Camellias ∗ The 10 best planting and care tips

origin

Camellias belong to the tea bush 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 is known. This species has been cultivated in East Asia for more than 4,000 years and 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 in the 19th Century their fashionable climax.

growth

The Japanese camellia is a long-lived and evergreen shrub. There are plants that are estimated to be more than 1,000 years old. The species can also grow tree-shaped and 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 purple-brown in the second year.

leaves

The foliage of the camellias is arranged alternately. The leaves are simple and sit on stems five to ten millimeters long. Your leaf blade appears leathery and is elliptical in shape. On the upper side they are colored dark green, while the underside appears light green and is spotted brown. A raised central nerve in yellowish-green color extends through the leaf blade.

blossom

In the leaf axils arise short-stalked flowers that stand alone or in pairs and can be up to 15 centimeters in size. They are carried by nine bracts and sepals that are green in color. 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 colored yellow and form an aesthetic contrast to the corolla.

Heyday

Camellias bloom on the natural site 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 spherical capsule fruits. They consist of three compartments, in each of which one or two seeds mature. The fruit ripens between September and October.

use

Camellias are planted in pots 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 winter gardens, terraces or balconies as potted plants. They set blooming and color-intensive accents in Japanese gardens. In the garden, camellias are traditionally used as solitary shrubs. Magnolias, rhododendrons, bamboo and Japanese maple have proven to be ideal companion plants.

Are camellias poisonous?

Camellia japonica is considered non-toxic to humans, dogs, horses and cats. The Camellia sinensis shrub used for tea production contains caffeine in the parts of the plant. If a person consumes large amounts of the leaves, an increased heart rate or palpitations may occur. Cramps are also possible.

Which location is suitable?

Camellias prefer a partially shaded location under higher trees. If you want to plant your camellia in the garden, you should offer the shrub a mild and sheltered location. Especially during the summer months, the woody plants need sufficient light so that the bud formation is stimulated. The winter sun is harmful to the plant as it can lead to drought stress.

In the tub, the bushes like to stand on sunny balconies and terraces. They can be cultivated in winter gardens as long as 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 bush plants like a humus rich and lime-poor soil with slightly acidic conditions. Bog 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 humid conditions, whereby no waterlogging should arise.

Mix substrate yourself:

• six parts of peat or peat substitute
• two parts of compost
• part of expanded clay
• part of sand

What is the best time to plant?

Spring planting has proven to be successful, as the bushes have enough time to take root during the vegetation phase. This ensures that the plants get through the winter better. Loosen the soil and dig a large planting hole. Put gravel or Grit(€ 49.99 at Amazon *) on the floor so that the water drainage is guaranteed. Put the root ball in the hole and fill in the gaps with rhododendron soil or deciduous humus.

sowing

Camellias need warm temperatures in order for them to successfully develop fruit. The Japanese camellia also develops capsule fruits in cooler regions, which can be harvested for seed reproduction 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 and moist place.

The seeds are scattered on a nutrient-poor substrate and moistened. A film ensures that the humidity remains high. In a warm place, the seeds will germinate within a few weeks. A camellia propagated via seeds needs between four and 20 years before it develops flowers for the first time.

Cuttings

The tea bush plants can be propagated using cuttings. Use a nutrient-poor substrate for cultivation. Make sure that the soil moisture is constant. A transparent cover serves as protection against evaporation. The planter is placed in a light and partially shaded place. Floor heating provides ideal conditions. It can take several months for cuttings to form roots.

Head cuttings

With this method of propagation, you cut off branches about six inches 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 because it is insufficiently mature and would bend as it grows. The plant forms fresh branches below the break point, 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 handle at a slight angle. As soon as roots have formed, the camellia sprouts again. The old leaf dies over time.

Knot cuttings

With this special method, a leafy piece of the camellia's shoot with a length of two to three centimeters is used for reproduction. It has to be a well developed one eye so that the cutting can sprout. Roll up the sheets and fix it with a rubber or raffia. This will reduce evaporation. Slide a small piece of wood into the rolled sheet to give it more stability. Place the cutting horizontally on a nutrient-poor substrate.

Camellias in a pot

The bucket should be slightly larger than the root ball. If small camellias are planted in pots that are too large, the unrooted substrate quickly wets and thickens. 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:

• Place the pot on its feet so that the water can run off
• Put camellias outside during summer
• Water shrubs in shallow containers more often than plants in tall containers

Water camellias

Camellias like slightly humid conditions. The root ball should not dry out or stand too wet. During the growth phase between spring and autumn, the shrubs are watered regularly. Container plants require more frequent watering units because the substrate dries faster.

Excess water should be removed from the coaster immediately. The upper soil layer is allowed to dry out slightly between watering. Use rainwater, because tap water contains a lot of lime and is harmful to the plants. Occasionally spray the leaves with water when the air is very dry.

Fertilize camellias properly

The tea bush plants enjoy regular fertilizers. Give the shrubs a liquid fertilizer for green plants every two weeks. Alternatively, you can sprinkle the shrubs with a mineral in the spring Slow release fertilizer supply in powder form. This is distributed on the substrate before the leaves shoot. If you are applying an organic fertilizer, you should do it again in May fertilize.

The plants tolerate Rhododendron fertilizer or guano.(€ 9.82 at Amazon *) You can halve the amount recommended on the package. Camellias have a high need for nitrogen. At the same time, they are sensitive to salt. Balcony flower fertilizer 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 more severe pruning without any problems. As the shrubs become increasingly beautiful with age, only young plants need to be trimmed regularly. The plants sprout again below the interfaces and develop good branches and bushy habit. The best time for pruning measures is before the leaves shoot in spring.
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How do I transplant properly?

Camellia japonica and its relatives are repotted between May and July or in autumn. During the spring, outdoor shrubs can be dug up and replanted. 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 enjoy a new bucket.

Overwinter

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 had more time to root than younger shrubs, prove to be less sensitive to low temperatures. They can survive in the open to -15 degrees Celsius if the root balls and leaves are covered. Container plants are frost hardy up to -5 degrees Celsius. Late frosts pose a risk as the plants are already sprouting and the delicate tissue immediately freezes to death.

The perfect winter protection for camellias outdoors:

• Spread a thick layer of mulch on the ground
• Shade the leaves with a light fleece
• Wrap the bucket with foil and place on wooden boards
• water on frost-free days

Winter quarters

Container 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 go into hibernation when the temperature is too high. In the next year the number of flowers is low. The location ideally offers bright conditions. The nutrient supply is stopped during the resting phase. 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 fight. You can recognize a disease by the brown-red discoloration of the flowers, which begins in the center and progresses outwards. A mold-like deposit often occurs. Varieties with bright flowers are more prone to the disease. If you discover damage to 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 they are weakened. To prevent infestation, you can regularly give your plant a plant stock. 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 dig into the earth and damage the roots. Nematodes have proven to be a successful control measure. Beetles can be picked up during twilight.

Scale and mealybugs

These pests often appear when the camellias are in too dry and warm winter quarters. They spread on all parts of the plant and usually settle in one place. During the suckling activities, the pests inject poison into the plants, which negatively affects their growth.

Place the plant in a bright spot and ventilate it regularly so that the air doesn't get too dry. Although camellias need a lot of nitrogen, overfertilization can encourage the pest to spread.

Fungal attack

Cancerous growths indicate a fungal disease that leads 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.

sorts

• Polar ice: Medium growth, upright shrub. Winter hardy to -20 degrees Celsius. Flowers white.
• Winter’s dream: Upright growth with loose branches. Winter hardy to -20 degrees Celsius. Flowers semi-double, pink.
• Fire N Ice: Compact growing shrub. Winter hardy to -20 degrees Celsius. Flowers dark orange-red in color.