insects.

Mealybugs poison plants toxic substances feeding on their juices. A dense white coating appears in the axils of the leaves and on the stems.

Remove scale insects with a cotton swab, sponge, match, or toothpick. Carefully wipe with a sponge soaked in a solution of liquid laundry soap.

From aphids and scale insects, the leaves become covered with black sooty spots, which must be removed with warm water. If there are a lot of blackened leaves, it is better to tear them off. In case of severe pest damage, the bushes are treated with fungicides, insecticides intended for indoor plants.

A signal of camellia infection by a fungal disease is the appearance of brown, gray spots on the foliage. Cucumber mosaic virus appears as yellowing veins on leaves.

Problems with insufficient care

High temperature, changes in the angle of incidence of light when moving the pot, increased acidity of the soil provoke the plant to shed buds and flowers.

At excessive watering the root system rots. Excessively moist soil leads to the formation of a “crust” on the leaves.

If the air is too dry, black spots appear on the leaf blades. In this case damaged leaves deleted. Healthy leaves are wiped with a damp foam sponge. The plant is removed to a colder room, or moved closer to the window, fenced off from healthy plants.

If the neck is grounded too deeply, the camellia may die. The place of contact between the root system and the trunk (neck) should be open.

Caring for camellias at home is not difficult, but the flower requires constant attention and patience. The reward for your work will be bright and beautiful flowers that will delight the owners throughout the long winter.

And finally, watch another video on camellia.

The ornamental camellia plant is an evergreen shrub that grows naturally in China, Vietnam and Japan. Its dark green shiny leaves decorate 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 warm climates, the plant can be grown in gardens. At proper care Camellia grows and blooms well at home.

Description, types and photos of camellia

Depending on the type of shrub plant height can reach from 3 to 12 meters. The glossy leaves of the plant are oval in shape. They are blunt or sharp at the ends. Large single camellia flowers can reach from 5 to 15 cm in diameter. They consist of five petals and many stamens. The color of the petals can be red, pink, white. There are also two-color 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 camellia at home

Indoor camellia requires certain growing conditions and proper care.

Air temperature and humidity

Camellia refers to plants short day . Just 12 hours of daylight will be enough for the formation and development of flower buds. However, at this time it is necessary to monitor the room temperature:

1. The temperature should be between 18C-20C. With more low temperatures oh the camellia will not bloom.
2. If daylight hours last less than 12 hours, then in order to set buds, the temperature will need to be lowered to 8C-10C.
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, the buds will begin to fall from the bushes, flowering may occur prematurely, and the quality of the flowers will deteriorate.

When caring for camellias at home, you need to ensure that there is high air humidity in the room.

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

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

Lighting

Camellia needs a bright place:

In order for the crown of the plant to grow equally on all sides and the bush to be even, from time to time it needs to be turned in different directions towards 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 its buds.

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

Watering and fertilizing

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

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

Transplantation and soil for camellia

When caring for young bushes, they need to be replanted annually. Older plants that bloom every year are replanted 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 leaf or heather soil;
• two parts of peat;
• one part of turf land;
• one part sand.

Drainage must be poured into the bottom of the pot.

Pests and diseases

The most serious plant disease may be root rot formed as a result of too low temperatures or waterlogging of the soil. In this case, the camellia needs to be urgently transplanted into breathable soil. It is very rare that a plant can be saved by reducing watering.

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

Indoor camellias may harbor spider mites, aphids or scale insects. If they are detected, the plant must be urgently treated with summer oil emulsions, soap solution or chemicals.

The plant reproduces in three ways:

1. Cuttings.
2. Seeds.
3. Vaccination.

Propagation by cuttings

In January and July decorative varieties camellias can be propagated from apical cuttings that have not yet become woody. To do this, cuttings with 3-5 leaves 6-8 cm long are cut 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 cuttings involves regularly spraying them and watering the soil. After about two months, the roots will grow and the cuttings can be taken 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 camellia from seeds, the characteristics of the 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 camellia varieties do not take root well when cuttings. In this case they can propagate by grafting in January, choosing for this the upper parts of the shoot with well-developed buds.

After a year, 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 the plants. The soil should consist of heather and leaf soil, turf, peat and sand (2: 2: 2: 2: 1). Young bushes are best replant by 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 use in pharmacology and medicine. Essential oils are extracted from its leaves, which have an antiseptic, anesthetic and tonic effect. And the flowers Chinese camellia You can brew it and drink delicious tea.

Camellia can be easily planted and grown at home, despite the fact that most varieties are intended for open ground. However, there are selectively bred camellia species for breeding in apartments and houses.

From this article you will learn what care a plant requires to abundant flowering and how to propagate it correctly. In addition, we will look at several types of camellia that are very popular among gardeners - Japanese and garden climbing, and will tell you in detail about the rules for growing them.

Basic rules for caring for camellia flowers at home

In the wild, it is a shrubby plant that can reach 3 to 12 meters in height. It has glossy, oval-shaped leaves. Single flowers of the plant are quite large (reach up to 15 cm in diameter) and consist of many stamens and five petals.

The color of the petals can be red, pink, white and even two-tone - with streaks, specks and spots. The duration of flowering is approximately a month, but for this indoor varieties need to be provided specific care and proper growing conditions.

Location and lighting

Camellia is a light-loving plant, so it is better to place it in a well-lit place: the flower feels good on windowsills located on the east and west sides (Figure 1).

Note: If you place the bush in the back of the room or on north side, it will not have enough light, and in the south it will have to be shaded from direct sunlight so that burns do not form on the leaves and petals.

From time to time the bush is turned towards to different parties light to form a crown correct form. During the period of budding and flowering, the position of the bush should not be changed under any circumstances, so that the disturbed plant does not drop its buds. IN warm time year, flower pots can be placed in the open air (balcony, loggia or front garden), not forgetting to provide shading at lunchtime.

What should the temperature be?

For bookmarking and development flower buds 12 hours of daylight is sufficient. But at the same time you need to monitor the temperature in the room. It should not be allowed to rise above +20 degrees.

Figure 1. Plant placement in the house

If the length of daylight hours decreases, the temperature should also be reduced (to about +8+10 degrees). Only in such conditions can one count on the formation of buds and buds.

The flowering period begins in December and lasts until February. During this period, you need to move the plant to a cool room with a temperature of no more than +10 degrees. If this is not done, flowering may end prematurely or not begin at all.

Proper watering and humidity

When growing camellia at home, you must monitor the humidity in the room. It should be increased, so regular spraying is carried out with settled or boiled water room temperature (Figure 2).

Note: During the flowering period, this procedure is carried out very carefully so that water does not accidentally get on the petals.

A specially purchased humidifier has a good effect on air humidification. If it is not possible to purchase it, then the pot with the plant can be placed on a tray with wet peat or expanded clay.

Figure 2. Maintaining optimal humidity

It is recommended to water the crop regularly and abundantly, but not allowing the soil to become waterlogged. To do this, you need to monitor the top layer of soil: when it dries, you need to start watering. Another sign of moisture deficiency is yellowing and shedding of leaves. However, if there is stagnant moisture at the roots, sheet plates become brown and the buds fall off.

Soil composition for indoor plants

Young bushes are replanted annually. For adult plants, this procedure is carried out once every two years. During the replanting process, you need to pinch the apical shoots so that the bush is more lush and develops faster.

The best time to carry out the procedure is spring, and a special one is used for this purpose. soil mixture, consisting of deciduous soil and peat (two parts each), turf soil and sand (one part each). But the bottom of the container must be laid with a layer of drainage to remove excess moisture.

Plant nutrition

Since camellia is a crop that grows in a humid climate, at home it should be provided with the necessary nutrients artificially.

To do this, fertilizing is carried out regularly throughout the year at intervals of three weeks. For this purpose, complex mineral fertilizers: 1 gram of the drug is diluted in a liter of water and root watering is carried out with the resulting solution.

Pinching

By pinching, you can form a compact tree from an ordinary shrub. Pruning and shortening the apical shoots serves not only to form the crown, but also to activate branching and flowering of the crop.

In addition, the owner of the flower needs to evaluate the strength of the plant: if it is too weak, some of the unopened buds must be removed.

Trimming

An integral part of care is pruning. For better growth axillary buds are pruned at the end of autumn. To ensure that the bush does not lose its compactness, in addition to sanitary pruning of weakened and dried shoots, the crown is formed (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Trimming features ornamental shrub

This procedure is carried out when the first wave of flowering gradually ends, but the crop has not yet had time to form new buds. All cut areas must be treated with garden varnish to prevent infection from getting inside the wound.

The young plant is replanted every year. This is necessary because closed system the pot is too small nutrients for the development of ornamental shrubs (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Stages of plant transplantation at home

If the plant blooms every year, replanting can be done every two years. The procedure is carried out in the spring, and it is combined with pinching the apical shoots to stimulate branching and flowering.

For planting, it is advisable to choose acidic soils, but even if you do not plan to replant, you need to add a small layer of fresh soil to the container every year. Required condition- the presence of drainage in the pot, since without it water will be retained at the roots.

From the video you will learn about the main features of growing camellias at home.

Care and reproduction

There are several ways to propagate camellias. One of the simplest and most effective is cuttings. To do this, select apical shoots that have not yet become woody. They should be cut in January or July.

Cut cuttings with 3-5 leaves 6-8 cm long are soaked in a solution of a root-forming preparation and planted in containers with peat and sand. Next, the seedlings are transferred to a room with a temperature of +20+23 degrees, regularly sprayed and watered. After two months, roots will grow on them and then the sprouts can be planted in separate containers (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Stages of crop cuttings

Another method of propagation is by sowing seeds. However, it should be taken into account that in in this case may not be saved characteristic features varieties. Sowing is carried out in small boxes, placing the seeds one at a time at a distance of 5-7 cm from each other. Seedling containers are covered with glass or film and placed in a bright and warm place. The plant is planted in separate pots when two true leaves appear on it.

Camellia japonica: home care

This variety is native to the mountain forests of China, the island of Taiwan and southern regions Korean Peninsula and Japan. It's not very large tree or a shrub that can reach about six meters in height. It has a voluminous crown and pointed leaves with a leathery surface. Flowers can be either single or paired.
Growing this variety indoors requires certain knowledge and patience. With a lack of care, the crop can lose buds and get rid of leaves. Plants feel best in a winter garden, where daylight lasts 12-14 hours throughout the year. Camellia loves good lighting and if it is lacking, it refuses to bloom or produces too few buds (Figure 6).

Note: Pots with shrubs should not be moved during the flowering period, as this may cause them to drop their buds.

When flowering begins, Japanese camellia can be placed outdoors. This will have a beneficial effect on her condition. In the future, it must be transferred to a cool room to re-plant the buds.

Caring for Japanese camellia includes the following steps:

• Frequent but moderate watering;
• Regular fertilizing with mineral fertilizers;
• Pruning (carried out in the second half of autumn) to maintain the correct shape of the crown;
• Regular replanting of overgrown bushes.

Figure 6. Growing Japanese camellia at home

In addition, the leaves should be periodically sprayed with settled water at room temperature to maintain optimal humidity levels.

Camellia climbing garden: planting and care

This variety is easy to grow, and care includes standard measures.(Figure 7):

• Regular watering, including during the flowering period, but it must be done carefully so that water does not get on the petals;
• In dry weather, you need to spray the leaves with water at room temperature;
• In spring and during flowering, complex mineral and organic fertilizers are applied in turn at intervals of two weeks;
• Replanting is carried out every two to three years so that the plant receives a sufficient amount of nutrients from the soil;
• To stimulate bud growth, pinching the apical shoots is carried out.

Figure 7. Growing and caring for garden varieties

In regions with cold winters, the plant needs to be provided with a light shelter. In addition, when planting garden camellias, you should use a special light soil consisting of coniferous soil, crushed tree bark and sand. Only in such a substrate do plants quickly take root in a new place.

You will find useful tips on growing camellias in the garden and at home in the video.