Japanese camellia: varieties, planting and care at home, reviews, photos. Feeding camellia plants
Home camellia is a beautiful oriental beauty, similar to a luxurious rose. Beautiful buds look gorgeous against the background of dark green foliage, but in order to admire the plant, you need to properly care for it. Camellia has won 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 times Japanese samurai. Interest in bright flower has not faded yet. Proper cultivation camellias at home guarantees lush flowering in the winter. There are such types of flowers:
- Camellia oleifera is an oil-bearing evergreen tree up to 10 m high, which is conveniently located along the river banks and in the wooded area of China at an altitude of about 500-1400 m above sea level. seas. Often they are grown specifically in order to extract healthy oil from 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 three-leaved, slightly flattened boxes appear in place of the flowers. Due to the fact that its foliage is brewed as tea, the plant has received a second name - the tea bush.
- Camellia japonica - this beauty grows up to 15 meters. Lives in Korea, Japan and China. Abundant flowering lasts from December to April. Flowers are terry, simple and semi-double, reaching a diameter of 4 cm.
- Camellia sasanqua is a mountain camellia native to the islands. Bushes about 5 m high with thin branches and slightly red shoots. Fragrant flowers of white, pinkish and red shades appear from November to the end of January.
Habitual in the middle latitudes of Europe, garden camellia and home varieties common among our compatriots were bred on the basis of the Japanese variety.
How to care for homemade camellia
To grow a room camellia, you should study in detail the conditions that a capricious flower prefers. Even a slight deviation from the norm can cause it to start shedding leaves and flowers.
Important! This flower is not for the lazy, so be prepared to pay due attention to the care of indoor beauty.
Proper lighting
Indoor flower requires certain lighting:
- The best place for breeding perennials is a well-lit conservatory. The flower prefers lower temperatures during the colder months.
- The optimal brightness of lighting is at least 3000 lux, and the required daylight hours are at least 12-14 hours. That is why in winter the flowers need to 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 turn it relative to the light source. If you do not listen to this requirement, she will simply drop the buds.
- Camellia in open field is also common, but even a flowerpot with a home flower can be safely taken out to the balcony or garden in the summer, as well as change its location. At the same time, the 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 especially hot days. Therefore, the pot is best placed in a slightly shaded place.
Competent temperature regime
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 - the temperature is not more than +8 +12 degrees.
If the temperature is violated, you may experience such problems: the ovary will fall off or flowering will come much earlier, but the buds will be small and inconspicuous.
Camellia care involves the 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.
- Watering cannot be called consistently plentiful or moderate. Throughout the year, the degree of required moisture changes several times. In summer, abundant watering, and in winter, moderate.
- The soil should not be allowed to dry out in summer, as the camellia may die. In winter, watering is prudent and accurate, since moisture evaporates very slowly at low temperatures. With excessive moisture, the flower may turn sour and die.
- Watering is carried out only with settled water. The liquid can be slightly acidified by dropping a few drops of vinegar into it.
Important! The flower prefers watering with settled water average temperature. Water rich in lime can kill the sprout.
- Set up a watering schedule. This will help you keep track of how often you moisturize. Landmark - the degree of drying of the earth. If the watering time is up and the topsoil is still wet, delay watering for a few days.
Optimum indoor humidity
The flower does not tolerate dry air in the room where it grows. Provide optimal humidity possible in the following ways:
- Place a saucer of water next to the pot. The liquid will gradually evaporate, providing the plant comfortable conditions. How to humidify the air in the room in other ways, you can read.
- Install a humidifier in the room to maintain the desired level of humidity.
- Spray the leaves regularly, especially in summer. Be extremely careful during the budding period. Moisture should not fall on the flowers.
How to fertilize correctly
In the summer, the plant does not require active feeding, but for harmonious development, it should still be carried out. For these purposes, buy a special mineral fertilizer, and in the absence of it, a substrate for roses or liquid dressing for azaleas will do. Apply fertilizer according to the instructions no more than 1 time per month. During the flowering period, increase feeding up to 2-3 times a month. Before fertilizing, be sure to pay attention to expiration dates. Delay can only harm the pet.
Japanese beauty transplant
Perennial requires systematic transplants. The frequency of changing the pot depends on the age of the plant.
- Replant young flowers 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 with earth. This is dangerous for the plant, and can lead to its death.
- Mature plants change the pot every 3 years. But the top layer changes every year.
- If a perennial grows in a tub, then it is not transplanted, as it is very difficult. In addition to inconvenience, you can cause irreparable harm to the plant. Therefore, it is enough just to change the top layer of soil. This will reduce the risk of disease and stimulate the development of buds.
Reproduction of room camellia
Plant propagation occurs in several ways:
- Seeds. Gardeners are not very fond of this method, as it does not retain the quality of the variety. Some individuals have seed pods. These seeds are transplanted into a container with a nutrient substrate and grown until the first leaves appear, after which the sprouts dive into different pots.
- Cuttings. The most popular way to maintain the quality of varieties. It is better to cut off the upper parts of ripe shoots. Their length varies from 3 to 8 cm. The cuttings are placed in diluted heteroauxin. After that, the cuttings are moved to a box filled in half with peat and sand. Planting is left at a temperature of +20 +23 degrees until rooting.
- Grafting. This method is considered very time consuming, and is extremely rare at home.
What problems do gardeners face?
How to care for camellia depends on its flowering. Errors in care are the main cause of disease and plant death.
- If the foliage falls, then you make mistakes with watering.
- Withered 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 sunburn.
- Poor flowering is a sign of soil acidification.
- In the event of an attack by a scale insect, tick or aphid, it is necessary to treat the foliage with special preparations, or with an ordinary soapy solution.
The video below clearly shows how to grow a 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, in this process to readers.
Camellia is similar to a room rose. Incredibly beautiful, flowering bush with dark, green leaves. It blooms from the end of winter until the very spring.
You can grow a camellia yourself from a cutting, but many flower growers believe that this is a very difficult matter. It's worth a try, but if there is no desire, then the best option will be the purchase of a plant in a flower shop. There is a stunning selection of various shades of camellia flowers.
What is necessary for the maintenance 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 conditions of 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 should not be a high content of bleach, while the water is warm. During spraying, you need to avoid getting water on the flowers and buds.
3. But you can only water the camellia with boiled water. Just add a few drops of lemon juice to it first. This is done to soften watering.
4. The plant prefers shady places.
hibernation period
The peculiarity of the camellia is that it periodically hibernates. During this state, the plant has no growth, only water is carried by the roots through the stems to the foliage and buds. During the period of mechanical existence, it is impossible to transplant camellias. It can be carried out only during flowering, that is, when active growth occurs.
top dressing
With feeding, everything happens the other way around. It is not produced during flowering. Just before the flowers appear. There is no need to fertilize often. Once in a month and a half is enough. Camellia needs a high nitrogen content, which is added to the fertilizer complex. The purchased mixture for rhododendron and is suitable.
The soil
Camellias need soil with high acidity, with the addition of humus. The earth should be loose, with sufficient nutrients. If the soil mixes on its own, then it is better for it to take land in a coniferous forest where spruce trees grow. Add sod, humus and red brick crumbs there.
You can repot the plant 3 times a year.
Moderation in care
Camellia requires a moderate attitude in everything. Does not tolerate excess moisture and does not tolerate dryness.
If in the summer the plant grew on the street, then after returning to the house, it should not be moved from place to place. The flower likes to be at rest.
In today's article, we will take a closer look at such a beautiful houseplant as camellia. So…
Camellia ( lat. Camellia) - a genus of evergreen trees or shrubs with beautiful flowers of the family Tea (Theaceae).
The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus in honor of the Jesuit missionary and botanist of Czech origin Georg Josef Kamel (1661-1706), who worked as a doctor and pharmacist in the Philippines, who first brought camellia to Europe from the Philippines.
Camellia is common in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Southeast and East Asia, South of the USA, on the peninsulas of Indochina, Korea, in Japan, on the islands of Java, Sulawesi, Philippine.
The most famous type of plant is Camellia sinensis (Camellia sinensis), from the leaves of which raw materials for making tea are obtained. Many types of camellia are used in ornamental gardening.
Camellia is a small evergreen shrub or tree from 2 to 20 meters high.
The leaves are simple, elliptical to broadly and oblong-ovate, leathery, glossy, pointed or obtuse, singly, sometimes 2-3, alternate on short petioles, 3-17 cm long.
Flowers solitary, 1-12 cm in diameter. Petals fused at the base, pink, red, white or variegated, numerous stamens. Camellia blooms in winter at a temperature not exceeding 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 that usually divides into 5 compartments with 8 seeds.
Some types of camellia received wide use as valuable ornamental evergreens and flowering plants. They are widely used for landscaping interiors, creating an exposition in the park during summer period. Others as tea, as we already know.
From the leaves of the Japanese-Chinese camellia eugenol (Camellia sasanqua), an essential oil containing 97% eugenol is obtained.
According to various sources, from 80 to 250 plants belong to the genus Camellia (Camellia).
Types of camellia
Camellia sinensis (Camellia sinensis) , whale. 茶 "cha" , Jap. 茶 "cha") . Other plant names: Tea, tea plant. Homeland - tropical and subtropical mountain forests of Southeast Asia (Indochina).
Camellia sinensis is an evergreen shrub or small tree up to 10 m high with spaced branches.
The leaves are alternate, oval or oblong-oval, narrowed towards the apex, short-petiolate, dark above, light green below, 5-7 long, 3.5-4 cm wide, slightly pubescent when young. In the pulp of the leaves there are branched supporting sclereids.
The flowers are fragrant, solitary or 2-4 in leaf axils. Bracts and florets arranged in a spiral. The calyx is joint-leaved with 5-7 sepals, almost rounded, remaining with the fetus. Corolla 2.5-3 cm across, falling off after flowering, of 5-9 white petals with a yellowish-pink tint, fused at the base with each other and the calyx. Stamens in two circles: the outer stamens grow together with stamen filaments and adhere to the petals, the inner ones are free; anthers small, ovoid. Gynoecium cenocarpous, with columns fused to the middle.
The fruit is a flattened tricuspid woody box. Seeds are rounded, dark brown, 10-13 mm long, 1 mm thick.
Blooms from August to late autumn. Fruits in October-December.
The 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 began to cultivate tea in the Himalayas. At present, 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 outdoors in Russia ( Krasnodar region), in the Caucasus, in southern England, Portugal, Sicily, western France.
. This type of camellia is common in forests and along the banks of rivers in China, at altitudes of 500-1300 m above sea level. It is sometimes cultivated there for the oil-rich seeds.
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 alternate, simple, leathery, petiolate, ovate, pointed or obtuse at the apex. The flowers are white, bisexual, single or paired, axillary, appearing in September. Their flowering period continues until mid-October. The fruit is a large capsule with numerous spherical seeds up to 3 cm long.
Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica) . It is found in forests in China, Japan, Korea.
Japanese camellia is a shrub or tree 10-12 (up to 15) meters tall. Leaves elliptical or ovate, 5-10 cm long, pointed, marginally serrate, leathery, glossy, dark green. Flowers solitary or collected in several, 4 cm in diameter (mainly garden varieties with large, 7-12 cm in diameter, flowers are bred in culture), simple, semi-double or double, pink, red, white, variegated, Seeds are large, almost rounded. Blooms profusely in December-April.
Various forms are widespread in culture, but mostly garden varieties, which differ in the degree of doubleness, flower size, petal arrangement and color. Outside the subtropics, it is also a widely known plant in culture, grown in cool rooms as a pot plant, tub plant and in the ground; in rooms grows well and blooms, requires no higher than 12 ° C in winter time. Fruits in greenhouses.
In Chinese traditional medicine, all Camellia japonica plants are considered anti-cancer. The flowers have astringent and tonic properties.
Some varieties of camellia japonica:
"Adolphe audusson"
Camellia mountain (Camellia sasanqua) . Synonyms: Camellia Miyagi (Camellia miyagii), Camellia tegmentosa (Camellia tegmentosa), Miyagi tea (Thea miyagii), Mountain tea (Thea sasanqua), Tegmentosa tea (Thea tegmentosa). It lives in mountain forests on the islands of Kyushu, Okinawa.
Camellia mountain 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, obtusely pointed, serrated at the edges, glossy and dark green above, with a hairy pubescent midrib below. Flowers solitary or collected in 2-3, up to 6-7 cm in diameter, simple, white, pink or red, fragrant. Blooms profusely in November-January.
As evergreen and flowering plants in culture, mainly garden varieties are bred. Suitable for cold rooms.
There are five main groups of carp cultivars:
- "real" carp Camellia sasanqua;
- camellia Camellia x hiemalis;
- camellia Camellia x vernalis;
- a group of camellia hybrids with the common name "Egao";
- frost-resistant Ackerman hybrids of camellia.
Some varieties of mountain camellia:
"Bicolor"
Camellia grijsii
Camellia Care
In the room, the camellia grows, blooms and even bears fruit, if it is provided with proper care.
Lighting. Camellia prefers bright diffused light, suitable for growing near windows of western and eastern exposure. At the windows of the southern exposure, the plant is provided with shading from direct sunlight. At northern exposure windows, the plant may not have enough light for normal growth. To prevent the crown from being one-sided, the plant can be turned towards the light. Just in no case do this during budding: by disturbing the plant during this period, you will achieve dropping buds.
In summer, the plant can be exposed to the open air, in a place protected from direct sunlight.
Temperature. Camellia in spring-summer period prefers air temperature around 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 falling buds. With a short daylight hours, the laying of flower buds can also occur at a temperature of 8-10 ° C.
Camellia needs access to fresh air.
Watering. In summer, camellias are watered evenly, plentifully, after the top layer of the substrate dries up, the camellias should not be poured. When kept cool in winter, in order 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 shed their leaves. The plant does not tolerate the high 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 regularly spray it with soft settled water, put pots with plants on pallets with wet expanded clay or peat. During the flowering period, spray carefully, avoiding moisture on the flowers.
Fertilizer. Once every three weeks, camellias are fed full mineral fertilizer at the rate of 1 g/l. Top dressing is carried out all year round.
Growing features. Camellias are short-day plants, and 12-14-hour daylight hours are optimal for the laying and normal development of flower buds. To lay 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 higher temperatures (18-20°C) there are premature flowering, while the quality of the flowers is worse, and bud drop, 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 be laid 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 that bloom annually are transplanted every 2 years. Transplantation is carried out in the spring, at the same time the tops of the shoots are pinched so that the plant branches better.
The soil. For camellias, acidic soil (pH 4.5-5) is preferred. Of many subtropical plants, camellias are distinguished by their unique ability to grow on acidic soils with a pH of up to 4 and below. The composition of the substrate can be as follows: turf - 1 hour, peat - 2 hours, heather or leaf - 2 hours, sand - 1 hour. Potted plants are rarely transplanted, but annual topping up of the earth and top dressing are necessary. The bottom of the tank provides good drainage.
Reproduction. Camellias are propagated by fresh seeds and cuttings.
Seeds are sown one by one in 5-7 cm pots or in boxes, then in the phase of two leaves they are dived into pots.
If you want to grow a varietal plant, it should be propagated vegetatively - by cuttings, since varietal characteristics are lost when propagated by seeds. In ornamental gardening, camellia varieties are especially valued, so they are propagated vegetatively in order to preserve the characteristics of the variety.
Ornamental camellias are often propagated by apical non-lignified cuttings b-8 cm long in a breeding 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 in summer). Care for cuttings consists of watering and spraying. In view of the long period of rooting, it is advisable to soak the cuttings in a solution of heteroauxin, and then periodically water them, however, in this case, stretching of rooting is also possible. Rooted cuttings are planted in 7 cm pots. The composition of the earth mixture: sheet - 2 hours, peat - 2 hours, sod - 1 hour, sand - 1 hour; pH 4.5-5. Vaccinations are made on 1-2-year-old camellia seedlings, sometimes on rooted cuttings. Water abundantly, then reduce watering to promote the maturation of the wood.
Poorly rooted varieties are propagated by grafting, mainly in January, with 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 (as leaves with burn spots fall off), creating air humidity and pruning shoots. In the 2nd year of culture, the plants are transplanted into 9-11 cm pots. The substrate is the same.
In the 3rd year of culture, the plants are transferred to 11 - 14 cm pots. The earth mixture is made up of turf - 2 hours, peat - 2 hours, leafy earth - 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 from direct sunlight (especially in summer).
The main reasons for the failure of an amateur trying to grow camellia at home: low humidity air, lack of light, high temperatures and unsuitable soil composition.
From prolonged drying, the plants shed their leaves.
From a lack or excess of moisture, camellia can shed its leaves.
Damaged
The main reasons for the failure of an amateur trying to grow camellia at home:
— low air humidity;
- lack of light;
- high temperatures;
- unsuitable 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 from camellia wood. Therefore, this part of Kyushu is called Tsubaki, after the Japanese name for the Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica), and the battle site itself is called the "Bloody Field". The name reflected the fact that the flowers of the wild Tsubaki are bright red, and the first white flower of this species in history appeared only in the 7th century and aroused such interest that it was even brought to be shown to Emperor Temmu.
The culture of breeding camellias has experienced several periods of decline and prosperity in Japan. In the XI century, camellias lose popularity, interest in them awakens only during the Muromachi period (1333-1568), the era of the formation of the traditional style of the Japanese garden. Cultivation of camellias becomes one of the occupations of the samurai class. In addition to Tsubaki, Sazanka (Camellia sasanqua), an autumn-flowering mountain camellia, was also popular. It is smaller in size than Tsubaki, but it blooms more abundantly and has a flower of a more asymmetrical shape, easily tolerates open sun.
Throughout history, camellias have been cultural symbols with often opposing meanings. At first, the Tsubaki camellia was one of the symbols of the sun goddess Amaterasu, and during the ban on Christianity in Japan, it also became a symbol of Jesus Christ for the Japanese Catholics, who were forbidden to wear a cross.
To this day, the Catholic Church in Nagasaki is decorated with an ornament of Tsubaki flowers. Initially, this camellia was also a symbol of longevity. And in the 15th century, it was believed that a samurai who touched it would be beheaded. The explanation for this belief is that the Tsubaki flower falls to the ground as a whole, like a severed head, and does not rain down petals, like a Sazanka.
Members of the Japanese Higo Camellia Society believe that this superstition was part of the "black PR" of some samurai clans against others. Even stranger, in 19th and 20th century America, members of the racist Ku Klux Klan used the Japanese camellia as a symbol of the white race and called themselves the Knights of the White Camellia.
Contact with America - Commodore Perry's arrival on the islands in 1858 and the subsequent opening of Japan to the world caused a decline in interest in camellias in Japan, as the Japanese quickly began to copy everything Western, from Western roses to warships. With the destruction of feudalism, many samurai, who were the guardians 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 tradition of Higo, 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 florist Franco Ghirardi, Camellias Higo spread to Europe and the USA. This flower perfectly conveys the Japanese taste based on simplicity, asymmetry and closeness to nature. Traditionally Higo is grown as bonsai, although Hygo lovers in Europe also grow them as regular-sized camellias.
Medicinal and other beneficial properties of Camellia sinensis
Tea seeds in Japan and China are used to produce fatty oil. Refined oil is used for food, unrefined oil is used for technical needs.
Camellia sinensis in medicine
A significant part of the leaves and branches of tea, cut during the care of the plantations of the tea bush (during molding), as well as tea dust generated in tea-packing factories, are used as raw materials for the factory extraction of caffeine and theophylline alkaloids. Caffeine is an important drug. It has an exciting and tonic effect on the central nervous system, improves mental and physical activity, is a diuretic and migraine remedy. 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 (eufillin, 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, which is used for violations of permeability and increased vascular fragility, hemorrhagic diathesis, retinal hemorrhages, radiation therapy, hypertension, etc. Due to the presence of caffeine and tannins substances tea drink and the isolated alkaloid caffeine are used as an antidote for poisoning with poisons, narcotic substances and alcohol.
Along with black, so-called long leaf tea, green tea is widely used. Green tea is less aromatic, but physiologically more active. Experimental studies have found that green tea has antimicrobial properties. Its decoction has been suggested to treat dysentery. It is also indicated for whooping cough, enterocolitis and dyspepsia. In combination with other drugs, it stimulates hematopoiesis, increases elasticity and reduces the permeability of the walls of blood vessels, and has an anti-radiation effect.
AT folk medicine compresses from strong tea relieve pain and fever with sunburn, inflammation of the eyelids.
Camellia sinensis in cooking
The well-known dry tea used to prepare a tea drink is obtained from tea leaves through complex processing. The most important constituents of the tea drink (tea) are tannins, caffeine and essential oil. The taste, color, aroma and taste depend on these substances. medicinal properties tea. Tannins and catechins give the tea a bitter and astringent taste, while the essential oil gives it a delicate fragrant aroma. The invigorating effect of tea is due to caffeine.
The ways of drinking tea are peculiar. AT Central Asia stew with salt, fat and milk (sometimes sheep's blood is added) is cooked from brick tea. In Central Asia, in some places they drink green tea with salt, in Tibet - with the addition of rancid oil. In England and in many regions of Russia, strong tea infusion diluted with milk or cream is preferred.
The chemical composition of camellia sinensis
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-epiatechin 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, paraxanthine, methylxanthine, isatin and other organic bases. Flavonoids were found - kaempferol, kaempferol 3-rhamnoglycoside, quercetin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, 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.
Part essential oil fresh unfermented leaves (yield 0.007-0.014%) include hexen-3-ol-1 (66%), methyl alcohol, hexen-2-al-1, isobutyric and isovaleric aldehydes, acetic, propionic, butyric, n-caproic and palmitic acid, salicylic acid methyl ester.
Green fermented 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 isovaleric 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, isovaleric, benzaldehyde), propionic, isovaleric, caprylic and palmitic acids, esters of these acids, cresols, quinoline, methylmercaptan, methanesulfonic acid, 2-acetylpyrrole, methyl-, dimethyl-, trimethylamines, ethylamine, n-propylamine, etc.
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In home care, indoor camellia is quite capricious and demanding. But if you create the necessary conditions, it will bloom for several months of the year.
Indoor camellia flower: photos and useful properties of the plant
Camellia comes from tropical and subtropical regions of Asia. Belongs to the Tea family. These are evergreen shrubs or small trees common in Japan, China, Java, Philippines. Europeans got acquainted with the flower in the 17th century. It was brought by the Jesuit pharmacist monk George 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 they use Japanese and mountain species.
Look at the photo - indoor flower Camellia is an evergreen shrub or tree:
The leaves are short-petiolate and oval in shape. The color of the leaves is dark green. It blooms with large flowers that appear in the axils of the leaves or on the tops of the stems. Flowering is long, begins in November, ends in May. In place of the flower, a fruit develops, similar to an oval or round box.
The leaves and buds of the plant contain substances that help remove excess fat from the body. The leaves also contain phenolic compounds that soothe when overexcited. In addition, phenolic compounds interfere with the absorption of dietary lipids, thereby reducing the intake of calories in the body.
Seeds are mainly used for breeding for breeding purposes, for growing various species and rootstocks, since when a flower is propagated by seeds, varietal characteristics are lost. The plant obtained from seeds grows slowly and blooms only in the 5th - 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 that their structure becomes thinner and lighter. From the leaves, you can prepare a decoction and wash your hair with it to make it silky and shiny. The roots are an effective remedy for diarrhea.
The leaves contain tannins, caffeine, tannin, vitamins and flavonoids, which strengthen the walls of capillaries, have an exciting effect on the central nervous system and heart. Chinese herbalists use beneficial features camellias for getting rid of dysentery, wound healing, gastric disorders, malaria, epilepsy, anemia, overwork. The flowers have tonic and astringent properties. They are used to treat hemorrhoids. A decoction of flowers helps against bleeding and hemoptysis. When using a flower as medicinal product dosage must be observed.
Types of room camellia: Japanese, red, mountain and net
Camellia japanese indoor- These are shade-tolerant tall trees or shrubs strewn with flowers. They have shiny pointed leathery dark green leaves. Sparkling in the sun like sunbeams. The edges of the leaves are serrate, sharp can injure the skin. Diverse cultivars camellias grow in the shade and bloom from October to April (depending on the variety). Varieties of this species are grown in greenhouses, winter gardens or rooms.
Pay attention to the photo of the Japanese camellia houseplant - the flowers can be white, pink, red colors:
By appearance flowers are semi-double, double or simple. Camellia mountain - often grown in the house, has multiple related hybrids. This species is often classified as a separate group.
Camellia japonica is the original species. AT room conditions many varieties of this species are grown:
- Adolphe Audusson - camellia red, semi-double;
- Alba Simplex - white camellia, non-double;
- pink perfection - pink camellia, terry.
Camellia red room- an exotic plant from the family of tea evergreen shrubs. Amazing multi-layered origami flowers bloom in winter during the dormant period. Growth begins in the spring after flowering.
Refers to plants with a 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 budding is 13-17 ° C. From November to January, the temperature of the content is lowered to 6-8 ° C, while reducing watering, but not allowing the earthen clod to dry out. Dangerous pests: spider mite, mealybug, aphid, scale insect.
Camellia mountain- shrubs or small trees, blooming September - January. Depending on the variety, the shoots can be hanging or erect.
As you can see 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:
The flowers are fragrant and are often mixed with tea along with jasmine flowers.
Camellia reticulata known to flower growers of all countries. Flowers amaze with their variety and size. There are chimera camellias that shimmer and change color. This species is very resilient and effective.
Here you can see a photo of a houseplant camellia of various types:
Growing camellias in a pot and care at home
Light-loving plant. But the light must be diffused. Camellia mountain tolerates well solar lighting, and it is better to shade the Japanese camellia.
A heated apartment is a completely unsuitable room for growing and caring for camellias at home, but a glazed insulated loggia, where the temperature does not exceed 12 degrees in winter, 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, it lays flower buds, for this it needs a temperature of 20-25 degrees, while the buds ripen - 15 degrees.
Plant loves wet 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 flowers, but not during flowering - water damages them:
Water abundantly in summer, much less in winter. Care must be taken not to allow either 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, lime water should not be used when watering, watering only with soft water. Suitable rain, snow water or water settled for 3 days.
In the spring, from the moment the formation of new shoots begins until the end of July, camellias need mineral and organic top dressing. In August, top dressing is stopped, which contributes to the laying of flower buds.
When caring for a camellia in a pot at home, unlike most indoor plants, this flower is not transplanted in the spring - it has a growth period at this time. Best time for transshipment into a larger pot - winter. Moreover, a flowering plant is transplanted. They are rarely transplanted, once every 2-3 years. The root collar should be level with the ground.
The soil should be loose, acidic, as for azalea. You can buy a mixture for azalea or make up from leafy soil, coniferous soil, high-moor peat, perlite and sand. When caring for camellia at home, it is useful to add tree bark to the soil.
If the flower forms a lot of 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 the buds that have begun, then they will fall off. During the development of buds, watering should be carefully monitored, avoiding either waterlogging or drying out of the soil.
Camellia japonica is an evergreen shrub or 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 in shape, 3-6 cm long, 1.5-3 cm wide. Their tops are slightly sharp, the edges are finely serrated, dark green and glossy outside, with inside- hairy-pubescent with a vein.
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 filaments 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. For the summer season, the flower can be taken out on Fresh air, mindful of sun protection.
In addition, in order to accumulate strength for the next full bloom, Japanese plants rest period is needed. 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 outer layer the substrate will dry out 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 cuttings form root system(this will come after 2 months as a result of their disembarkation), then they can be planted in an unchanged 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. On the houseplant aphids may appear, which are 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.
