Sowing camellia seeds and protecting them from harmful insects

Seed propagated camellias take about 3 years to flower some only flowering after 10 years. An ordinary fruit capsule contains a maximum of 6 hazel nut sized seeds. When the seeds are ripe the capsule bursts open.

Method

  • Take a pot of diameter 10cm and fill it with unfertilized soil.

  • Plant 3 seeds in each pot and cover with peat and water the soil.

  • Place a transparent plastic bag over the pot in temperatures about 20`C as they speed up seed germination.

  • The leafed seedlings are noticeable after 3 weeks remove the transparent bag.

Prink out the seedlings when they develop 2 more leaves and plant each seedling in an individual pot of diameter 8cm with camellia soil.

The moss peat method

This propagating technique needs a lot of patience as root formation takes about a year. This procedure should be done during the growth phase.

Method

  • Select a camellia shoot which is at least thick as a pen

  • Cut two incisions around the stem and get rid of the skin

  • Tie the end of a section of transparent , cylindrical plastic bag below the incision and fill the bag with moistened moss peat

  • Tie the bag around the stem above the incision

  • Separate the shoot from the mother plant as soon as you notice small roots inside the bag

  • Plant the shoot in an 8cm diameter pot filled with camellia soil

  • Mistakes in care, pests and disease

Camellias are generally resistant strong plants there shiny leaves protect them from pests and diseases. However if you do not take care of them properly, they will be prone to all sort of threats.

Hygiene

Hygiene is vital especially when pruning, propagating and when irrigating. Make sure that the water is not hard and must be fresh.

Position

Camellias thrive if they are grown in groups and not as individuals. The camellia should be checked regularly when irrigating. The shoot tips and buds must be checked for aphids and red spider mites. Camellias that are already infested with pests and diseases should be quickly quarantined to prevent further spreading of the infestation.

Controlling pests and diseases

Collect and remove sick parts of the plant or pest. This stops the infection from spreading to the rest of the camellia.

Employ predatory insects to feed on the pests. Gall midges and lacewing flies attack aphids while nematodes destroy vine weevils. Lady birds attack scale insects

Synthetic plant protection agents

This should only be used as a last resort, when all other methods have failed. Insecticides can be sprayed on harmful insects, while acaricides kill mites and are based on synthetically prepared substances. Fungicides are used to care fungal diseases. Special oil containing agents are also available which clog the pests' respiratory system and thus suffocating them to death.