The camellia is every year becoming more and more popular with our gardeners, and its range is thus gradually moving from south to north.
Now there is a large number of winter-hardy varieties of this stunning shrub.
In this article you will learn how to grow a plant called "camellia".
Landing features
Many people face a problem during the cultivation of a garden Camellia tree - the shrub does not bloom, drops its buds, and then dries. 
Others argue that she does not need special care and she grows well herself. We will understand the rules of planting and caring for this plant.
Did you know? The first description of a camellia was made in the 17th century by a Jesuit monk-pharmacist Georgy Joseph Camellus, who brought this plant to Europe from the Philippine Islands in 1738. Karl Linney called this flower camellia in honor of Jesuit Camellus.
When to plant a flower in the garden
This plant requires very few fertilizers, since an active period of growth occurs from April to the end of July. Camellias are planted mainly in the spring in order for the plant to have enough time to "rise to its feet." Shrubs planted in the garden in March-April are given simultaneous fertilizing, also used for rhododendrons.
The first four years recommend growing camellias in pots. And healthy plants over 4 years old, with well-woody stems, can already be planted in the ground. 
Lighting and site selection
The landing site should be in the shade most of the day, not under the open sun. The hot sun in summer can burn the leaves of a flower, in the winter the most harmful is the morning sun, the bush suffers from a lack of moisture if the soil is frozen. It should be remembered that if you plant a bush in a too dark place, few buds will form on it.
The landing place is necessary windproofas a strong wind can dry the evergreen crown. Such a place is best to isolate a hedge or wall. It is also very important to choose the right soil. Both pure clay soil and sandy soil are unfavorable. The best mix with the ground for rhododendron. An acidic, moderately moist soil is ideal, as the plant does not accept over-dried or over-wetted soil — roots in rotten soil of camellias.
Planting camellia tree
To grow a lush camellia bush, you need to follow some rules when planting. Let's consider them. 
Soil preparation and planting pit
Best for planting camellia to use ready groundUsed for growing azaleas, rhododendrons. This soil consists of perlite, peat, sand, vermiculite and ground bark.
You can make a soil mixture yourself. To do this, take 1 leaf part, 1 coniferous part, 1 peat part and 0.5 parts of sand. It is important to remember that the substrate must be acidic, as well as waterproof and airtight. If done correctly, waterlogging does not threaten the plant.
Did you know? Certain types of camellias are used in perfumery. Camellia eugenolum, for example, contains 97% eugenol, which has a strong smell of cloves.
These plants should not be planted deep. Carefully inspect the plant before planting: between the trunk and the roots is the root collar, which cannot be covered with soil. Repot these flowers are recommended in the period from November to early March, when they rest. In these plants two flowering periods: from early April to early May, and from early July to the very autumn.
Hydrangea and peony also have a tree form.
Landing pattern
Camellia is not a very demanding plant, and there is no particular planting pattern. This flower can be planted alone, you can add to the garden composition with other shrubs and flowers, you can even make a hedge. Due to the fact that the flower grows rapidly in height and has quite branchy and thick branches, the fence will be very attractive. 
What you need to know about caring for a plant
Despite its simplicity, a camellia that grows in a garden special care. The shrub growing in the garden is demanding of the quality and composition of the water used for irrigation. The flower does not tolerate water mixed with lime, rain and too soft water. Use water for several days for watering.
Important! Camellias bloom in the dormant period, that is, from the beginning of November to the month of February.
Watering and feeding
During the watering of the shrub it is important to ensure that no water hit on the flowers or buds of the camellia garden. In the warm season, watering should be carried out regularly and with plenty of water. It is necessary to water a bush and in the winter, but smaller amount of water. This measure of care when growing plants well stimulates the appearance of buds.
Top dressing should be good and qualitative, especially it is necessary in the spring, when new shoots are formed and active growth begins. It is necessary to fertilize until the end of summer, at least twice a month. The main thing to remember is that the large root system of the bush does not require a large amount of fertilizer, so it is important not to overdo it with top dressing. Fertilize only after watering.
As fertilizer use mineral fertilizers and organic matter, which can be found in specialized stores. After the summer season, there is no need to fertilize the shrubs, because during this period new buds are formed. If you overdo it with fertilizer in the fall, the bush will grow at an unusual time when it should rest. In this case, the young bush can freeze. 
For bush fertilizer use special fertilizerwhich is intended for plants of acidic soil, it is also possible to use soluble complex fertilizer (phosphorus, nitrogen, sulfur, potassium) with trace elements (manganese, iron, zinc, molybdenum, copper, boron). Magnesium and calcium do not need to make, as they are already contained in tap water. Their high level increases the acidity of the soil. Top dressing is better to make two times less than indicated on the packaging fertilizer.
Important! If the camellia grows in pots, then it cannot be moved or turned during the budding period, otherwise the buds may crumble.
Rules for pruning and crown formation
Tree garden camellia is an unpretentious shrub in terms of pruning branches, but it does not hurt to prune the branches after the end of flowering periods. A shrub after heavy pruning will require special care - frequent watering and spraying will provide the affected plant with a sufficient level of moisture. 
Wintering and transplanting a bush
Replant young copies need annually. If the shrub blooms every year, it means that every two years it needs a transplant. This should be done in the spring, simultaneously pinching shoots for better branching. The soil for shrubs suitable acid with a pH level of 4.5 to 5 - this ability to grow in soils with a pH of 4 and below camellia differs from many other subtropical plants.
If you want to decorate your site with flowering shrubs, plant a hydrangea, kerriya, forsythia, deutzia, chubushnik, myricaria, honeysuckle, spiraea.
How tree camellia is propagated
Camellia tree multiply in two main ways:
- With the help of fresh seed. They are sown in boxes, in the phase of 2 leaves the seedlings dive. You can also plant immediately in separate containers with a diameter of 5-7 centimeters in a single plant. However, it should be remembered that the bush grown in such a way from seeds will probably lose its varietal characteristics.
- Varietal bushes propagate only vegetatively. For vegetation you need to use lumbering cuttings. They are cut from the tops of the plant in such a way that 3-5 leaves are preserved (cuttings should be approximately 7 cm long). It is necessary to cut off shoots in July and in January. They take root, as a rule, within 50 days. The substrate for the cuttings should be taken in the form of a mixture of pH 4.5-5.0 sod land and sand in the amount of 1: 1, and leafy soil and peat should be taken in 2 parts. Do not forget to water, spray and protect rooted specimens from the sun. Cuttings for the second or third year of growth need to be handled in large containers.
Did you know? Camellia belongs to the family of tea. The tea we all drink is also called “camellia chinese” (Camellia sinensis). And the most common decorative camellias are Japanese.
Diseases and pests of the flower
With proper and regular care for camellia, pests and diseases rarely touch it and practically do not constitute a threat. If care is insufficient, the plant may be threatened by aphids, spider mites, or fungal diseases. Let's take a closer look at how to deal with pests.
If black-gray spots and / or brown spots on the petals appear on the leaves of the bush (if the lesion is strong, the buds may fall), this is due to some fungal diseases. The plant can be treated with fungicides, but it is better to get rid of such a plant completely.
It must be remembered that excessive soil moisture leads to the fact that the root system rots.
Also, the flower can infect a cucumber mosaic virus. With such a disease, the veins of the leaves turn yellow. It is necessary to fight this virus with the help of Aktara and Actellic drugs. 
Sometimes aphids and cherries grow on the plant, which feed on vegetable juices, and also produce a pad. Soot fungus begins to develop on these secretions. You can fight these pests with alcohol (a cotton swab is dipped in alcohol and treated with a plant) or with a special insecticide.
They also get rid of aphids with the help of a soap solution, which is used to wash the plant. You can rinse with a small pressure. The main task is to wash away the aphids. If the plant is affected by aphids, then treatment should be started as early as possible, since after a short period of time the flower can dry out.
A serious threat to camellia is the spider mite. This pest, like aphid, quickly destroys camellia, so you need to respond as quickly as possible. To get rid of the tick, a special oil-based solution is used, which can be bought in special stores. With the help of such solutions the spider mite is washed off the leaves of the shrub.
The plant may also suffer due to improper care:
- if the soil is sour - the buds begin to fall off, and the leaves turn brown;
- if the plant is under direct sunlight - brown spots are formed on the leaves;
- if the flower lacks moisture or the ground is dry, it drops the leaves.
So, we got acquainted with the rules of care, reproduction and planting of camellia. The main task of the gardener is to ensure the proper care of the plant, and it will delight you with a beautiful crown and abundant flowering.
