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Trees & Shrubs - Australia

How do I strike Camellia's

21 years ago

My neighbour has beautiful camellia that I would like to strike. When do I take a cutting? What type of cutting would I take - old growth, new growth, heel?? What type of soil should I use. I really want this to take as I love it so much and unfortunately do not know the name of it. The plant is in full bloom at the moment. I am in Melbourne. All help gratefully accepted.

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Comments (6)

wombat
21 years ago
If you go to the Mitre 10 site (you will have to register), they have a very good and detailed page, with illustrations, called "Grow Plants from Garden Cuttings". It covers plants in general (and potting medium, etc.) - but does tell you that camellias will strike from heel or tip cuttings.

Or go to the page below and go to the bottom of the page.

Now, neither of these sites say "when" is the best time. I've had some success with cuttings (and many more failures). I think that late summer/early autumn might be the right time - but I take cuttings whenever I get a chance and it's pot luck.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.greengold.com.au/greengold/CARENOTES/CARENOTES/camellia.htm
sebd
21 years ago
I think you take the cuttings in Dec & Jan just as the new growth is bendy but not snapping. You reduce the leaves. Take cuttings and seal in a plastic bag to reduce moisture loss. Try a hormone powder and then pot up. Cover with plastic. Recently there was a thread which gave some excellent advice on propogating mediums (was it Mt Ananan Botanical Gardens? Anyway good luck. I had to salvage a broken top to "Wirlinga Bride" camellia and mine has survived. I do give it some plant starter when I think of it. This would be another good tip as you occasionally check under the plastic so see if new growth is happening. Good luck.
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Hello, vaherbmom. I am not sure anyone has measured how long it takes a camellia to become root bound in a 2g pot..... Regarding the tag, I wonder if the camellia you bought is a standard (sometimes referred to as tree-like because of the shape) whose flowers resemble peonies? If you post pictures of the plant label, the plant itself, close-up of the leaves and (any) flowers, we can try to guess if it is indeed a camellia. Until the planting location is ready, you can dig a hole and place the pot in the ground. Or you can just leave it in the pot above ground for a few (1-3?) months. That is what the nursery would have done anyway. They grow very slowly, which is good in this situation. If it will take more than that, I would temporarily re-pot it to a 3g pot. If at any time you notice that it is root bound, take appropriate action. Does that help you? Luis
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Hello, helenawall. Well, can you describe the conditions in these shaded lcoations a little bit more? Or can you post a picture? Plants can successfully grow in shaded locations sometimes because light bounces off nearby surfaces producing "bright shade". The front of my house is one example. I have some azaleas, camellias and hydrangeas growing there for decades. During most of the year, they are in shade. Only some of the hydrangeas ever get a little sun (in the summer). Because the plants are close to the edge where the shade ends and sunlight strikes, the area is technically shaded but there is a lot of indicrect light. The same thing happens if plants were to be shaded near a cemented walkway where sunlight can bounce off and hit the plants. This type of bright shade scenario will not affect flower production much, at least not to the point where one might notice. Your buds will do fine in this case. Dense shade is another story. I use this term to refer to areas where reflected light has no chance of reaching the shrubs. In areas where there is dense shade, you usually cannot successfully grow much of anything. So see if these decriptions help you determine what kind of location you have and feel free to transplant them again (now is fine; do not worry that you just planted them) if you decide there is too much shade. Just maintain the soil moist as best as you can and mulch with 3-4" past the plants' drip line. As for identifying a named variety only by the leaves, it can be done in some really rare cases but usually the leaves "look alike too much" so this is not enough. You need to see the blooming flowers and compare the blooms and record on what month do the blooms open. Take pictures and post the question again when several blooms open. A close up of one or two blooms plus a pictures of the leaves/shrub can help. I am not really good a identifying camellias but others here can help. Ha! After seeing lots of camellias pictures, they all become a blur to me and I start saying to myself "did I not just see THAT ONE on the previous page?" Check with friend to see what fertilizer program works for her already. I could give you the standard one recommended by the American Camellia Society but your friend's fertilizer and watering program may work just as well, assuming she lives nearby and not across the country. Does this help you? Luis Here is a link that might be useful: Camellia Care by the A. C. S.
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Hi, I am a newbie and have been collecting BST eggs on my fennel since July. I have raised them inside and so far have released 51. If I were you, I would bring them all inside and raise them. They eat a lot in their last instar, so be prepared to have enough food for them. It has been a joy for me to raise these beauties, and my cats are loving them too. I purchased butterfly pavilions from ShadyOaks Butterfly farm in Florida, but you can use almost any container to put them in, as long as they have enough space to hang when they eclose to dry their wings. Do not overcrowd them. The most I have put in one pavilion has been 14, but I could easily have put in close to 20 in each one with no problems. If you are near a Whole Foods in Dallas, I would suggest you purchase some curly parsley and Dill, as well as the fennel they are eating now. Whole Foods does not spray their organic produce, and I have had no problems with mine eating it. Mine have gotten so fat and healthy. Mine have been eating all three and they like a variety, and these are the host plants for BST. Good luck and keep us posted. Betty
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wombat
21 years ago
Thank you, sebd, for the timing advice. I have an absolutely beautiful camellia - formal, with a little star in the centre, almost white in the middle and deepening to mid pinks towards the outside - that a friend wants. But the label blew away (the advantages of living in a windy area!!) and can't remember the name of it. I'll try around Christmas.
sebd
21 years ago
Wombat
The next time you are near a bookshop look for the book "What camellia is that?" I think it is by Stirling Macaboy. Could your camellia be "Sawada's Dream" or "Desire"? Both of these are described as formal doubles. Good luck.
wombat
21 years ago
I know it's not Sawada's Dream - that is on my wish list to buy if I'm still alive when the drought finally breaks.

I don't know if it's a good idea to look at a whole book of camellias (I'd probably need a wheelbarrow for the wish list) but I can try.
sebd
21 years ago
Wombat I'm sure you would survive. Just hold back from the wheelbarrow until you see the shape of the overall camellia bush. You just take a select wish list to your best nursery and check out the growth habit first. Take "Elegans Champayne" for instance. It is a lovely flower but the bush is so straggly it looks a sheer disaster. I have not explored the camellia internet sites for images but I guess they are there somewhere. (Last night I got trapped looking at the American Rhododendrum Society site.) I hope the drought breaks soon for you.

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