Description of the signs of camellia, creating conditions for growing, recommendations for transplanting and reproduction, problems during cultivation, interesting facts, types. Camellia (Camellia) is a member of the family of evergreen plants called Tea (Theaceae). The most popular of these species is the Tea Bush, or as it is also called the Chinese Camellia, Tea (Camellia sinensis). The leaves of this plant are used to make a tea drink. But many types of this amazing flower are used in decorative floriculture. The homeland of camellia is considered to be the territories of the countries of East and Southeast Asia, where tropical and subtropical climatic conditions completely dominate. More than 80 species of these plants also grow there. In the open field, camellia is successfully grown on the Black Sea coast, in the regions of the Caucasus and the southern coast of Crimea, in the southern lands of the United States.
The first mentions of camellia date back to the 1st century AD. These stories tell about the exploits of the Governor of Kyushu Island, who, having carved a club from the wood of a camellia tree, defeated the leader of a gang that terrorized the local population. And, based on this, part of the island territory is called Tsubaki, in honor of the Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica), and the place where the collision took place is called the "Bloody Field". This is due to the fact that the color of the petals of the wild camellia Tsubaki is a blood-red hue. And the first buds with a snow-white color scheme were bred only in the 7th century, and it became such a sensation that the flowers were presented to Emperor Tenmu.
This magnificent flower bears its name in honor of the botanist of Moravian origin, who was the Jesuit monk Georg Josef Kamel, who lived in the 17th century (1661-1706). He worked in the Philippines as a doctor and pharmacist, and also brought samples of an unusually beautiful flora to Europe. Karl Linnaeus, who was engaged in the classification of all plants and animals, decided to perpetuate the name of the natural scientist in this way.
Camellia is a shrub or tree that can reach heights ranging from 2 to 20 meters, but indoors its dimensions are much more modest, it can reach up to one and a half meter indicators. The bark on the shoots is light brown, and the young branches are green until they become lignified. The plant is quite branched. The leaves are simple with a shape ranging from elliptical to broad or elongated ovate. Their surface is leathery and harsh to the touch, glossy. A pointed or blunt end may occur at the apex. They can be located on the branches singly or 2-3 pieces in succession. The petioles of the leaves are not long, the leaves are measured in length from 3 to 17 cm.
Flowers are the real pride of this plant. They are located singly and their diameter is very diverse, 1–12 cm. Petals, usually fused at their base, their color is also unique and varied, like the color of pink buds: white, red, pink or variegated, two-colored, with strokes or specks and spots. The flower shape is simple or double. Flower petals are sometimes arranged in layers. In the center of the bud, multiple stamens grow, yellow in color.
After flowering, the fruit ripens in the form of a dry capsule, it is divided into 5 sections with 8 seeds. Many of the camellia varieties began to spread as especially decorative evergreens, since even without flowers, leaves with a dark emerald hue attract the eyes of people. Therefore, camellias are often planted to decorate the interiors of premises or create exhibitions in parks during the spring-summer period. The most suitable and highly decorative in this regard is the Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica), which is a shrub that comes from the territories of southwestern China.
Conditions for growing camellia indoors, care
- Lighting and pot location. The plant does not like strong shade and direct sun - east and west windows will do.
- Content temperature. It is necessary that in summer the heat indicators do not exceed 25 degrees, and with the arrival of autumn, it will be necessary to keep the camellia at a temperature of 8-10 degrees for 3 months (from November to January). Wintering is required, this is the key to normal flowering and further growth of the camellia!
- Air humidity. When growing, it is necessary to spray the foliage with soft water at room temperature in spring and summer, not to put it next to batteries in winter.
- Fertilizers camellias. It is recommended to add a couple of drops of lemon juice to the water for irrigation once a month. Fertilizers for rhododendrons are very rarely applied, but only when the leaf mass is growing. Camellia does not require frequent feeding.
- Watering the plant. The soil should always be slightly moist - overdrying and waterlogging is detrimental to camellia.
- Transplantation and selection of a substrate. The transplant is performed when the entire substrate has been mastered by the root system, the pot is changed by the transfer method. A light soil for azaleas with high acidity is suitable. Peat or rotted spruce needles are mixed in.
Self-breeding and planting tips for camellia
When grafting, it is necessary to carefully cut the apical branches that have formed this season and have not yet become lignified. The time for this operation is selected during the period of January days or from mid to late summer. Cuttings cut in summer will be able to take root in two months, but in winter they will take longer.
The length of the cutting should be at least 6–8 cm and contain 4–5 leaves. It is necessary to make an oblique cut under the axillary kidney. The tips of the branches can be treated with any growth stimulant and planted in pots or boxes with a prepared substrate of peat and sand mixed in equal parts. The temperature during rooting should be maintained at least 20-23 degrees, and the selected place should be well lit, but without direct UV streams. It is better to put the twigs under a glass jar or wrap them in a plastic bag. It is required to regularly ventilate the cuttings and, if necessary, spray the soil. When signs of rooting appear and the cuttings start growing, they should be transplanted into pots with diameters of about 7-9 cm. The soil is taken suitable for adult camellias. For greater splendor of the bush, 2-3 branches can be planted in one container.
There is a possibility of growing camellia from seeds. At the same time, one seed is planted in small plastic cups with sandy-peat soil. They are placed under glass or wrapped in plastic wrap. You will also need bottom heating of the soil, for successful germination, at a temperature of 20-25 degrees. Place the pots in a bright place without direct sunlight. Seedlings will need to be regularly sprayed and ventilated. When a couple of true leaves appear on the sprouts, young camellias can be transplanted in large pots. But in this case, a loss of maternal properties of the plant can occur and its flowering will occur only 5-9 years from the time of sowing.
Since some varieties of camellia do not want to take root, they use grafts. For the stock, a tea bush or camellia variety with less whimsy is taken. A sufficiently formed apical kidney is suitable for inoculation. The plant after grafting is kept at a heat level of 20 degrees, it is watered and sprayed, excess branches are cut off and the direct rays of the sun are not allowed to fall on the leaves. After 2–2, 5 years, the grafted plant can be transplanted into a pot with a diameter of 9 cm. The soil is composed of the following components: leafy soil, turf, peat and heather land, river sand (in proportions 2: 2: 2: 2: 1).
When another year has passed, the camellia is transplanted into a container with a diameter of 11-14 cm.
Problems when cultivating a flower at home
If the conditions for keeping camellia are violated, it can suffer from scale insects, aphids, thrips, spider mites, whiteflies and mealybugs. In this case, the following symptoms may appear on the leaves and stems of the plant:
- punctures along the edge of the sheet, its deformation and yellowing;
- the appearance of plaque in the form of small pieces of cotton wool on the branches and surface of the leaves;
- the formation of a sticky sugary plaque, and subsequently soot spots;
- the edge of the sheet plates turns black;
- whitish or brown-brown dots (pest eggs) appear on the back of the leaf;
- the presence of white small midges on the leaves or black (green) bugs;
- the appearance of a thin, translucent cobweb covering leaves and branches.
The worms must be removed with a cotton swab, match or toothpick. Soot stains and other formations are removed with a cotton swab moistened with soap, oil or alcohol. If the leaf is completely blackened, then it is cut off. Also, these drugs are good for the appearance of other pests. But if sparing non-chemical methods do not give a positive and long-term result, then urgent treatment with insecticidal agents ("Aktara", "Aktellik", "Ferovit" and the like) will be required.
When a fungal infection occurs, the camellia leaves become covered with gray or brown spots. If yellowing of the veins on the leaf plate appears, then this indicates a mosaic virus. It will be necessary to carry out treatment with a fungicide.
If the surface of the leaf plate acquires a pale green hue, and the veins become saturated green, then this is the beginning of chlorosis (iron deficiency), it is necessary to add iron chylate or iron sulfate to the water for irrigation.
Interesting facts about camellia
Camellias are mentioned in the novel by Alexandre Dumas-son "Lady of the Camellias", the main character Marguerite Gaultier, could not bear the smell of roses, but always adorned herself with similar flowers that do not have a scent. This is what distinguishes the camellia from the queen of flowers, but in beauty it competes with the rose.
The growing popularity of these flowers was achieved in the XI century (during the reign of the shogun Muromachi, who lived in 1333-1568). At this time, the formation of the so-called "Japanese garden" takes place. The noble classes of the samurai began to cultivate these unique flowers. In addition to Tsubaki, the camellia Sazanka (or as it is also called Sazankva - Camellia sasanqua) is also widespread. This variety has a slightly smaller size of flowers, but their number is more abundant and the shape of the flower has asymmetric proportions, and also easily tolerates exposure to direct sunlight.
The camellia flower itself has over the centuries symbols with completely different meanings. Originally, the camellia Tsubaki symbolized the sun goddess Amaterasu. And with the advent of the Christian religion in Japan, it has already become a symbol of the blood of Jesus Christ for those Japanese who converted to Catholicism and who were forbidden to wear a cross.
Types of camellias
- Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica). This is the most famous and beloved variety by flower growers. In its homeland, Japan, this plant is also revered along with the famous sakura. There are whole old thickets of these camellias, which are strictly and carefully protected by law. The shape of the flowers can differ in simple outlines or be double, symmetrical or not, unevenly double or semi-double. In their appearance, they can resemble the buds of roses, anemones or peonies. The color goes through multiple variations of shades from white to deep dark red. Also, hybrid species have speckled, striped and spotted flower petals. Alas, almost all flowers are devoid of aroma and if it is, then it is rather weak. Flowers grow from the leaf sinuses of the plant and can literally cover the crown of the bush with a blanket. This plant blooms from November to May, when many bright flowers are dormant. Excellent for growing in rooms, greenhouses, conservatories and as an interior plant for cutting flowers. In the conditions of their natural growing environment, the height of camellia bushes can vary from one and a half meters to 11 m. In the conditions of rooms, they rarely exceed meter indicators.
- Chinese Camellia (Camellia sinensis). Also called Camellia bohea or Tea tree. Leaf plates are used to make green and black tea. Young leaves are covered with silvery pubescence, and they are called bai-ho, from which it is customary to prepare varieties of baikhov teas. The buds grow mostly one at a time and have a delicate specific smell, so it is customary to use them as a flavoring additive. On an industrial scale, this variety of camellia is cultivated in China, in India and Indonesia, in Japan and on the island of Ceylon, in the regions of Kenya and South America. But even on the European territory, Chinese camellia is successfully grown: in France, on the lands of Portugal, the island of Sicily, as well as in Georgia. In Russia, you can find plantings of this plant in the Krasnodar Territory. Growing it at home is problematic.
- Mountain camellia (Camellia sasanqua). Also in Japan it is called the "Colors of the Winter Sun". Native habitat, sunlit mountainous slopes on the Japanese islands of Kyushu and Okinawa. When grown indoors with cool temperatures, it can bloom profusely from late fall to March. There are already more than 100 bred garden and indoor varieties of this camellia, which produce either single buds or rosettes, which collect 2-3 units of flowers. The color is very varied: white, pink or red.
- Camellia saluenensis (Camellia saluenensis). This plant is used in breeding more cold-resistant camellia varieties in breeding research, which will then be grown in open gardens and greenhouses. Differs in shrub growth and free-branching type, can reach a height of up to half a meter in width and height. Flowering is stretched from the beginning of February to spring days. Flowers in diameter can reach 8 cm, their color goes through all kinds of shades from snow-white to dark red and burgundy. This variety is the most unpretentious to grow and the only one that sheds discolored buds.
- Camellia oleifera (Camellia oleifera). The plant is cultivated mainly in the mountainous regions of China and is used to obtain seed material for making oil.
- Mesh camellia (Camellia reticulata). The plant can reach a height of 20 m. The gardens of these beautiful plants with bright red flowers in China are planted next to Buddhist temples. The size of the flower in diameter exceeds 20 centimeters or more. Their shades are very diverse and numerous and consist of white-red-pink tones, which, mixing, turn into one another. Such flowers are called chimeras in floriculture.
- Golden-flowered camellia (Camellia chrysantha). It stands out very much against the background of other varieties with a shade of buds. They are cast in golden color, rich yellow and a large number of flowers blooming on one plant. Their number can be up to 200 units. This camellia is listed in the Red Book of China as a rare plant. The main habitat is hard-to-reach areas of humid forests in China and Vietnam.
How to grow camellia at home, see here:
