Camellia home care transplant and reproduction. Growing and caring for Japanese camellia at home Japanese flower in a pot

Camellia japonica is not in vain considered the real queen of the flower world - it is endowed not only with luxurious appearance, but also quite demanding. One of her hybrids, bred in the USA, received the appropriate name (Empress variety), which very accurately expresses the unique chic of this exotic plant.

Today, Japanese camellia hybrids camellia williamsii, no less delightful than the bush empress, are very popular in the gardens of European countries. Also, like Chinese or tea, Japanese belongs to a respectable family of teas, whose representatives have not only rare beauty, but also unique beneficial properties.

In addition to Japan itself, China and Korea are also considered to be the birthplace of the Japanese camellia plant (or "Japonica"). In Japanese, camellias are called tsubaki or carp, depending on the variety. Varieties of the first type are distinguished by the fact that their withered flowers fall off entirely, while varieties of the second type, withering, simply drop their petals.

Tree-like culture can often be found in the photo of not only Japanese-Chinese, but also English, French gardens. It looks amazing in the form of individual shrubs and entire hedges, as a charming tree in a tub or a mysterious bonsai.

No less than sakura, you can see the camellia on a work of Japanese art - all thanks to the amazing beauty and ancient symbolism of this flower. Since ancient times, a beautiful plant has symbolized a vibrant life filled with glory, but also in modern world this flower is a frequent guest at the Japanese holiday. It is used in wedding ceremonies, tea ceremonies are decorated with it. Today, the flower in Japanese interpretation is a symbol of devotion, success, happiness and prosperity.

In height, this plant can reach several meters, depending on the variety. Japanese camellia flowers are especially decorative - some of them resemble lush roses, others - peonies or carnations. Their color can be white, scarlet, pink, yellow, beige, coral. Cups of flowers are terry or simple and reach a diameter of fifteen centimeters. The leaves of the plant are also decorative: they are distinguished by a shiny leathery surface and a rich dark green hue. In length, they can reach eight centimeters.

Care and reproduction at home

This plant is best grown in winter gardens or greenhouses. At home, you need to take care of it especially carefully, given the characteristics of an exotic flower.

• suitable soil composition;
• moderate temperature in the region of ten to fifteen degrees Celsius;
• sufficient lighting, protection from direct rays;
• moderate air humidity;
• soft water for irrigation (the plant does not tolerate lime water).

IN room conditions you need to carefully monitor the climate - the plant loves coolness and moderate humidity. Only in the summer can the temperature reach twenty to twenty-five degrees, since the camellia during this period is working on the creation of new flower buds.

When the buds ripen, the temperature must be maintained at fifteen degrees, and the rest of the time - no higher than twelve. This plant is cold-resistant, it feels good in a cool climate down to minus ten degrees Celsius.

For irrigation, it is better to take rainwater, melted water, or settled for three days. The plant loves loose soil, quite acidic. In spring and in the first half of summer, when shoots form, the flower needs to be fed - it needs to be fertilized with mineral and organic substances.

As in the garden, indoor culture blooms in winter. At this time, you can transplant a plant that is already flowering. Transplanting into a larger pot is enough to do every two or three years.

The best way to propagate this species is cuttings. It is recommended to carry it out in July, using light green apical cuttings. They should be rooted in a mixture of peat and sand at a temperature of twenty to twenty-five degrees. Two months later, when the roots appear, you can start planting the plant in a flowerpot.

Camellia can also be propagated by seeds, however, at home this method is more complicated and painstaking. In addition, it makes sense to use only fresh seeds for propagation, since their germination capacity is lost too quickly.

Diseases and pests

Beneficial features

From the leaves and buds, plants prepare teas that can improve metabolism and promote weight loss. The healing properties of camellia are used to strengthen blood vessels, stabilize nervous system, treatment of diseases such as diarrhea and hemorrhoids, as well as for the prevention of many other diseases. The plant is used for the manufacture of cosmetics such as shampoos, creams, lotions. For example, the Organic Shop brand presents a whole series of caring cosmetics based on Japanese camellia.

Camellia is an evergreen tree or shrub from the Tea family with inflorescences of various shapes and glossy leaves. But despite its grace and beauty, culture is not a frequent inhabitant of apartments, which is associated with difficulties in cultivating a representative of tropical flora in an apartment environment.

The genus includes more than 80 species, some of which are grown at home and have become the basis for breeding many varietal camellias. various forms and colorings.

Varieties common in indoor floriculture:

• Camellia japonica is a tree or shrub reaching 10 m in height. Glossy elliptical or ovoid leaf plates perfectly set off semi-double and double flowers of white, red or pink flowers that bloom from December to April.
• Camellia mountain is a shrub plant that reaches a height of 5 m in its natural environment. Branched, thin shoots are slightly pubescent with red villi and covered with elliptical or ovoid shiny leaf plates with jagged edges. From the end of autumn to the middle of winter, fragrant flowers of white, red and pink colors are noted.
• Camellia sinensis, also known as a tea bush, is an evergreen shrub-shaped plant up to 10 m in height. Oval or regular leaf plates are painted dark green on top, and light green on the bottom. Yellow-pink flowers, collected 4 pieces in axillary inflorescences, exude a strong, pleasant aroma when flowering.

Conditions for growing camellia

Flowering culture is celebrated in the winter season, so camellia often falls into new house as a living bouquet, which not everyone can save. To make this possible, you should first study the nuances of the conditions of detention, and then ensure them, observing all the requirements.

Proper lighting for flowering

Camellias require a large amount of bright diffused light to bloom., which will evenly fall on the shoots of the culture from all sides. You can achieve uniform lighting by systematically rotating the pot around its axis. However, if buds have already formed on the bush, then it should not be disturbed: this can lead to their reset.

Placing a flower in an apartment

To ensure the required lighting regime, the camellia should be placed on the windowsills of the western or eastern windows. If there are windows only to the south, the flower must be shaded during the period of solar activity. In the summer, it is better to move the pot outside to a shady place where direct sunlight does not fall.

Temperature regime

Unlike orchids, the main difficulty in growing which is the correct selection of the substrate, camellia is demanding on temperatures:

• Maintaining the temperature regime in the spring-summer period is not difficult, since the optimal temperature range is 22–25°C.
• For laying buds with a long daylight hours, the mercury column of the thermometer should not exceed 18 ° C.
• Ensuring winter temperature conditions in urban apartments with central heating is the most difficult thing, since camellia blooms at this time at 8–12 ° C. Higher temperatures can cause the buds to drop, the plant to lose its decorative effect, and even die.

Humidity

A tropical plant requires moist air, to provide which the pot is placed on a pallet with moistened pebbles and systematically sprayed with soft water. In the flowering phase, it is necessary to spray carefully so that the liquid does not fall on the petals of the inflorescences.

Camellia care at home

In addition to providing the necessary conditions of detention, for successful cultivation homemade camellia needs to be properly looked after.

How to water a flower correctly?

Humidify the plant should be plentiful, avoiding an excess of moisture. Between water procedures the top layer of the substrate must have time to dry. IN winter period when the flower is kept in a cool room, the volume and frequency of moistening are reduced in order to prevent the earthen coma from souring and the development of rot. However, drying out is also harmful to the crop and leads to foliage drop.

Important! For irrigation, as well as for spraying, only soft settled water without chlorine is used.

Top dressing and fertilizer

Since the camellia does not have a pronounced dormant period, the plant is fed throughout the year. The optimal interval between top dressing, which should include all macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), is 20 days.

Cutting and pinching technology

Camellia tolerates pruning quite painfully, so it is carried out in extreme cases and with extreme caution:

• To keep it decorative. When there are many weak and bare shoots, they are removed.
• To stimulate the development of axillary buds. In the second half of autumn, the shoots are shortened.
• In the budding phase. To save the plant more strength and ensure beautiful flowering, the weakest buds are removed by pinching. This is done in such a way that no more than 2 buds remain on the shoot.

Transfer

Young plants are transplanted every spring. With annual flowering, you can increase the interval to 2 years.

If the camellia is grown in a tub, then it is necessary to update the top layer of the soil mixture annually with the simultaneous application of fertilizers.

The transplant is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. In the selected container is placed drainage material to ensure soil carrying capacity.
2. Drainage is sprinkled with an acidic substrate (pH 4.0–5.5) with a loose structure, which is prepared from turf, peat, leaf soil and sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 2: 1 or purchased at a flower shop (a soil mixture is suitable for azaleas).
3. The plant is transferred to a new container, which is filled with a special substrate.
4. In young plants, pinching of shoots is carried out, stimulating branching.

Reproduction of camellia at home

Camellia is a flower that propagates at home in a vegetative way, which allows you to save all the varietal characteristics of the mother specimen. However, if desired, the grower can propagate the plant with seeds.

seed way

A laborious method in which:

1. Individual cups with a diameter of 5 cm are prepared and filled with an acidic substrate.
2. One seed is placed in each container.
3. The containers are placed in a bright, warm place and covered with a film, which is removed after germination.
4. After the seedlings have 1 pair of true leaves, they dive into larger pots.

cuttings

The procedure is carried out in the middle of summer or in the middle of winter.

1. Non-lignified apical cuttings 8 cm long are cut.
2. Oblique sections are processed with a growth stimulator.
3. The box is filled with a soil mixture of equal parts of peat and sand.
4. Prepared cuttings are vertically buried in the substrate.
5. During the rooting period, plantings are watered and sprayed, and the temperature in the containment room is maintained between 20-23 ° C.
6. Two to three months after the formation of the roots, the plants are planted in separate pots with a diameter of 7 cm, filled with a substrate of peat, leafy, soddy soil and sand in a ratio of 2:2:1:1.

Reproduction by grafting

There are varieties that are characterized by poor rooting. In such situations, experienced flower growers resort to another vegetative method- grafting.

• Rooted cuttings or one-two-year-old plants are taken.
• From the upper part of the shoot of a non-rooting variety, a bud with a small part of the wood is cut off and inserted under the bark of the prepared plant.
• If the grafted plant is kept indoors at 20–22°C, the grafts will germinate in 2 months.
• A year later, the plant is transplanted into a pot with a diameter of 9 cm, filled with a substrate for cuttings.
• And already in the third year, the camellia is transferred into a container with a diameter of 14 cm with soil mixture for an adult plant.

Diseases, pests and methods of dealing with them

The most common and most dangerous disease of camellia is root rot., which is the result of the excessive efforts of the owner - too low temperatures and excessive watering of the plant, leading to stagnation of moisture in the roots. At the first symptoms of the disease, the affected specimen must be transplanted into a new, disinfected substrate with good water and air permeability.

Also, brown spots may be observed on the culture, indicating the development of phyllosticosis, provoked by excessively high humidity. When this disease occurs, the affected leaf plates are removed, the plant is sprayed blue vitriol, the air humidity decreases.

Sometimes camellia is attacked by spider mites, scale insects and aphids, which should be dealt with by treating the populated specimen with a systemic insecticide solution according to the instructions indicated on the manufacturer's packaging. If the pests have just appeared, then you can try to cope with them by spraying the culture two or three times with a soapy, warm solution.

Thus, if a camellia got into the house as a gift, you should not rush to get rid of it after flowering is completed. Having created the necessary conditions for the growth of a tropical flower, the new owner will be able to admire beautiful flowering Every year.

Camellia japonica is evergreen shrub or a small tree of the Tea family. It is distributed in the subtropical and tropical zones of East and Southeast Asia, the Philippine Islands, Japan, Korea and the peninsulas of Indochina.

Description

The leaves are ordinary, glossy, oval, leathery, blunt or sharp, grow 1, sometimes 2-3 pieces. The flowers are quite decorative, individual, large, axillary with a corolla, consist of 5 petals, as well as a mass of stamens folded in a bunch. The palette of tones is limitless - from white to red, scarlet, pink with various transitional colors. Often the flowers are two-colored, with all kinds of stripes, specks, streaks and specks.

Varieties of camellia japonica

Many varieties of the flower have gained mass popularity as significant ornamental, flowering and evergreen crops. They are freely used for landscaping interiors, arranging expositions in parks during the summer season, and even as tea. It looks like Japanese camellia, the photo of which is presented below.

Camellia mountain

Her bush grows to a height of 3-4 m, with thin branches and bright red pubescent flowers. The leaves are elliptical or oblong-oval, 3-6 cm long, 1.5-3 cm wide. Their tops are slightly sharp, the edges are finely serrated, dark green and glossy on the outside, hairy-pubescent with a vein on the inside.

Flowers solitary or connected in 2-3 pieces, 6-7 cm in diameter, ordinary white, red or pink, with aroma. Blooms well in November-January. As flowering evergreen crops, gardeners propagate, as a rule, horticultural varieties. Camellia japonica (mountain) is also suitable for cold rooms.

camellia sinensis

The birthplace of such a plant is the subtropical and tropical mountain forests of Indochina. It is a small tree or shrub up to 10 m tall with erect shoots. The leaves are ordinary, oblong-oval, narrowed upwards, short-petiolate. Outside, they are dark green in color, light green below, 5-7 cm long, 3-4 cm wide. Young leaves are slightly pubescent. In the pulp of the leaves there are spreading bearing sclereids.

Flowers solitary, fragrant, or 2-4 in leaf recesses. The florets and bracts are placed along a curve. The calyx is joint-leaved, has 5-7 sepals of a rounded shape, which remain with the fetus. The corolla of the plant is 2.5-3 cm in diameter, falls off after flowering. Contains from 5 to 9 white petals with a golden-pink color, in the center connected with each other and with a calyx. The stamens are located in two rings: the outer ones are fused with stamen threads and take root to the petals, the lower ones are independent with small ovoid anthers. The gynoecium is syncarpous with columns connected to the core.

Camellia japonica (Chinese) has fruits in the form of flattened three-leaved woody boxes. Their seeds are rounded, dark chestnut in color, 10-13 mm long, 1 mm thick. It blooms from early August until the end of the autumn period. Harvest in October-December.

Camellia oleifera

This variety of culture is found in the forests and on the banks of the rivers of China at elevations from 500 to 1300 m above the sea surface. The oil plant is an evergreen tree up to 10 m high. The trunk is covered with a brown crust, it is up to 20 cm in diameter. The leaves are leathery, ordinary, petiolate, alternate, ovoid, pointed at the top. The flowers are white, bisexual, paired, axillary or single, grow in September. Their blooming time lasts until mid-October. Camellia japonica (oilseed) is distinguished by a fruit in the form of a large box with many spherical seeds up to 3 cm long.

How to care for culture at home

Most flower growers consider the plant to be very demanding on care and breeding conditions. This position was formed due to its periodic dropping of buds or leaves. To protect yourself from unpleasant shedding, you need to keep the flower in an environment suitable for it.

The culture will absolutely grow at home if it is placed in a cool room. Camellias do not like when they are turned around relative to the light source or transferred to another place. The flower prefers spaces with fresh air, with the exception of drafts. In this case, he will develop various diseases.

Ground Requirements

Japanese camellia, reviews of which can only be heard good, loves acidic soils. And that's why for its flowering and development, special earthen mixtures are needed, made from well-sifted sand and peat. Mixtures for rhododendrons are great, which can absolutely satisfy all the needs of the plant.

Separately prepared soil mixtures have a slightly acidic reaction. This means that they do not contain lime. In addition, for watering flowers, calcium salts should not be in the water. Therefore, before irrigation, it takes half a day to infuse water if it is not possible to use filtered water.

Suitable lighting

Camellia japonica (photo of which is presented below) is considered a mountain culture, in this regard, for its flowering, light is needed in large quantities. However, direct sunlight is harmful to her. On summer season the flower can be taken out into the fresh air, remembering the protection from the sun.

In addition, in order to accumulate strength for the next full bloom, Japanese plants need a dormant period. To ensure it, after flowering, reduce watering and stop feeding camellias. Only with such conscientious care will the culture again delight the household with its chic flowering.

Watering

In the summer season, the flower is watered sufficiently and evenly after the outer layer of the substrate has dried so that the Japanese camellia is not flooded. Home care to avoid acidification of the earth involves a decrease in watering. Due to the dehydration of the soil, the leaves of the plant turn brown, and the buds fall off. From prolonged overdrying, the culture sheds leaves. The flower does not withstand the increased content of calcium in running water, therefore, it is necessary to water with soft settled water. At the stage of development of flower ovaries (in August), it is required to dry the substrate a little, but not until it dries completely.

Temperature regime

Camellia in spring and summer prefers an air temperature of at least 20-25 degrees. To lay the buds, a temperature of 18-20 degrees is needed, and during the blooming period in December-February - 9-12 degrees. At an increased temperature, flowering begins earlier, but the peculiarity of the flowers will be much worse, and there is a risk that the Japanese camellia will drop its buds. Plant care in such a situation will no longer be appropriate.

Transplant and reproduction

The culture should be dived during dormancy (it stays in it at the end of flowering), but no later than the end of July. The best time is when some buds remain on the plant, but the leaf ovaries have not yet opened.

Flowers are bred with crown cuttings 6-8 cm long, which have not yet had time to become woody. Do this in January and also in July. The most suitable for these requirements is an indoor greenhouse. When the root system is formed on the cuttings (this will come after 2 months as a result of their planting), they can be planted in the same place. It must also be taken into account that the neck of the camellia, placed between the trunk and roots, should not be covered with soil, otherwise the plant may disappear.

Pests and diseases of camellias

In comparison with other cultures, such flowers practically do not get sick. Aphids can appear on a houseplant, which is usually sprayed with a mixture of oil emulsions with soap. Such a solution is much safer for people than chemicals. In addition to aphids, such emulsions neutralize scale insects and spider mites. But the most serious malaise of camellia is root rotting due to waterlogging, unsuitable soil and elevated temperature. With such a disease, the leaves begin to fall off the flower. The only way to save the crop is to reduce watering.

Of course, many already know how beautiful and luxurious the Japanese camellia looks. Landing and caring for it will not become burdensome for anyone.

Evergreen camellias have a huge number of fans around the world. Camellia bushes with glossy dark green leaves are strewn with many flowers. At garden varieties flowers are quite large, up to 12 cm in diameter, indoor, such as Japanese camellia, please with a variety of colors.

Camellia flower may be different size, colors and shapes. There are pink, peony, anemone, symmetrical, terry, simple.

In the East, where the Japanese camellia comes from, the art of growing these plants has more than a thousand years. At present, it is much easier to grow such a beauty at home. In tropical and subtropical climates, for example, on the Black Sea coast, it can be safely grown in open ground. In colder latitudes, camellias are planted in flower pots, tubs and containers.

Japanese camellia is a guest from Southeast China, not from Japan, and the most common of indoor views. Thousands of varieties bred by breeders originate from it.

How to choose a camellia?

Buy flowers should be in special stores or nurseries. Choose a healthy plant, symmetrical, with elastic leaves. It is necessary to inspect the leaves for spots or cobwebs. The bush should have many buds and few flowers. Such a variety as Japanese camellia is perfect for both beginners and experienced growers, it will become a real decoration of the house.

Seedlings are also on sale. Flowers are removed from flowering seedlings. Thus, nutrients After planting, they contribute to the development of the root system.

You can also go difficult way and grow camellias yourself from seeds. This is a long but fun way to get plants.

Transfer

To stimulate growth, the tops are pinched 2-3 months before transplantation, at the end of October.

The best time for transplanting camellias is the end of autumn - the beginning of winter. The plant is placed in a tub or pot shallowly, an extra layer of soil of just a couple of centimeters can lead to rotting of the roots.

It is also possible to transplant in the spring, but spring transplantation can stop future bud formation and negatively affect the possibility of flowering in winter.

soil mixture

A quality substrate is the basis good growth and comfort for camellias. The soil should be acidic, loose, breathable and retain moisture well. With the wrong choice of soil, there is a high risk of flower death.

To prepare the land mixture, it is necessary to mix soddy soil, peat, coniferous soil and river sand in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 0.5. You can buy a special soil mixture "Azalea", "For camellias", etc., the main thing is to keep the pH within 4-5. Some flower growers call ready-made soil mixtures an experiment, and it is not known whether it will be successful. While for beginners, the earth from the package can be a great helper. However, you should trust only well-known and trusted companies - manufacturers that produce really high-quality mixtures.

Special conditions of detention

Japanese camellia, like its other species, is not indoor plants in the fullest sense. But even in a city apartment, you can create comfortable conditions for an oriental plant.

Lighting and location

It is customary to care for camellia in the apartment in the same way as in the open field. The plant is provided with a long daylight hours, in the summer months - up to 13 hours of diffused light. The flower feels great on the western or eastern balconies without contact with direct sunlight.

Temperature regime

For the comfortable development of Japanese camellia, a special microclimate is required. In summer, a warm temperature is required in the range of 22-24 degrees and high humidity. In late autumn, the temperature is reduced to 10 degrees to ensure the formation of flower buds. From January, when flowering begins, the optimum temperature is 15-17 degrees.

Air humidity

High humidity is provided by regular spraying. In summer, especially on hot and dry days, a pot of camellia is placed in a container of water or a special air humidifier is used. When flowering, spraying is carried out carefully, trying not to touch the flowers.

Watering

It should be watered with soft settled water regularly and plentifully. When buds begin to form, watering should be reduced.

fertilizers

Liquid top dressing is needed in the spring, every two weeks. Complex mineral fertilizers with trace elements are dissolved in water and used for irrigation. The concentration of most fertilizers should be lower than indicated on the label. You can use ready-made packaged fertilizers for flowering plants or roses.

Reproduction of camellias

The grower is especially proud of the ability to plant and propagate plants. For camellias, there are several ways to reproduce.

Propagation by cuttings is perhaps the most understandable way for amateur flower growers. The stalk (twig) is cut off from the mother bush and placed in nutrient soil and a moist environment. For propagation, the cutting must have a minimum of 3, a maximum of 5 well-developed leaves and apical buds.

For the germination of cuttings, more than heat than for an adult bush - up to 25 degrees. Despite the apparent simplicity of this method, it is not very effective. Therefore, it is reasonable to plant several cuttings at once.

The first roots will appear after 3 months, and the plant will bloom no earlier than after 2 years.

Pests and diseases

Camellia japonica is susceptible to diseases. Yellowing of the leaves - chlorosis occurs from a lack of iron and is treated with special preparations twice a year.

Aphids feed on plant juices and promote the development of the fungus. To eliminate pests, use appropriate means, such as insecticides.

Frequent problems

1. Root rot occurs when waterlogging and acidification of the soil. As well as fungal diseases, root rot is treated with fungicidal preparations. With a strong lesion, it leads to the fall of flowers and buds, and can lead to the death of the entire plant.
2. If the flower turns yellow and the leaves fall, the acidity of the soil may be increased, or the plant has received sunburn prolonged contact with direct sunlight.
3. When changing places during the ovary of buds, camellia can drop flowers.

In nature, Japanese camellia reaches 12 meters in height and blooms profusely from December to April. Growing a small bush at home will be a great hobby. As soon as the first camellia flower blooms, all efforts to grow this plant will be more than rewarded.

Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica) is one of the most famous species of the genus belonging to the Tea family (Theaceae). In its natural habitat, it can be found in the mountainous forests of mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea and southern Japan.

This tall shrub or a small tree, in nature reaching 6 meters in height, but sometimes 11 meters high specimens are also found. The shoots are quite rare, poorly covered with foliage and in the wild form a loose, shapeless crown. The leaves are leathery, glossy, short-leaved, up to 11 cm long and up to 6 cm wide, growing alternately on the branch. The leaf plate is simple, broadly lanceolate or elliptical in shape with a slightly elongated and pointed tip and a finely serrated edge. The upper side of the plate is dark green, the lower side is somewhat lighter.

During the flowering period, which can last from December to April, the camellia is densely covered with large single or paired flowers, very similar in size and shape to roses, but without their smell. Peduncles are practically absent, large cones of buds are formed directly in the axils of the leaves. Each flower stays on the branch for almost a month. In September - October, a fruit is formed, which is a dry spherical capsule with 3 - 5 compartments, in which there are large grains of seeds.

Varieties of camellia japonica

The original species of Japanese Camellia is the ancestor of more than 1000 diverse varieties, differing in simple, semi-double or double flower shape, their size (from 5 to 15 cm in diameter) and color ranging from red to pink and white. Quite a few of the cultivars have spotted or striped bicolor petals.

Among the most common grown at home, the following can be distinguished:

‘Vittorio Emanuele II’- a semi-double variety with a somewhat convex, slightly bent back shape of the petals. On their white background, as if with a hard brush, a dense network of thin dark pink stripes is applied with occasional bold dark pink strokes.

‘Guilio Nuccio’- crimson flowers with petals of two types. Double - triple row of large rounded outer petals is replaced by a cap of small dense "curls" of inner petals.

'Double White'- strongly double snow-white flowers of a spherical shape with a clearly defined petal growth geometry.

'Desire'- semi-double two-color flowers: from snow-white inner petals to pink outer ones, with a smooth change in color through the layers.

'Margaret Davis'- semi-double two-color variety. The outer petals are large, wide, rounded, white color, with a narrow torn raspberry border. Internal - narrow, small, white, with a slight raspberry splash.

'Lady Vansittart Pink'- a two-color, slightly double variety with a very elegant flower shape. The petals have a strict shape and a clear growth geometry, and seem to be folded into small boats surrounding long yellow stamens. The petals have a clear pattern, similar to a highly branched rose bush on a white background.

'Lady Campbell'- red double flowers with small, barely noticeable white stripes in the center of the petals.

'Chandlers Red'- monochromatic dense red flowers with wide petals, pointed in the center.

‘Asahi-No-Mai’- non-double variety with wide red petals and a large dense cap of bright yellow stamens.

'Linda Rosazza'- snow-white semi-double flowers.

'Tricolor'- semi-double variety. The flower petals are white, with a few ragged red stripes and red speckling, surrounding a thick "bunch" of long yellow stamens.

'Pink Perfection'- one of the most beautiful varieties. Hustomahrovye pale pink flowers with concentrically arranged wide petals of the correct form.

Japanese camellia care at home

In room culture, Camellia japonica is one of the most difficult plants. At the slightest dissatisfaction with the environment, she sheds buds, and sometimes leaves. by the most the best option for its maintenance there will be a bright winter garden with a rather low air temperature in winter time. But even here it will need to create a number of additional conditions.

Lighting. Home camellia prefers bright diffused light with an illumination level in the range of 3000 - 3900 lux for 12 - 14 hours a day. Therefore, in winter, she needs phytolamps. In its absence, the plant will not bloom.

During the budding period, the camellia should not be turned around relative to the light source, since it is likely that it will drop the buds. In summer, a non-flowering plant can be safely rearranged from place to place, taken out to the garden or balcony; there will be no negative consequences for the tree. But when located outdoors, dark green leaves must be protected from direct sun rays, providing them with partial shade.

Temperature. In the spring and summer, the Japanese camellia quite normally tolerates moderate temperatures. middle lane Russia. But at the time of laying flower buds (in late autumn - early winter), the temperature should be reduced to 5 - 6 ° C, and after the first flowers appear, slightly increased to 8 - 12 ° C. Exactly like this temperature regime promotes long and abundant flowering.

Watering. In winter, during the flowering period, homemade camellia should be watered very carefully, since at low air temperatures the evaporation of moisture occurs rather slowly and the earth remains damp for a long time. Excessive watering during this period can quickly lead to acidification of the soil and the plant will die.

In summer, watering should be plentiful, but its need should be determined by the condition of the soil and watered only when the top layer dries out a little. It is highly undesirable to overdry the soil; with a lack of moisture, the plant will shed its leaves.

Water camellia japonica with soft, well-settled water at room temperature. You can acidify it a little by adding a few grains of citric acid or a few drops of vinegar. The plant does not tolerate lime water.

Humidity. Home camellia prefers high humidity, so it is recommended to regularly spray the crown of the plant with boiled water, and keep the pots on a pallet with wet pebbles or expanded clay. In summer, you can arrange a warm shower, after covering the soil in a pot with cellophane.

pruning. Although the plant is very sensitive to pruning, sometimes it becomes necessary. Shoots are pruned in October - November, stimulating the development of lateral branches and giving the crown a neater look.

The soil. Japanese camellia prefers acidic soils with a pH of 3.0 - 5.0, so ordinary garden soil is completely unsuitable for it. To grow camellias, you can purchase ready-made soil in the store or prepare the soil mixture yourself, taking turf, peat, leaf soil and sand in a ratio of 1:2:2:1. And be sure to create a good drainage layer at the bottom of the pot, preventing stagnation of water and acidification of the soil.

It is also not worth doing a very acidic earthen mixture, since the higher the acidity, the worse the plant absorbs iron. And its deficiency leads to chlorosis of the leaves and their fall (together with the buds).

top dressing. During the budding period, the plant is fed 2-3 times a month with liquid fertilizer for azaleas. In summer, top dressing is reduced to 1 time per month.

Transfer. Young specimens are transplanted annually, in spring, into a larger pot. Mature and actively blooming - once every 2 - 3 years, after flowering and always before the start of active growth, otherwise the camellia will hurt for a long time. Large tub plants are not transplanted, as this procedure becomes quite difficult, but the topsoil is renewed annually, removing the old one to the root system.

When transplanting, it is necessary to ensure that the root neck is not immersed in the ground. Even a slight deepening of it can lead to the death of the plant.

reproduction. At home, Japanese camellia is propagated by seeds, cuttings and grafting. Seed propagation is suitable only for the original species form, since varietal characteristics are rarely transmitted with this method of reproduction, or new plants acquire slightly different qualities.

To obtain the desired variety, cuttings are suitable. To do this, in July or January, small non-lignified branches 6–8 cm long with 3–5 well-developed leaves are cut from the mother plant. Prepared cuttings are planted in mini-greenhouses in a soil mixture of equal parts of peat and sand. Root formation lasts for 2 - 3 months, but, unfortunately, does not always end in luck.

If rooting cuttings is difficult to achieve, you can try to graft the cut apical bud onto another camellia tree. But this is not such an easy way to reproduce, and in order to avoid a number of errors and get a successful result, it is necessary to carefully study the special literature.

Diseases and pests. One of the most common causes of non-infectious plant disease is care errors. Most often, flower growers try to grow Japanese camellia in unsuitable soil, create the wrong temperature or light conditions for it, flood the plant or cannot provide it with a favorable humid climate.

Home camellia is rarely affected by pests, but if an infection has occurred, it is necessary to treat the foliage and shoots with appropriate chemicals.