Camellia) - evergreen, ornamental flowering shrubs or trees of the Tea family ( Theaceae). Most species of the genus grow in regions with tropical and subtropical climates, in Southeast and Central Asia, Indochina, Japan, on the island of Java, and the Philippine Islands. Currently, 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-shaped, 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-color, double flowers look very impressive. The petals may 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 interior landscaping and landscape design. The leaves of the plant are used to obtain essential oils.

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Types of camellia

The most common types: camellia chinensis, mountain, japanese, Williams. Hybrid varieties of camellia are no less beautiful. Despite the fact that camellia is a rather demanding and difficult to care for indoor plant, taking into account the secrets of cultivation, you can achieve long flowering and good development of the plant.

Camellia red and pink. © ciarrocchi

Care for camellia at home

Camellias are light-loving plants, so it is best to place flowerpots with the plant on windows with western or southern exposure. It should be taken into account that camellia montana tolerates bright sunlight well. But the Japanese camellia needs to be shaded. The plant is very sensitive to sudden temperature changes and absolutely does not tolerate drafts. Also, during the flowering period of camellia, it is not recommended to move the 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, and the temperature should not be lower than 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 pots with plants on trays with wet expanded clay or small pebbles. It is recommended to regularly spray camellia leaves with soft water, but the water should not get on the flowers or buds of the plants, as this can lead to rotting of the flowers or falling of the buds.

In summer, the plant must be watered regularly using filtered or settled water at room temperature. In winter, the frequency of watering is reduced. Neither a strong overflow of the camellia nor a prolonged drying out of the earthen coma should be allowed. During the period of flower bud formation, it is recommended to slightly dry the earthen substrate, but not until it is completely dry.

With the onset of spring, after the first young shoots appear, 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 what is 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, camellia feeding is stopped, since during this period future buds are laid.

Camellia bushes. © Lidl-Kamelien

Camellias grow and develop well in acidic soils, so when replanting plants you need to purchase 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, and ground bark. Perlite. A small layer of expanded clay is placed on the bottom of the flower pots. Plant replanting can be carried out from late autumn to February, since during this period camellias are at rest.

Young forms of camellias need regular replanting; adult plants can be replanted once every three to four years. Replanting must be done very carefully and avoid damaging the plant's root system. Between the roots of the plant and the trunk there is a root collar, which cannot be sprinkled with soil. It is best to choose wide pots for camellias.

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

Camellia. © Jocelyn Kinghorn

Camellia propagation

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

The optimal germination temperature is 18-22 degrees Celsius. After the first two leaves appear. Seedlings are planted in separate planting pots. Camellias planted using this method can 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; for faster rooting, the top can be covered with plastic wrap or a glass jar. For successful rooting, growth stimulants and rooting agents are used.

The most labor-intensive method is propagation of camellias by air layering, but with this method you can obtain varietal compact plant forms that will delight you with their flowering in the second year after planting.

In nature, camellias are large bushes or trees with a loose crown that grows up to several meters. But at home, caring for the camellia flower in the photo is not possible for all gardeners. This beauty, famous for its winter blooms, sometimes turns out to be obstinate and does not want to adapt to living indoors.

And yet, knowing the secrets of the plant, creating conditions for it that are as close as possible to nature, one can hope for the camellia’s favor. For experienced indoor plant lovers, with proper care, camellia feels great, forms many buds, blooming every year to the delight of others.

Features of camellia and flower care at home

Decorative varieties and varieties of camellias, of which there are several thousand in the world, are amazingly beautiful. They cannot be confused with other cultures. And in terms of splendor and flower shape, camellia competes only with. Smooth leathery leaves of rich green color have a pointed elliptical shape and are attached to the shoots with short dense petioles. Flowers, depending on the type, can be simple or double, white, soft pink, deep crimson or even variegated.

Most often in home collections you can find three types of this plant:

• or Camellia japonica;
• camellia reticulata or Camellia reticulata;
• mountain camellia or Camellia sasanqua.

They gave the world the largest number of varieties and hybrids used by flower growers.

Having seen this miracle only once, it is difficult to refuse the temptation. But to prevent the purchased flower from dying, you will have to provide special care for camellia when growing it at home.

This means that the home beauty is provided with a semblance of a natural climate and is provided with:

• moderate temperatures in summer;
• coolness in winter;
• high air humidity;
• nutritious ultra-light substrate;
• protection from drafts and direct sun.

If all conditions are met, the maintenance and care of the flower is organized, the camellia, as in the photo, will respond with friendly flowering, lasting from 2 to 4 months.

Conditions for growing camellias and care at home

If you describe the characteristics of the camellia flower, indicating that the plant can withstand frosts down to –5 °C, blooms at +10 °C, has almost no dormant period and is incredibly decorative almost all year round, you might think that there is no better crop for your home collection. But that's not true. The difficulty of keeping camellia is that creating such conditions in an apartment is extremely difficult.

Without a bright, closed balcony, loggia, terrace or winter garden, it is unlikely that you will be able to enjoy camellia blooms, because the plant’s buds open in the winter, and the growth of greenery begins with the arrival of spring.

How to care for camellia at home? Throughout the year, camellia needs up to 12–14 hours of daylight, but does not react well to direct sunlight. Therefore, on southern windows in the summer, the shrubs are provided with shading. But on the north side the plant will be completely uncomfortable, which is signaled by elongated shoots, pale and shredded foliage. With the decrease in natural light, when autumn comes, camellias are arranged.

If in spring and summer camellias are kept at room temperature, then with the onset of autumn it will be harmful for the plant to be in a warm room. It is transferred to a glazed loggia or an insulated balcony, terrace or other place where the temperature will be about 12–15 °C.

With proper care and maintenance, a camellia flower, as in the photo, will produce many buds, and flowering will begin in winter, continuing even at low sub-zero temperatures down to –10 °C.

Watering and fertilizing when caring for indoor camellia at home

Camellia care is based on the fact that in nature, most species grow in areas with a fairly humid climate, which affects the needs of the plant:

1. In summer, indoor camellias need frequent, abundant watering. This is explained both by the consumption of actively growing shrubs and by the large evaporation of moisture in the soil surface.
2. In winter, at low temperatures, although camellia blooms, it needs less water. Therefore, the substrate is moistened only when the earthen ball in the pot is dried.

Excessive moisture in the soil mixture in both summer and winter is unacceptable, since it leads to the proliferation of bacteria, soil pests and causes rot of the root system.

Water is used that has been settled, melted or boiled. When caring for camellias, citric or acetic acid is occasionally added to the water to maintain a comfortable level of soil acidity for the plant. An increased content of calcium salts and other impurities negatively affects the condition of the flower.

In addition to proper watering, it is important for camellias to be kept in moist air. Operating heating devices will cause the leaves and already formed buds to fall off, therefore:

• if necessary, you can use a humidifier;
• Give the indoor beauty a warm shower with a spray bottle, trying not to touch the soil surface.

With the beginning of active growth, that is, in the spring, they begin to regularly feed indoor pets. This procedure, as part of camellia flower care, is carried out 2-3 times a month until the end of July, feeding the shrubs with organic matter and minerals. Then, in the second half of August, fertilization is stopped, which will help the camellia begin to form flower buds, and then buds.

Transplanting indoor camellia when caring at home

In nature, camellias are large shrubs. When kept at home, the flower also grows greatly, so it requires:

• regular transplantation into a larger pot;
• adding fresh substrate.

Young plants are transferred every year, and adult specimens - no more than once every 2-3 years, as the root system fills the entire volume of the pot.

Unlike other species that are transferred to new soil in the spring, indoor camellias are transplanted in late autumn or winter. Lush flowering is not an obstacle to this procedure. The buds and already opened corollas will not fall off.

The vagaries of camellia concern not only the air temperature during flowering and its high humidity, but also the composition of the substrate. To simplify the care of a camellia flower, as in the photo, at home, the most structured light soil is selected for it, which provides the plant with good nutrition and does not interfere with the passage of water and air.

In this case, increased soil acidity at a pH level of 4.0–5.5 units is extremely important. If it is not possible to independently make the required substrate from equal parts of leaf and coniferous soil, perlite, high-moor peat and adding a small amount of crushed coniferous tree bark and sand to make the mixture loose, you can purchase ready-made soil for azaleas.

Drainage is made at the bottom of the pot, a little soil is poured on top, and a shrub with a straightened root system is placed on top of it. The substrate is poured carefully, easily pressing around the azalea.

The soil should not be allowed to hide the root collar. The same rules for caring for camellias are followed if the soil surface is mulched with shavings, sawdust or crushed bark that acidifies the soil.

Trimming and pinching camellias when caring for flowers

Pruning is an integral part of caring for a camellia flower growing in a room. In addition to the sanitary removal of weakened, damaged and dried shoots, the crown must be formed, otherwise the bush loses its compactness, grows and becomes unsuitable for keeping in the house.

The formation of the camellia crown is done during the period when mass flowering is declining and the plant does not form new buds. Depending on the type of indoor flower, camellias are cut down to half the length of the shoots. Places of large cuts are treated with garden varnish.

Experienced flower growers, using pruning and shaping, obtain elegant standard trees or miniature bonsais from camellias. Pruning and pinching help stimulate branching, so you can expect that after such care the camellia will bloom much brighter and more abundantly.

But at the stage of bud formation, the gardener should evaluate the strength of the plant and adjust the number of future flowers on the shoots. If there are too many buds, they will weaken the camellia, and the bush will still not be able to hold the large corollas that have opened for long.

Subtleties of camellia care - video

Homemade camellia is a beautiful oriental beauty that looks like a luxurious rose. Beautiful buds look gorgeous against the background of dark green foliage, but in order to admire the plant, you need to properly care for it. Camellia has gained the love of flower growers due to the fact that, in addition to the decorative properties of the bud, its leaves are used as tea leaves.

The most common camellia varieties

Camellia (camellia) has been known since the times of the Japanese samurai. Interest in the bright flower continues to this day. Proper cultivation of camellia at home guarantees abundant flowering in winter. There are these types of flowers:

• Camellia oleifera is an evergreen oil tree up to 10 m high, which is conveniently located along river banks and in wooded areas of China at an altitude of about 500-1400 m above sea level. seas. They are often grown specifically to extract healthy oil from the seeds. Flowering occurs from September to the second half of October with luxurious snow-white flowers. After this, seed boxes appear, and seeds can be collected from them.

• Camellia sinensi is a Chinese tree with fragrant buds up to 10 m high. It begins to bloom in August, and in October, tricuspid, slightly flattened boxes appear in place of the flowers. Due to the fact that its leaves are brewed as tea, the plant received its second name - tea bush.

• Camellia japonica - this beauty grows up to 15 meters. Lives in Korea, Japan and China. Abundant flowering continues from December to April. Flowers are double, single and semi-double, reaching a diameter of 4 cm.

• Camellia sasanqua is a mountain camellia native to the islands. Bushes about 5 m high with thin branches and slightly red shoots. Fragrant flowers of white, pinkish and red hues appear from November to the end of January.

The garden camellia, common in the mid-latitudes of Europe, and the domestic varieties common among our compatriots were bred on the basis of a Japanese variety.

How to care for your home camellia

To grow indoor camellia, you should study in detail the conditions that the capricious flower prefers. Even a slight deviation from the norm can cause it to begin to shed leaves and flowers.

Important! This is not a flower for the lazy, so be prepared to pay due attention to caring for this indoor beauty.

Correct lighting

An indoor flower requires certain lighting:

• The optimal place for growing perennials is a well-lit winter garden. The flower prefers lower temperatures during the colder months.
• The optimal lighting brightness is at least 3000 lux, and the required daylight hours are at least 12-14 hours. That is why flowers need additional lighting in winter. For these purposes, gardeners use phytolamps, about which you can read more. In the absence of the necessary light, the plant will not bloom.
• For camellias, during the period of bud formation, it is strictly forbidden to rotate it relative to the light source. If you do not listen to this requirement, it will simply drop the buds.
• Camellia in open ground is also common, but even a pot with a home flower can be safely taken out to the balcony or garden in the summer, and also changed its location. At the same time, the greens will not react in any way to a change in the place of cultivation.

Important! Rich green foliage requires protection from direct sunlight on particularly hot days. Therefore, it is better to place the pot in a slightly shaded place.

Correct temperature regime

The camellia flower is a winter bloomer, so the temperature of its cultivation, like many other flowers, varies greatly during the autumn-winter period.

• March-September - temperatures range from +20 to +25 degrees. As soon as the period of flower bud formation begins, reduce the temperature to the optimal +18 +20 degrees.
• December-February - temperature no more than +8 +12 degrees.

If the temperature is abnormal, you may experience the following problems: the ovary will fall off or flowering will occur much earlier, but the buds will be small and inconspicuous.

Caring for camellia requires a complete absence of drafts and the presence of fresh air.

How to water a plant

Camellia loves moisture, but this process also follows clear rules.

• Watering cannot be called consistently abundant or moderate. Throughout the year, the degree of required moisture changes several times. In summer - abundant watering, and in winter - moderate.
• The soil should not be overdried in summer, as the camellia may die. In winter, watering is prudent and careful, since at low temperatures moisture evaporates very slowly. If there is excessive moisture, the flower may turn sour and die.
• Water only with settled water. The liquid can be slightly acidified by dropping a few drops of vinegar into it.

Important! The flower prefers watering with settled water at medium temperature. Water rich in lime can destroy the sprout.

• Create a watering schedule. This will help you monitor how often you moisturize. The reference point is the degree of drying of the earth. If the scheduled watering time has come, and the top layer of soil is still wet, postpone moistening for several days.

Optimal indoor humidity

The flower does not tolerate dry air in the room where it grows. You can ensure optimal humidity in the following ways:

• Place a saucer of water next to the pot. The liquid will gradually evaporate, providing the plant with comfortable conditions. You can read how to humidify the air in a room in other ways.
• Install a humidifier in the room to maintain the desired level of humidity.
• Spray the leaves regularly, especially in summer. Be extremely careful during the budding period. Moisture should not get on the flowers.

How to apply fertilizers correctly

In summer, the plant does not require active feeding, but for harmonious development it should still be carried out. For these purposes, buy a special mineral fertilizer, and if you don’t have it, a rose substrate or liquid fertilizer for azaleas will do. Apply fertilizers according to instructions no more than once a month. During the flowering period, increase fertilizing to 2-3 times a month. Before applying fertilizers, be sure to pay attention to expiration dates. Delay can only harm the pet.

Japanese beauty transplant

The perennial requires systematic replanting. The frequency of changing the pot directly depends on the age of the plant.

• Replant young flowers every spring. Each time take a container with a larger diameter. When transplanting, the soil changes completely, and the neck of the flower should not be covered with soil. This is dangerous for the plant and can lead to its death.

• For mature plants, the pot is changed every 3 years. It’s just that the top layer changes every year.

• If a perennial grows in a tub, then it is not replanted, as this is very difficult. In addition to the inconvenience, you can cause irreparable harm to the plant. Therefore, it is enough to simply change the top layer of soil. This will reduce the risk of disease and stimulate the development of buds.

Propagation of indoor camellia

Plant propagation occurs in several ways:

• Seeds. Gardeners are not very fond of this method, since it does not preserve the quality of the variety. Some individuals develop seed pods. These seeds are transplanted into a container with a nutrient substrate and grown until the first leaves appear, after which the sprouts are planted in different pots.

• Cuttings. The most popular method to preserve the quality of varieties. It is better to cut off the top parts of ripe shoots. Their length varies from 3 to 8 cm. The cuttings are placed in diluted heteroauxin. After this, the cuttings are moved into a box filled halfway with peat and sand. Planting is left at a temperature of +20 +23 degrees until rooting.

• Vaccination. This method is considered very labor-intensive, and is extremely rare at home.

What problems do gardeners face?

How you care for camellia depends on how it blooms. Errors in care are the main cause of plant disease and death.

• If the leaves fall, it means you are making mistakes with watering.
• Withered leaves - the plant lacks nutrients.
• If, as in the photo, brownish spots have formed on the leaves, then remove the pot from the windowsill as quickly as possible. These are signs of sunburn.

• Poor flowering is a sign of soil acidification.
• In case of attack by scale insects, mites or aphids, you need to treat the foliage with special preparations, or with an ordinary soap solution.

The video below clearly shows how to grow camellia and make it the queen of the winter garden. Have you had experience growing camellias? Write about the most important, in your opinion, in this process for readers.

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

Camellia is a representative of the tea family, and one of its varieties - the Chinese camellia - is grown precisely as a tea crop. In the wild, this charming flower can be found in the mountains and forests of China, Indonesia, India, Vietnam and Japan. Today, in Asian countries, camellia is grown in huge quantities to produce essential oils and tea.

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

Features of caring for indoor 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 contains more than two hundred species of plants. Unlike species growing in the wild, many garden varieties have a longer flowering period, resistance to cold, and unusual shape and color of flowers and leaves. Below are the most popular camellia species in floriculture.

Camellia japonica and its varieties

The Japanese beauty became 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. Thus, General Colletti is decorated with bright double flowers with white and scarlet spots, and Hagoromo is decorated with buds with soft pink petals on the outside and dazzling snow-white inside. Other varieties: Alba Simplex with white single flowers, Pink Perfection with pink double flowers and Adolphe Audusson with scarlet semi-double flowers.

Camellia japonica

Camellia montana (Miyagi)

Other names: sazanka, 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 montana (Miyagi)

Camellia sinensis

Usually, grown for its young leaves, from which tea is made. This species is not so popular among flower growers due to its low decorative properties compared to beautifully flowering camellias and due to difficulties in care. The variety is distinguished by pointed leathery leaves of a rich dark green hue with a jagged 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 its peers for its height: the tree can grow up to 20 m. Previously, this variety could often be found at Buddhist monasteries: large red buds with a barely visible 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 occurs in the first half of autumn. Often cultivated for its seeds, which are high in fatty oils.

Camellia oleifera

Camellia Saluenskaya

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

Camellia Saluenskaya

Camellia goldenflower

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

Camellia goldenflower

Camellia propagation methods

The Asian beauty can reproduce in different ways: by seeds, cuttings, grafting and layering. Cuttings are considered the easiest and most effective method, while seed propagation of camellias is used much less frequently.

Cuttings

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

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

The procedure for cutting camellia 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 soil, peat and sand is placed in proportions of 2:2:1, respectively. It is recommended to spray young cuttings and keep them at a temperature of 18 to 24°C, ensuring bottom heating of the soil. Humidity should be high, not lower than 80%. To speed up the process, in some cases it is recommended to create greenhouse conditions for the sprouts. Under normal conditions, 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 soil: now peat, humus and greenhouse soil are mixed in a ratio of 1: 1: 2 and urea is added. Young camellias should be watered generously throughout the maturation process, starting in May and ending in mid-August. Then watering is reduced to speed up the aging of the wood.

How to transplant camellia (video)

Seeds

It is preferable to propagate camellia from 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 mother specimen.

Seeds are stratified(in case they are not quite fresh), and then sown in small pots one at a time with the “eye” down. The soil mixture for this method is made from two parts sphagnum and one part perlite. After the appearance of two well-shaped 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 the seedlings.

When propagated by seed, camellia can bloom in 3-5 years of life.

It is preferable to propagate camellia with fresh seeds.

Care for camellia at home

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

Choosing a place in the house

Immediately after purchase, it is recommended to place 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 should follow 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 ventilation, 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 changes in position relative to the light source.

The ideal daylight hours for camellias are 12 hours.

Requirements for soil and planting pot

The flower will successfully grow and develop in light, air- and water-permeable, drained soil with high acidity (pH level 4.5-5). You can take a ready-made mixture specifically designed for rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, or make it yourself. To do this, you will need 1 part each of coniferous, leaf and peat soil and a little sand. The pot for camellias should be chosen wide, and an impressive layer of drainage (for example, perlite) should be placed on its bottom. This way, 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 covered with soil.

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 the top layer of soil dries out, and when the temperature drops to 12°C, when the soil is half dry. Wherein the soil should always remain loose so that a sufficient amount of air reaches the root system. Watering should be carried out with filtered, warm (slightly above room temperature) and soft (without calcium and salt impurities) water, pre-infused for at least half a day.

Camellia prefers moderate watering

Feeding indoor camellia

When it comes to fertilizers, you should not be overzealous: camellia has a pronounced dormant period, during which it is strongly recommended not to feed the plant in order to avoid stimulating premature flowering. The Asian guest needs to be fertilized once in the spring, when the plant wakes up from hibernation and prepares for the growing season.

Complex fertilizers with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur are well suited for feeding. 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. The fertilizer should be dosed by mixing 1/2 of the amount indicated on the package in water.

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

Pinching and pruning indoor camellia

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

During the flowering period and during replanting, it is also customary to pinch out the inflorescences, leaving up to two buds on one branch: this way the plant will not be too depleted, trying to provide 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 luxurious blooms in gratitude. The Japanese guest can become the pearl of any home collection.

Estimate

My friend grows the most beautiful flower! At first I thought it was a rose, but no, it turned out to be a camellia. I had never heard of this plant before. I decided to find out how it feels at home, whether it is demanding on lighting and soil.

A friend said that the flower was “capricious.” It should receive enough light, but not be exposed to direct sunlight. You should select suitable soil and fertilizers for it. I liked camellia so much that I decided to find out how to grow it correctly. And this is what my friend told me.

Camellia, a representative of the tea genus, grows in the tropics and subtropics; it is also common in Russia, Europe, Asia, Japan and Korea. The leaves of this ornamental crop are ovoid, leathery, and depending on the variety, they can be simple or pointed.

Red, pink, and white varieties are popular. Some gardeners prefer variegated leaves. In the photo you can see all the beauty of the plant.

Features of care

In order for camellia to bloom for a long time at home, you need to properly care for it. If you are a beginner gardener and don’t yet know how to care for an indoor flower, listen to my friend’s advice.

Camellia stunts in growth if it does not have enough light. For full photosynthesis, home culture needs light and moisture.

It is recommended to spray not only the plant itself, but also the air around it. It is important to choose the right soil mixture; we will return to it later. A friend advises placing the camellia in the east or west. The plant prefers bright but diffused light. If placed in the south, it will suffer from direct sunlight.

Periodically you need to turn the pot, so the home culture will develop proportionally.

Be careful: the buds should not fall off! In hot weather, you need to take the plant out into the fresh air (only in the morning and evening). Remember that direct sunlight is harmful.

1. In spring, camellia develops well at temperatures from + 19 to + 26 degrees.
2. In order for the plant to form buds in a timely manner, at the beginning of spring and also in autumn, the air temperature should be from + 16 to + 18 degrees.
3. Recommended temperature in winter is from + 9 to + 12 degrees.

A flower growing in unfavorable conditions drops its buds. Camellia must receive a sufficient amount of air; a draft is harmful to it. We recommend watering the plant as the soil dries out. Make sure that water does not get on the fragile buds.

For irrigation, it is better to use soft, settled water. To provide the plant with additional nutrition, you need to place the pots on a tray with wet expanded clay.

Fertilizer application, soil for camellia

I advise you to feed camellia once every 22 days. She positively perceives mineral products: 1 g of such fertilizers is calculated for 1000 ml of water. To improve photosynthesis, you need to trim the camellia. It is advisable to carry out the procedure at the end of autumn. Thanks to the adjustment, the buds grow better.

The home flower does not tolerate transplantation well, but it must be done every year. After picking, you can pinch the shoots. Camellia takes root in light, fertile soil with a pH level of up to 5. I advise you to make a mixture of soil, sand and peat, taken in equal proportions.

Before planting the plant, you need to lay drainage at the bottom of the pot.

Generative (seed) propagation and cuttings

For planting, you should choose compact pots. Seeds need to be sown one at a time. When they germinate and turn into seedlings with two strong leaves, they will need to be picked (transplanted into larger pots).

If you want the plant to retain its varietal qualities, propagate it by cuttings. In this case, seven-centimeter green cuttings are used. Reproduction occurs in early July or late January. The planting material should have several strong leaves. Each cutting is placed in a box.

Planting material develops favorably at an air temperature of + 22 degrees. Experienced gardeners use a soil mixture of sand and peat taken in equal proportions. If propagation is carried out in summer, the cutting will take root in 50 - 70 days, in winter - up to 90 days. We recommend not only watering, but also spraying the plants.

In order for the planting material to take root faster, it must be placed in a heteroauxin solution. Don't forget to water the plants. When they form roots, transplant them into separate containers. Make a soil mixture of peat, sand, leaf and turf soil, taken in equal proportions.

Diseases, pests, possible problems during cultivation

If the soil mixture turns sour, the plant begins to drop buds and its leaves turn brown. It is important to protect the crop from direct sunlight, otherwise burns in the form of brown spots will appear on the leaves.

You must add water on time, otherwise the plant will die!

This plant is not susceptible to disease, but if the air is too dry, spider mites attack. Insecticides are used to control the pest.

We met a very beautiful plant. Caring for and growing at home will not take much of your time, but follow important rules. The main thing is to add water moderately and avoid drafts! Provide your home culture with bright, indirect lighting.