Japanese camellia: varieties, planting and home care, reviews, photos. Plant Nutrition Camellia
Domestic camellia is a beautiful oriental beauty, like a gorgeous rose. Beautiful buds look gorgeous against a background of dark green foliage, but in order to admire the plant, you need to properly care for it. Camellia earned the love of flower growers due to the fact that in addition to the decorative properties of the bud, its leaves are used as tea leaves.
The most common varieties of camellia
Camellia (camellia) has been known since the time of Japanese samurai. Interest in a bright flower does not fade until now. Proper cultivation of camellia at home ensures lush flowering in the winter. There are such types of flower:
- Camellia oleifera is an evergreen oil tree up to 10 m high, which is conveniently located along the river banks and in the wooded area of \u200b\u200bChina at an altitude of about 500-1400 m above sea level. seas. Often they are grown specifically in order to get healthy oil from the seeds. Flowering occurs from September to the second half of October with luxurious snow-white flowers. After that, seed boxes appear, and you can collect seeds from them.
- Camellia sinensi- is a Chinese tree with fragrant buds up to 10 m high. It begins to bloom in August, and in October tricuspid, slightly flattened boxes appear in place of flowers. Due to the fact that its foliage is brewed as tea, the plant received the second name - tea bush.
- Camellia japonica - this beauty grows to 15 meters. It lives in Korea, Japan and China. Abundant flowering lasts from December to April. Flowers are double, simple and semi-double, reaching a diameter of 4 cm.
- Camellia sasanqua- mountain camellia native to the islands. Shrubs about 5 m high with thin branches and slightly red shoots. Odorous flowers of white, pinkish and red hue appear from November to the end of January.
The garden camellia, habitual in the middle latitudes of Europe, and home varieties, common among our compatriots, were bred on the basis of the Japanese variety.
How to care for home camellia
To grow room camellia, you should study in detail those conditions that the capricious flower prefers. Even a small deviation from the norm can cause her to start dropping leaves and flowers.
Important! This flower is not for the lazy, so be prepared to pay due attention to caring for a roomy beauty.
Proper lighting
Indoor flower requires certain lighting:
- The best place for breeding perennials is a well-lit conservatory. The flower prefers lower temperatures in the colder months.
- The optimal brightness of the lighting is at least 3,000 lux, and the desired duration of daylight hours is at least 12-14 hours. That is why in winter the flowers must be illuminated. For these purposes, gardeners use phytolamps, which you can read more about. In the absence of the necessary light, the plant will not bloom.
- For camellia during the formation of buds, it is strictly forbidden to rotate it relative to the light source. If you do not listen to this requirement, she will simply drop the buds.
- Camellia in the open ground is also common, but even a flowerpot with a home flower can be safely taken out to a balcony or garden in the summer, as well as to change its location. At the same time, greens will not react in any way to a change in the place of cultivation.
Important! Saturated green foliage requires protection from direct sunlight on particularly hot days. Therefore, it is better to place the pot in a slightly shaded place.
Competent temperature
The camellia flower is winter-flowering, so the temperature of its cultivation, like many other flowers, is very different during the autumn-winter period.
- March-September - the temperature ranges from +20 to +25 degrees. As soon as the period of formation of flower buds begins, lower the temperature to the optimum +18 +20 degrees.
- December-February- temperature is not more than +8 +12 degrees.
In case of temperature violation, you may experience such problems: the ovary will fall off or flowering will come much earlier, but the buds will be small and inconspicuous.
Caring for camellia involves a complete absence of drafts and the presence of fresh air.
How to water a plant
Camellia loves moisture, but this process also obeys clear rules.
- It is impossible to name watering stably plentiful or moderate. Over the whole year, the degree of moisture required changes several times. In summer, abundant watering, and in winter, moderate.
- The soil in the summer can not be overdried, as the camellia can die. In winter, watering is prudent and accurate, as at a low temperature, moisture evaporates very slowly. With excessive moisture, the flower may turn sour and die.
- Water only with standing water. The liquid can be slightly acidified by dropping a few drops of vinegar into it.
Important! The flower prefers to irrigate it with medium-temperature water. Water rich in lime can kill the sprout.
- Make a watering schedule. This will help monitor the frequency of hydration. Landmark - the degree of drying of the earth. If the schedule for watering has approached, and the topsoil is still wet, postpone moistening for several days.
Optimum room humidity
The flower does not tolerate dry air in the room where it grows. Optimum humidity can be provided in the following ways:
- Place a saucer of water near the pot. The liquid will gradually evaporate, providing the plant with comfortable conditions. How to moisten the air in the room in other ways, you can read.
- Install a humidifier in the room to maintain the desired humidity level.
- Regularly spray leaflets, especially in summer. Be extremely careful during the budding period. Moisture should not fall on the flowers.
How to fertilize properly
In the summer, the plant does not require active top dressing, but for harmonious development it should still be carried out. For these purposes, buy special mineral fertilizer, and in the absence of it, a substrate for roses or liquid top dressing for azaleas is suitable. Fertilize according to the instructions no more than 1 time per month. During the ovary period, increase the dressing up to 2-3 times a month. Before applying fertilizers, be sure to pay attention to the expiration dates. Delay can only harm the pet.
Transplant japanese beauty
Perennials require systematic transplants. The frequency of the change of the pot directly depends on the age of the plant.
- Young flowers transplant every spring. Each time, take a container with a large diameter. When transplanting, the soil changes completely, while the neck of the flower should not be covered by the ground. This is dangerous for the plant, and can lead to its death.
- Mature plants change the pot every 3 years. That's just the top layer changes every year.
- If the perennial grows in a tub, then it is not transplanted, since it is very difficult. In addition to the inconvenience, you can cause irreparable damage to the plant. Therefore, it is simple enough to change the topsoil. This will reduce the risk of disease and stimulate the development of buds.
Propagation of room camellia
Plant propagation occurs in several ways:
- Sunflower seeds. Gardeners do not really favor this method, since it does not preserve the quality of the variety. Some individuals have seed boxes. These seeds are transplanted into a container with a nutrient substrate and grown until the first leaves appear, after which the sprouts are dived in different pots.
- Cuttings. The most popular method, allowing to maintain the quality of varieties. It is better to cut off the upper parts of the ripened shoots. Their length varies from 3 to 8 cm. Cuttings are placed in diluted heteroauxin. After this, the cuttings are moved into a box filled in half with peat and sand. Landing is left at a temperature of +20 +23 degrees to rooting.
- Vaccination. This method is considered very time-consuming, and is extremely rare at home.
What problems gardeners face
The flowering of camellia depends on how to care for the camellia. Mistakes in care are the main cause of disease and plant death.
- If the leaves fall, then you make mistakes with watering.
- Dead leaves - the plant lacks nutrients.
- If, as in the photo, brownish spots have formed on the leaves, then remove the pot from the windowsill as soon as possible. These are signs of a sunburn.
- Poor flowering is a sign of soil acidification.
- In the event of an attack by a scab, tick or aphid, it is necessary to treat the foliage with special preparations, or an ordinary soap solution.
The video below clearly shows how to grow camellia and make it the queen of the winter garden. Have you had any experience in breeding camellias? Write about the most important, in your opinion, readers in this process.
Camellia is like a room rose. Incredibly beautiful, flowering bush with dark, green leaves. It blooms from the end of winter until spring.
You can grow camellia yourself from the cuttings, but many flower growers believe that this is a very complicated matter. It’s worth a try, but if there is no desire, then the best option is to purchase a plant in a flower shop. It presents an amazing selection of all kinds of shades of camellia flowers.
What is necessary for the content of camellia
1. The place where the flower is placed can be a balcony. But at the same time, it must be insulated. Having created favorable conditions, the balcony turns into a small, flowering garden.
2. Camellia is kept in constant humidity. She needs regular spraying with water, and the water does not have to be settled, it can be used directly from the tap. The main thing is that there is not a high content of bleach, while the water is warm. During spraying, water must be avoided on flowers and buds.
3. But you can water camellia only with boiled water. Having previously added to it literally a couple of drops of lemon juice. This is done to mitigate watering.
4. The plant prefers shaded places.
Hibernation
The peculiarity of camellia is that from time to time it hibernates. During this condition, the plant has no growth, only water is delivered by roots along the stems to the foliage and buds. During the period of mechanical existence, one cannot transplant camellia. It can be carried out only during flowering, that is, when active growth occurs.
Top dressing
With top dressing, everything happens the other way around. During flowering, it is not produced. Only before the appearance of flowers. Often fertilizer is not necessary. Once a month and a half is enough. Camellia needs a high nitrogen content, which is added to the fertilizer complex. Suitable purchased mixture for rhododendron and.
The soil
For camellia, soil with high acidity is needed, with the addition of humus. The earth must be loose, with sufficient nutrient components. If the soil mixes on its own, it is better for him to take the land in the coniferous forest where spruce grows. To add derain, humus and crumbs of red brick.
You can transplant a plant 3 times a year.
Moderation in leaving
Camellia requires a moderate attitude in everything. It does not tolerate an excess of moisture and does not tolerate dryness.
If in summer the plant grew on the street, then after returning to the house, it should not be moved from place to place. A flower loves to be at ease.
In today's article, we will take a closer look at such a beautiful indoor plant as camellia. So…
Camellia (lat Camellia) - a genus of evergreen trees or shrubs with beautiful flowers of the family Tea Rooms (Theaceae).
The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus in honor of the Jesuit missionary and botanist of Czech origin, George Joseph Kamel (1661-1706), who worked as a doctor and pharmacist in the Philippines, who brought the camellia to Europe for the first time from the Philippines.
Camellia is widespread in the tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast and East Asia, the South of the USA, on the Indochina peninsulas, Korea, in Japan, on the islands of Java, Sulawesi, and the Philippine.
The most famous type of plant is Camellia sinensis (Chinese Camellia), from the leaves of which raw materials for making tea are obtained. Many types of camellia are used in decorative gardening.
Camellia It is a small evergreen shrubs or trees with a height of 2 to 20 meters.
The leaves are simple, elliptical to broadly and oblong-ovate, leathery, shiny, pointed or blunt, one at a time, sometimes 2-3, alternate on short petioles, 3-17 cm long.
The flowers are single, 1-12 cm in diameter. Petals fused at the base, pink, red, white or variegated, numerous stamens. Camellia blooms in winter at a temperature of no higher than 12 ° C.
The flowering time of the camellia bush is 1-3 months. One flower lasts up to a month. The fruit is a dry capsule, which is usually divided into 5 branches with 8 seeds.
Some types of camellia are widespread as valuable decorative evergreen and flowering plants. They are widely used for landscaping, creating an exposition in the park during the summer period. Others as tea, as we already know.
From the leaves of Japanese-Chinese camellia eugenol (Camellia sasanqua), an essential oil containing 97% eugenol is obtained.
In the genus Camellia (Camellia), according to various sources, from 80 to 250 plants.
Types of Camellia
Chinese camellia (Camellia sinensis , whale. 茶 "cha" , yap. 茶 "cha") . Other plant names: Tea, tea bush. Homeland - tropical and subtropical mountain forests of Southeast Asia (Indochina).
Chinese camellia - an evergreen shrub or small tree up to 10 m high with spaced branches.
The leaves are alternate, oval or elongated-oval, narrowed to the apex, short-leaved, from above dark, from below light green, 5-7 long, 3.5-4 cm wide, slightly pubescent in a young state. In the pulp of the leaves there are branched supporting scleroids.
The flowers are fragrant, solitary or sit 2-4 in the axils of the leaves. Bracts and color beds are arranged in a spiral. Calyx has a leaf-leaf of 5-7 sepals, almost round, remaining with the fruit. Corolla 2.5-3 cm across, falling after flowering, from 5-9 white petals with a yellowish-pink tint, at the base fused with each other and a cup. Stamens in two circles: the outer ones grow together with stamens and grow to the petals, the inner ones are free; anthers are small, ovoid. Gynoecium cenocarpous, with columns fused to the middle.
The fruit is a flattened tricuspid ligneous box. Seeds are rounded, dark brown, 10-13 mm long, 1 mm thick.
It blooms from August to late autumn. Fruits in October-December.
Tea bush was first cultivated in China, from where it came to Japan. In 1824, the Dutch began to cultivate tea on the island of Java, and in 1834 the British - in the Himalayas. Currently, the main tea cultures are concentrated in China, India, Japan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Africa (Kenya and Natal), and South America. In Europe, it grows under the open sky in Russia (Krasnodar Territory), in the Caucasus, in southern England, Portugal, Sicily, western France.
. This type of camellia is common in forests and along the banks of the rivers of China, at altitudes of 500-1300 m above sea level. Sometimes it is cultivated for seed rich in fatty oil.
Camellia oleifera is an evergreen tree up to 10 m high. The trunk with a diameter of up to 20 cm is covered with brown bark. The leaves are regular simple leathery petiolate, ovate, pointed or blunt at the apex. Flowers are white bisexual single or paired axillary, appear in September. The flowering period lasts until mid-October. The fruit is a large box with numerous spherical seeds up to 3 cm long.
Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica) . It is found in forests in China, Japan, Korea.
Camellia yapansky represents shrubs or trees 10-12 (up to 15) meters high. Leaves are elliptical or ovoid, 5-10 cm long, pointed, edged, serrate, leathery, glossy, dark green. The flowers are solitary or collected in several, 4 cm in diameter (in the culture they cultivate mainly garden varieties with large, 7-12 cm in diameter, flowers), simple, semi-double or double, pink, red, white, variegated, seeds are large, almost rounded. Blooms profusely in December and April.
Various forms are widespread in the culture, but mainly garden varieties, which vary in degree of terry, flower size, arrangement of petals and color. Outside of the subtropics, a plant also widely known in culture, is grown in cool rooms like a potted, tub-shaped plant and in the ground; grows and blooms well in rooms, requires no higher than 12 ° C in winter. Fruits in greenhouses.
In Chinese traditional medicine, all Japanese camellia plants are considered anti-cancer. Flowers have astringent and tonic properties.
Some varieties of camellia Japanese:
"Adolphe audusson"
Camellia mountain (Camellia sasanqua) . Synonyms: Camellia Miyagi (Camellia miyagii), Camellia tegmentoza (Camellia tegmentosa), Tea Miyagi (Thea miyagii), Mountain tea (Thea sasanqua), Tegmentoza tea (Thea tegmentosa). It lives in mountain forests on the islands of Kyushu, Okinawa.
Mountain camellia is a shrub up to 3-4 (up to 5) m tall, with thin branches and reddish hairy pubescent shoots. The leaves are elliptical or oblong-ovate, 3-7 cm long, 1.5-3 cm wide, bluntly pointed, serrate along the edges, glossy and dark green above, with a hairy pubescent midrib below. The flowers are single or collected 2-3, up to 6-7 cm in diameter, simple, white, pink or red, fragrant. It blooms profusely in November and January.
As evergreens and flowering plants in the culture bred mainly garden varieties. Suitable for cool rooms.
There are five main groups of cultivars of carp.
- “true” saber Camellia sasanqua;
- Camellia Camellia x hiemalis;
- Camellia Camellia x vernalis;
- a group of camellia hybrids with the common name "Egao";
- frost-resistant Ackerman camellia hybrids.
Some varieties of camellia mountain:
"Bicolor"
Camellia grijsii
Camellia Care
In the room, camellia grows, blooms, and even bears fruit if proper care is provided to it.
Lighting. Camellia prefers bright diffused light, suitable for growing at the windows of the western and eastern exposition. At the southern exposure windows, the plant is provided with shading from direct sunlight. At the northern exposure windows, the plant may not have enough light for normal growth. So that the crown is not one-sided, the plant can be turned to the light. Only in no case do this during budding: disturbing the plant during this period, you will achieve dropping buds.
In summer, the plant can be exposed to open air, in a place protected from direct sunlight.
Temperature. In spring and summer, camellia prefers air temperatures in the region of 20-25 ° C. For laying flower buds, a temperature of 18-20 ° C is required, and during flowering in December - February, on the contrary, 8-12 ° C. At a higher temperature, flowering occurs earlier, but the quality of the flowers will be worse, there is a risk of bud dropping. With a short daylight, flower buds can also occur at a temperature of 8-10 ° C.
Camellia needs access to fresh air.
Watering. In the summer, camellias are watered evenly, abundantly, after the top layer of sousbrat has dried, do not pour camellias. With a cool content in winter, to avoid acidification of the soil, water carefully. As a result of acidification of the soil, the leaves turn brown, and flower buds fall off. From prolonged drying, the plants drop their leaves. The plant does not tolerate the increased content of calcium in the water, so it should be watered with soft, settled water.
Air humidity. Camellia prefers high humidity, it is advisable to spray it regularly with soft, settled water, put pots with plants on trays with wet expanded clay or peat. During the flowering period, they are carefully sprayed, avoiding moisture on the flowers.
Fertilizer. Once every three weeks, camellias are fed with full mineral fertilizer at the rate of 1 g / l. Feeding is carried out all year round.
Features of cultivation. Camellias are short-day plants, and for a bookmark and normal development of flower buds, a 12-14 hour light day is optimal. For laying flower buds, adult plants also need a temperature of 18-20 ° C; when growing in conditions of low positive temperature and in a shaded place, flower buds are not laid. During the flowering period (December-February) camellias are kept at a temperature of 8-10 ° C (12 ° C); at a higher temperature (18-20 ° C), premature blooms occur, while the quality of the flowers is worse and buds fall, the latter is also noted when the plants in the budding phase are moved to another place (a change in the light regime affects). In areas with short daylight hours, flower buds can occur at a temperature of 8-10 ° C.
Pruning. In October-November, shoots are pruned to stimulate the growth of axillary buds.
Transfer. Young camellias are transplanted annually. Plants blooming annually are transplanted every 2 years. The transplant is carried out in the spring, at the same time pinch the tops of the shoots so that the plant branches better.
The soil. For camellias, acidic soil is preferred (pH 4.5-5). Of the many subtropical plants, camellias have a unique ability to grow on acidic soils with a pH of 4 or lower. The composition of the substrate can be as follows: turf - 1 hour, peat - 2 hours, heather or leaf - 2 hours, sand - 1 hour. Kadok plants are rarely transplanted, but annual soil sprinkling and fertilizing are necessary. At the bottom of the tank provide good drainage.
Reproduction. Camellias are propagated with fresh seeds and cuttings.
Seeds are sown one at a time in 5-7-cm pots or in boxes, then in the phase of two leaves they are dived into the pots.
If you want to grow a varietal plant, you should propagate vegetatively - by cuttings, since when propagating by seeds varietal characters are lost. In ornamental horticulture, camellia varieties are especially valued, so they are propagated vegetatively, in order to preserve the characteristics of the variety.
Decorative camellias are more often propagated by apical non-lignified cuttings of b-8 cm long in a wiring box at a soil temperature of 20-24 ° C in January and July. The substrate for planting cuttings is made of sand - 1 hour. and peat land - 1 hour ... Cuttings are cut with 3-5 developed leaves. They take root within 50-60 days (especially summer). Care of cuttings consists of watering and spraying. In view of the long rooting period, it is advisable to soak the cuttings in a heteroauxin solution and then water them periodically, however, in this case, the rooting can also be stretched. Rooted cuttings are planted in 7-centimeter pots. The composition of the earthen mixture: leaf - 2 hours, peat - 2 hours, sod - 1 hour, sand - 1 hour; pH 4.5-5. Vaccinations are carried out on 1-2-year-old camellia seedlings, sometimes on rooted cuttings. Watering abundantly, then watering is reduced to promote the maturation of wood.
Poorly rooted varieties are propagated by grafting, mainly in January, by developed buds from the top of the shoot. Vaccinations contain at a temperature of 18-20 ° C. Germination is observed after 2 months. Care for young plants consists in watering, spraying, shading from the bright rays of the sun (since leaves with burn spots fall off), creating air humidity and pruning shoots. In the 2nd year of culture, plants are transplanted into 9-11-centimeter pots. The substrate is the same.
In the 3rd year of culture, plants are reloaded in 11-14 cm pots. The earthen mixture is composed of sod - 2 hours, peat - 2 hours, leafy land - 2 hours, heather - 2 hours, sand - 1 hour.
Possible difficulties
As a result of acidification of the soil, the leaves turn brown, and flower buds fall off.
Brown spots appear on the leaves as a result of a burn in direct sunlight (especially in the summer).
The main reasons for the failures of an amateur trying to grow camellia at home: low humidity, lack of light, high temperatures and inappropriate soil composition.
From prolonged drying, the plants drop their leaves.
From a lack or excess of moisture, camellia can discard leaves.
Is damaged
The main reasons for the failures of an amateur trying to grow camellia at home:
- low humidity;
- lack of light;
- high temperatures;
- not suitable soil composition.
Camellia in History
The first written mention of camellias dates back to the 1st century AD, when the governor of the province of Kyushu dealt with the leader of a gang of criminals with a club made of camellia wood. Therefore, this part of Kyushu is called Tsubaki by the Japanese name Camellia japonica (Japanese camellia), and the battlefield itself is called "Bloody Field". The name was reflected in the fact that the flowers of wild Tsubaki are bright red, and the first white flower of this kind appeared only in the 7th century and caused such interest that they even brought it to the emperor Tamm.
The culture of camellia breeding in Japan experienced several periods of decline and prosperity. In the XI century, camellias lose popularity, interest in them only awakens during the Muromachi period (1333-1568), the era of the establishment of the traditional style of the Japanese garden. Breeding camellias is becoming one of the occupations of the samurai estate. In addition to Tsubaki, Sazanka (Camellia sasanqua), an autumn-blooming mountain camellia, was popular. It is smaller in size than Tsubaki, but it blooms more abundantly and has a flower of a more asymmetric shape, easily tolerates the open sun.
Throughout the history, camellias have been cultural symbols with often opposite meanings. At first, camellia Tsubaki was one of the symbols of the sun goddess Amaterasu, and during the ban of Christianity in Japan, she also became a symbol of Jesus Christ for Japanese Catholics who were forbidden to wear the cross.
To this day, the Catholic Church in Nagasaki is decorated with Tsubaki flowers. Initially, this camellia was also a symbol of longevity. And in the XV century, it was believed that the samurai who touched it would be beheaded. The explanation for this belief is that the Tsubaki flower falls to the ground as a severed head, and does not showered from the petals with rain, like Sazanka.
Members of the Japanese cameo society of Higo believe that this superstition was part of the "black PR" of some samurai clans against others. It is even stranger that in America of the 19th-20th centuries, members of the racist organization Ku Klux Klan used Japanese camellia as a symbol of the white race and called themselves Knights of White Camellia.
Contact with America - the arrival of Commodore Perry on the islands in 1858 and the subsequent discovery of Japan for peace caused a decline in interest in camellias in Japan, as the Japanese began to quickly copy everything western, from western roses to warships. With the destruction of feudalism, many samurai, who were the keepers of the culture of growing camellias, lost their collections, and the younger generation began to perceive camellias as flowers for cemeteries. Only a century later, in 1958, a group of flower growers in Kyushu decided to revive the Higo tradition, the flowers of the Kumamoto samurai clan. They found about a hundred varieties, many of which grew on ancient graves. Thanks to the enthusiasm of this group, as well as the Italian grower Franco Girardi, Cameos of Heigo spread to Europe and the USA. This flower perfectly conveys Japanese taste based on simplicity, asymmetry and proximity to nature. Traditionally, Higo is grown as bonsai, although Higo lovers in Europe also grow them as regular camellias.
The healing and other beneficial properties of camellia sinois
Tea seeds in Japan and China are used to produce fatty oils. Refined oil is consumed as food; crude oil is used for technical needs.
Chinese camellia in medicine
A significant part of the leaves and branches of tea cut off when caring for tea bush plantations (during molding), as well as tea dust generated in tea-packing factories, are used as raw materials for the factory production of caffeine and theophylline alkaloids. Caffeine is an important drug. It acts exciting and tonic on the central nervous system, improves mental and physical activity, is a diuretic and a remedy for migraines. Theophylline is used as a means of improving coronary circulation, as a diuretic for circulatory disorders of cardiac and renal origin. Tea alkaloids are included in a number of drugs (aminophylline, diuretin, etc.) used for coronary insufficiency, hypertension, bronchial asthma, angina pectoris, edema of cardiac origin, etc.
In addition, a complex of catechins with P-vitamin activity is obtained from old tea leaves and tea dust, used for disorders of permeability and increased fragility of blood vessels, hemorrhagic diathesis, retinal hemorrhages, radiation therapy, hypertension, etc. Due to the presence of caffeine and tannins Tea drink and secreted alkaloid caffeine are used as an antidote for poisoning by poisons, narcotic substances and alcohol.
Along with black, the so-called long leaf tea, green tea is widely used. Green tea is less aromatic, but physiologically more active. In experimental studies, it was found that green tea has antimicrobial properties. His broth was proposed for the treatment of dysentery. It is also indicated for whooping cough, enterocolitis and dyspepsia. In combination with other drugs, it stimulates blood formation, increases elasticity and reduces the permeability of the walls of blood vessels, and has an anti-radiation effect.
In folk medicine, compresses from strong tea relieve pain and heat from sunburn, inflammation of the eyelids.
Chinese camellia in cooking
From the leaves of tea by complex processing receive well-known dry tea used to make a tea drink. The most important ingredients of a tea drink (tea) are tannins, caffeine and essential oil. The taste, color, aroma and medicinal properties of tea depend on these substances. The tannins and catechins give the tea a bitter and astringent taste, while the essential oil gives a delicate fragrant aroma. The invigorating effect of tea is due to caffeine.
The ways of drinking tea are peculiar. In Central Asia, a stew is made from tiled tea with salt, fat and milk (sometimes sheep’s blood is added). In Central Asia, in places they drink green tea with salt, in Tibet - with the addition of rancid oil. In England and in many regions of Russia they prefer strong infusion of tea diluted with milk or cream.
The chemical composition of Chinese camellia
Leaves contain 9-36% tannins, among them up to 26% soluble and up to 10% insoluble, resins, nucleoproteins containing iron and manganese. The composition of soluble tannins includes gallocatechin gallate, L-epatechin gallate, L-epigallocatechin, L-gallocatechin gallate and L-epicatechin, free gallic acid and other substances. Also found in the leaves are alkaloids - caffeine, theophylline, theobromine, xanthine, adenine, hypoxanthine, paraxanthin, methylxanthine, isatin and other organic bases. Flavonoids were found - kempferol, 3-ramnoglycoside kempferol, quercetin, quercetrin, isocvercitrin, rutin, etc.
Stems, roots and seeds contain steroidal saponins. The seeds contain 22-25% fatty oil, 30% starch and sterols - stigmasterol and β, γ-sitosterol, up to 8.5% protein.
The leaves also contain coumarins, vitamins - ascorbic acid (more than 0.230%), thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, phylloquinone, nicotinic and pantothenic acids, essential oil.
The composition of essential oil from fresh unfermented leaves (yield 0.007-0.014%) includes hexene-Z-ol-1 (66%), methyl alcohol, hexene-2-al-1, isobutyric and isovalerian aldehydes, acetic, propionic, butyric, n-caproic and palmitic acids, salicylic acid methyl ester.
Fermented green leaf oil (yield 0.003-0.006%) consists of β, γ-hexenol (25%), n-hexanol, methyl alcohol, n-octyl alcohol, geraniol, linalool, citranellol, benzyl, phenylethyl alcohol, secondary alcohols, butyl isobutyl and isovalerian aldehydes, hexene-2-ala-1, benzaldehyde, acetophenol, n-hydroxybenzalacetone, cresol, phenol, acetic, butyric, caproic, salicylic and phenylacetic acids and methyl salicylate.
The components of black tea oil are as follows: citronallol, geraniol, linalool, secondary terpene alcohol, benzyl, phenylethyl, butyl, isobutyl, isoamyl, hexyl, octyl and 3-methylbutyl alcohols, aldehydes (caproic, isovaleridian, benzaldeanyl, propanol, benzalide caprylic and palmitic acids, esters of these acids, cresols, quinoline, methyl mercaptan, methanesulfonic acid, 2-acetylpyrrole, methyl, dimethyl, trimethylamines, ethylamine, n-propylamine, etc.
Discuss camellia on the forum
Tags: camellia, camellia, camellia flowers, camellia photo, Japanese camellia, Chinese camellia, home camellia, camellia at home, tea camellia, camellia plant, camellia flower photo, camellia tea bush, camellia care, chemical composition of camellia, camellia in cooking, healing properties of camellia
In home care, room camellia is rather capricious and demanding. But if you create the necessary conditions, it will bloom for several months a year.
Camellia flower: photos and useful properties of the plant
Camellia comes from the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia. Belongs to the Tea House. These are evergreen shrubs or small trees common in Japan, China, Java, Philippines. Europeans met with a flower in the XVII century. It was brought by Jesuit monk pharmacist Georg Joseph Camellus from the Philippines. Now more than two hundred species of this plant are already known and described.
Camellia is also grown as a houseplant; for this, Japanese and mountain species are used.
Look at the photo - the camellia flower is an evergreen shrub or tree:
The leaves are short-leaved, have an oval shape. The color of the leaves is dark green. Blooms in large flowers that appear in the axils of the leaves or on the tops of the stems. Long flowering, begins in November, ends in May. In place of the flower, a fruit develops that looks like an oval or round box.
The leaves and buds of the plant contain substances that help remove excess fat from the body. Phenolic compounds are also present in the leaves, which soothe during overexcitation. In addition, phenolic compounds interfere with the absorption of lipids taken with food, due to which they reduce the intake of calories in the body.
Seeds are used mainly during propagation for breeding purposes, for the cultivation of various species and stocks, since when propagating a flower by seeds, varietal characters are lost. A plant obtained from seeds grows slowly and blooms only in the 5-8th year after sowing.
Seeds ripen in September-October, but quickly lose their germination.
Seed oil is used in cosmetics, it is added to lipsticks, so their structure becomes thinner and lighter. From the leaves you can prepare a decoction and rinse their hair with them to give them silkiness and shine. Roots are an effective remedy for diarrhea.
The leaves contain tannins, caffeine, tannin, vitamins and flavonoids, which strengthen the walls of the capillaries, have an exciting effect on the central nervous system and heart. Chinese herbalists use the beneficial properties of camellia to get rid of dysentery, wound healing, with gastric disorders, malaria, epilepsy, anemia, and overwork. Flowers have tonic and astringent properties. They are used to treat hemorrhoids. Against bleeding and hemoptysis, a decoction of flowers helps. When using a flower as a medicine, the dosage must be observed.
Types of room camellia: Japanese, red, mountain and mesh
Camellia japanese room - These are shade-tolerant tall trees or shrubs strewn with flowers. They have shiny pointed leathery leaves of a dark green color. Sparkling in the sun like sunny "bunnies". The edges of the leaves are serrate, sharp and may injure the skin. A variety of camellia cultivars grow in the shade and bloom from October to April (depending on the variety). Varieties of this species are grown in greenhouses, conservatories or rooms.
Pay attention to the photo of the Japanese camellia indoor plant - the flowers can be white, pink, red colors:
In appearance, the flowers are semi-double, double or simple. Mountain camellia - often grown in the house, has multiple related hybrids. This species is often isolated in a special group.
Japanese camellia is the original species. In indoor conditions, many varieties of this species are grown:
- Adolphe audusson - camellia red, semi-double;
- Alba simplex - camellia is white, non-double;
- Pink perfection - Camellia pink, terry.
Camellia red room - an exotic plant from the family of tea evergreen shrubs. Amazing multi-layer origami flowers bloom in winter during the dormant period. Growth begins in the spring after flowering.
Refers to plants of short daylight hours. Therefore, by the beginning of autumn, daylight hours are shortened to 12-13 hours, creating a shadow. It is during this period that the laying of flower buds begins. A comfortable temperature for flowering and laying buds is 13-17 ° C. From November to January, the temperature of the content is reduced to 6-8 ° C, while reducing watering, but not allowing the drying out of an earthen coma. Dangerous pests: spider mites, mealybugs, aphids, scale insects.
Camellia mountain - shrubs or small trees blooming September - January. Depending on the variety, the shoots can be hanging or erect.
As can be seen in the photo of this room camellia, its dark green oblong-ovate leaves have a glossy finish on top, and a slightly pubescent vein in the middle below:
Fragrant flowers, they are often mixed with tea with jasmine flowers.
Camellia mesh known to flower growers of all countries. Flowers are striking in variety and size. There are camellia-chimeras iridescent and changing their color. This look is very viable and effective.
Here you can see a photo of a different types of camellia indoor plants:
Growing camellia in a pot and care at home
Photophilous plant. But the light must be diffused. Mountain camellia tolerates sunlight well, and Japanese camellia is best shaded.
A heated apartment is a completely inappropriate room for growing and caring for camellia at home, but a glazed insulated loggia, where in winter the temperature is not higher than 12 degrees, is the most suitable place for a plant in a city apartment. It is important that here the temperature does not drop below minus 10 degrees. In the summer, lays flower buds, for this she needs a temperature of 20-25 degrees, during the ripening of buds - 15 degrees.
The plant loves moist air. Humidity can be increased with any type of humidifier.
As you can see in the photo, when caring for camellia at home, it is useful to spray the flowers, but not during flowering - water damages them:
Water abundantly in summer, much less in winter. Care must be taken not to allow any overdrying or waterlogging of the substrate. With a properly selected loose substrate, the water in the pot will not linger and this is very important. When caring for room camellia during irrigation, lime water should not be used, only with soft water. Suitable rainwater, snowwater, or water that has been left standing for 3 days.
In the spring, from the beginning of the formation of new shoots and until the end of July, camellias need mineral and organic fertilizing. In August, feeding is stopped, which contributes to the laying of flower buds.
When caring for camellia in a pot at home, unlike most houseplants, this flower is not transplanted in spring - it has a growth period at this time. The best time to transfer to a larger pot is winter. Moreover, a flowering plant is transplanted. They are rarely transplanted, every 2-3 years. The root neck should be flush with the ground.
The soil should be loose, acidic, as for azaleas. You can buy a mixture for azalea or make up from sheet land, coniferous land, peat, perlite and sand. When caring for camellia at home, it is useful to add tree bark to the soil.
If the flower forms many buds, then it is recommended to leave 1-2 of the strongest buds at the end of each shoot, and remove the rest. The flowers will be much larger. If the plant does not have enough strength to develop all buds that have begun, then they will fall. During the development of buds, you need to carefully monitor the watering, avoiding either overmoistening or drying out the soil.
Japanese camellia is an 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 Indochina peninsulas.
Description
The leaves are ordinary, glossy, oval, leathery, blunt or sharp, grow by 1, sometimes 2-3. The flowers are quite decorative, individual, large, axillary with a nimbus, consisting of 5 petals, as well as masses of stamens folded into a bunch. The palette of tones is unlimited - from white to red, scarlet, pink with various transitional colors. Often, flowers are bicolor, with all kinds of stripes, dots, stains and specks.
Varieties of camellia japanese
Many flower varieties have gained mass popularity as significant decorative, flowering and evergreen crops. They are freely used for landscaping, arranging expositions in parks during the summer season, and even as tea. This is how Japanese camellia looks, the photo of which is presented below.
Camellia mountain
Her bush grows in height up to 3-4 m, with thin branches and bright red pubescent flowers. Leaves are elliptical or elongated-oval in shape, 3–6 cm long, 1.5–3 cm wide. Their tops are slightly sharp, the edges are fine-toothed, dark green and glossy on the outside, hairy-pubescent with a vein on the inside.
The flowers are single or connected in 2-3 pieces, with a diameter of 6-7 cm, the usual white, red or pink, with aroma. They bloom well in November and January. As blossoming evergreen crops, gardeners propagate, as a rule, garden varieties. Japanese camellia (mountain) is suitable for cold rooms.
Camellia Chinese
The homeland 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 spaced shoots. The leaves are ordinary, oblong-oval, tapering upward, short-leaved. Outside, they are dark green in color, from below the light green, 5-7 cm long, 3-4 cm wide. Young leaves are slightly pubescent. In the pulp of leaves there are spreading bearing scleroids.
The flowers are solitary, fragrant or located 2-4 in the recesses of the leaves. The carpels and bracts are placed along a curve. The calyx is spherical, has 5-7 sepals of a rounded shape, which are preserved during the fetus. The corolla of the plant is 2.5-3 cm across; it falls off after flowering. It contains from 5 to 9 white petals with golden pink color, in the center connected with each other and with a cup. The stamens are located in two rings: the outer ones are fused with the stamens and take root to the petals, the lower ones are independent with small ovoid anthers. Gynoecium - syncarpous with columns connected to the core.
Japanese camellia (Chinese) has fruits in the form of flattened tricuspid woody boxes. Their seeds are rounded, dark chestnut color, 10-13 mm long, 1 mm thick. It blooms from early August to the end of the autumn period. Harvest gives in October-December.
Camellia oily
This variety of culture is found in forests and on the banks of rivers of China at elevations from 500 to 1300 m above the sea surface. An oil-bearing plant is an evergreen tree up to 10 m high. The trunk is covered with a brown crust, up to 20 cm in diameter. The leaves are leathery, ordinary, petiolate, alternate, egg-shaped, pointed at the apex. The flowers are white bisexual, paired, axillary or single, grow in September. The time of their blooming lasts until mid-October. Japanese camellia (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 your home culture
Most gardeners consider the plant very demanding on care and breeding conditions. This position was formed due to its periodic dropping of buds or leaves. To protect against unpleasant shedding, you need to keep the flower in a suitable environment for it.
The culture will grow one hundred percent at home, if it is placed in a cool room. Camellias do not like it when they are deployed relative to a light source or transferred to another place. The flower prefers spaces with fresh air, with the exception of drafts. In this case, he will have different diseases.
Soil requirements
Japanese camellia, reviews of which you can only hear good ones, loves acidic soils. And that's why, for its flowering and development, special earthen mixtures made from well-sifted sand and peat are needed. Great mixes for rhododendrons, which can absolutely satisfy all the needs of the plant.
Separately prepared soil mixtures have a slightly acid 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 insist water, if it is not possible to use filtered.
Suitable lighting
Japanese camellia (the photo of which is presented below) is considered a mountain culture, in this regard, in order to flourish it needs light in large quantities. However, direct sunlight is harmful to her. For the summer season, the flower can be taken out into the fresh air, remembering about sun protection.
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 culture again delight the household with its gorgeous flowering.
Watering
In the summer season, the flower is watered sufficiently and evenly after the outer layer of the substrate dries so that the Japanese camellia is not flooded. Home care to prevent acidification of the land implies a decrease in watering. Due to the deoxidation of the soil, the leaves of the plant turn brown, and the buds fall off. From prolonged drying, the culture discards leaves. The flower does not withstand the increased calcium content in running water, so you need to water it with soft, settled water. At the stage of development of flower ovaries (in August), it is required to slightly dry the substrate, but not until it completely dries.
Temperature mode
Camellia in spring and summer prefers an air temperature of at least 20-25 degrees. For laying the kidneys you need a temperature of 18-20 degrees, and during the blooming period in December-February - 9-12 degrees. At an increased temperature, flowering begins earlier, but the feature of the flowers will be much worse, and there is a risk that Japanese camellia will lose its buds. Plant care in such a situation will already be inappropriate.
Transplantation and reproduction
Culture should be dived during dormancy (it dwells in it at the end of flowering), but no later than the end of July. The best time is when some buds have been preserved on the plant, but the ovaries of the leaves have not yet opened.
Flowers are planted with crown cuttings along the length of 6-8 cm, which have not yet managed to lignify. Perform this in January as well as in July. The most suitable for these requirements is a room greenhouse. When the root system is formed on the cuttings (this will occur after 2 months as a result of their planting), then they can be planted in an unchanged place. It must 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 the scabbard and spider mite. But the most serious malaise of camellia is rotting of the root due to waterlogging, unsuitable soil and elevated temperature. With such a disease, the leaves begin to fall off the flower. Culture can only be saved by reducing watering.
Of course, many already know how beautiful and luxurious Japanese camellia looks. Landing and caring for it will not be burdensome for anyone.
