- origin
- growth
- leaves
- blossom
- heyday
- fruit
- use
- Is camellia poisonous?
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- What is the best planting time?
- sowing
- cuttings
- Camellias in the pot
- Water camellias
- Fertilize camellias properly
- Cut camellias properly
- How do I plant correctly?
- hibernate
- Diseases
- pests
- fungus
- sorts
Camellias are large-flowered ornamental plants with special requirements. The care is a bit more complex, but if you pay attention to the requirements for location and care, you can enjoy the long-lasting plant for many years. Some camellias live for hundreds of years.
The camellia is a pretty ornamental bouquet for the garden
Table of Contents
Show all- origin
- growth
- leaves
- blossom
- heyday
- fruit
- use
- Is camellia poisonous?
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- What is the best planting time?
- sowing
- cuttings
- Camellias in the pot
- Water camellias
- Fertilize camellias properly
- Cut camellias properly
- How do I plant correctly?
- hibernate
- Diseases
- pests
- fungus
- sorts
- six parts peat or peat substitute
- two parts compost
- part expanded clay
- a part of sand
- Place the pot on its feet so that the water can drain off
- Put camellias outside during the summer
- Shrubs in shallow containers should be watered more often than plants in tall containers
- Spread a thick layer of mulch on the ground
- Shade leaves with a light fleece
- Wrap buckets in foil and place on wooden boards
- water on frost-free days
- Polar Ice: Medium growth, upright shrub. Hardy to -20 degrees Celsius. flowers white.
- Winter's Dream: Upright growth with loose branches. Hardy to -20 degrees Celsius. Flowers semi-double, pink.
- Fire N Ice: Compact growing shrub. Hardy to -20 degrees Celsius. Flowers dark orange-red in colour.
origin
Camellias belong to the tea plant family. The genus includes about 300 species including Camellia japonica, which is preferably cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is related to the tea bush, also known as Chinese camellia or Camellia sinensis. This species has been cultivated in East Asia for more than 4,000 years and is used to make green and black tea.
Camellias grow in eastern Asia, with a center of biodiversity in southern China. In Europe, various large-flowered camellia species had their fashion peak in the 19th century.
growth
The Japanese camellia is a long-lived, evergreen shrub. There are plants that are estimated to be more than 1,000 years old. The species can also grow arboreal and can reach heights of between six and eleven meters in their natural habitats. In mild regions, the shrub can grow up to four meters high in the garden. Young twigs have grayish to brown bark that turns purplish-brown in the second year.
leaves
Camellia foliage is alternate. The leaves are simple and sit on five to ten millimeter long stalks. Your leaf blade appears leathery and is elliptical in shape. They are dark green in color on top, while the underside appears light green and is dotted with brown. A raised yellowish-green central vein runs through the leaf blade.
blossom
In the leaf axils arise short-stalked flowers, which stand alone or in pairs and can be up to 15 centimeters tall. They are supported by nine bracts and sepals colored green. The crown consists of six to seven or more outer and five inner petals. Striking stamens sit in the center of the flowers, which are reminiscent of peonies. They are yellow in color and form an aesthetic contrast to the corolla.
heyday
In their natural habitat, camellias bloom between January and March. Cultivated varieties open their flowers in late winter. The flowering period extends into spring. The flowers shine in white, pink or red.
fruit
In autumn, camellias develop woody and spherically shaped capsule fruits. They consist of three compartments, each containing one or two seeds. The fruit ripens between September and October.
use
Camellias are planted in tubs because they usually do not survive the winter months outdoors. In regions with mild winter temperatures, the trees can be planted in the garden. The shrubs adorn ventilated conservatories, terraces or balconies as potted plants. They set blooming and colorful accents in Japanese gardens. In the garden, camellias are traditionally used as solitary shrubs. Magnolias, rhododendrons, bamboo or Japanese maples have proven to be ideal companion plants.
Is camellia poisonous?
Camellia japonica is considered non-toxic to humans, dogs, horses, and cats. The shrub Camellia sinensis used for tea production contains caffeine in the plant parts. If a person consumes large amounts of the leaves, they may experience an increased heart rate or palpitations. Cramps are also possible.
Which location is suitable?
Camellias prefer a semi-shady location under taller trees. If you want to plant your camellia in the garden, you should offer the shrub a mild and wind-protected location. Especially during the summer months, the trees need sufficient light to stimulate bud formation. The winter sun damages the plant as it can lead to drought stress.
In the tub, the shrubs like to stand on sunny balconies and terraces. They can be cultivated in conservatories provided they are not heated and are well ventilated. The shrubs like temperatures between twelve and 16 degrees Celsius. Therefore, they are not suitable for heated interiors.
What soil does the plant need?
The tea shrub plants like a humus-rich and lime-poor soil with slightly acidic conditions. Moor bed or rhododendron soil is ideal for cultivation. Sharp sand or lava gravel improves permeability so that irrigation water can run off better. At the same time, the roots have better growing conditions. Camellias prefer slightly damp conditions, whereby waterlogging should not occur.
Mix substrate yourself:
What is the best planting time?
Spring planting has proven to be effective, as the shrubs have enough time to take root during the growing season. This ensures that the plants get through the winter better. Loosen the soil and dig a large planting hole. Lay gravel or grit (€46.95) on the ground to ensure water drainage. Place the root ball in the hole and fill in the gaps with rhododendron soil or leaf humus.
sowing
Camellias require warm temperatures to successfully develop fruit. Even in cooler regions, the Japanese camellia develops capsule fruits that can be harvested for seed propagation between September and October. Since the seeds quickly lose their ability to germinate in dry conditions, they must be sown immediately or stored in a cool, moist place.
The seed is spread on a nutrient-poor substrate and moistened. A foil ensures that the humidity remains high. In a warm place, the seeds will germinate within a few weeks. A camellia propagated from seed takes between four and 20 years before it develops flowers for the first time.
cuttings
The tea bush plants can be propagated by cuttings. Use nutrient-poor substrate for cultivation. Ensure constant soil moisture. A transparent cover serves as protection against evaporation. The planter is placed in a light and partially shaded place. Underfloor heating provides ideal conditions. It can take several months for cuttings to root.
head cuttings
With this propagation method, you cut branches about 15 centimeters long from a healthy mother plant. The shoot should be healthy and have at least three leaves.
shoot cuttings
They represent a special form of head cuttings. With them, the tip of the head cuttings is cut off, as this is insufficiently mature and would bend during growth. Below the break point, the plant forms fresh branches so that it grows compactly. Shoot cuttings should have two to three leaves.
leaf cuttings
Leaves are preferred for propagation because they reliably develop roots. It is placed in the substrate with the stem at a slight angle. As soon as roots have formed, the camellia will sprout again. The old leaf dies off over time.
node cuttings
With this special method, a leafy sprout of the camellia with a length of two to three centimeters is used for propagation. It must have a well-developed eye so that the cutting can sprout. Roll up the leaves and secure with a rubber band or raffia. In this way, evaporation is reduced. Push a small piece of wood into the rolled sheet to give it more stability. Lay the cuttings horizontally on a nutrient-poor substrate.
Camellias in the pot
The bucket should be slightly larger than the root ball. If small camellias are planted in pots that are too large, the substrate that is not rooted will quickly become waterlogged and compacted. The fine roots can no longer spread optimally and are exposed to the risk of waterlogging. Acidification can also occur, which weakens the vitality of the plant.
Tips for potted plants:
Water camellias
Camellias like slightly damp conditions. The root ball should not dry out or be too wet. During the growth phase between spring and autumn, the shrubs are watered regularly. Potted plants need more frequent watering units because the substrate dries faster.
Excess water should be removed from the coaster immediately. The top layer of soil is allowed to dry slightly between waterings. Use rainwater, because tap water contains a lot of lime and harms the plants. Mist the leaves with water occasionally when the air is very dry.
Fertilize camellias properly
The tea shrub plants enjoy regular fertilizer application. Give the shrubs a liquid fertilizer for green plants every two weeks. Alternatively, you can supply the shrubs with a mineral long-term fertilizer in powder form in spring. This is distributed on the substrate before the leaves emerge. If you are giving an organic fertilizer, you should fertilize again in May.
The plants tolerate rhododendron fertilizer or guano.(121.99€) You can halve the amount recommended on the package. Camellias have a high nitrogen requirement. At the same time, they are sensitive to salt. Balcony flower fertilizers are not suitable because they contain a lot of phosphate and little nitrogen.
Cut camellias properly
Camellias prove to be well tolerated by pruning and can withstand even heavier pruning measures without any problems. Since the shrubs become more and more beautiful with age, only young plants need to be trimmed regularly. The plants sprout again below the cutting points and develop good branching and bushy growth forms. The best time for pruning is before the leaves sprout in spring.
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How do I plant correctly?
Camellia japonica and its relatives are repotted between May and July or in the fall. During the spring, outdoor shrubs can be dug up and transplanted. Container plants need a larger pot every two to three years. At the latest when the roots are visible on the substrate surface, the plants will be happy about a new bucket.
hibernate
Camellias are sensitive to frost because of their evergreen leaves. In mild regions of the coasts and lowlands, the plants survive the winter outdoors with appropriate winter protection. They should be placed in a location that is not exposed to wind or sun.
Older plants, which have had more time to root than younger shrubs, are less sensitive to low temperatures. They can survive outdoors down to -15 degrees Celsius if root balls and leaves are covered. Potted plants are frost hardy down to -5 degrees Celsius. Late frosts pose a risk, as the plants are already sprouting and the delicate tissue freezes immediately.
The perfect winter protection for outdoor camellias:
winter quarters
Potted plants should be overwintered in an unheated room with temperatures up to a maximum of 15 degrees Celsius. Heated living rooms are not suitable because the plants do not hibernate if the temperatures are too high. Next year the flowers will be few. The location ideally offers bright conditions. During the resting phase, the supply of nutrients is stopped. Keep the plants a little drier. The root ball should not dry out completely.
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Diseases
The camellia plague has been spreading in Europe for several years. The highly infectious disease is difficult to combat. You can recognize a disease by the brown-red discoloration of the flowers, which begins in the center and progresses outwards. A mold-like covering often occurs. Varieties with bright flowers are more susceptible to the disease. If you discover signs of damage on your plant, the affected areas should be removed and disposed of with household waste.
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pests
Camellias are often attacked by pests when weakened. To prevent an infestation, you can regularly give your plant a plant decoction. Horsetail and nettle extracts increase vitality.
vine weevil
The beetles are nocturnal and eat typical structures in the leaves. They lay their eggs on the substrate. After hatching, the larvae burrow into the ground and damage the roots. Nematodes have proven to be a successful control measure. Beetles can be collected during dusk.
Scale and Mealybugs
These pests often occur when the camellias are in winter quarters that are too dry and warm. They spread to all parts of the plant and usually settle in one place. During sucking activities, the pests inject poison into the plants, which negatively affects growth.
Place the plant in a light location and ventilate it regularly so that the air does not become too dry. Although camellias need a lot of nitrogen, over-fertilization can encourage pests to spread.
fungus
Cancerous growths indicate a fungal disease leading to the death of the plant. Affected parts should be cut off immediately to prevent the spores from spreading further. Little is known about this disease, known as camellia dying.
tips
If you buy camellias from the store, you should choose shrubs with as few buds as possible. The plants react sensitively to the change of location between the nursery and the home. Transportation quickly causes the shrubs to shed their buds.