Can Camellias Be Propagated by Cuttings? Grafting Methods and Timing

Camellias are surely no stranger to many people; we can see them in the market in everyday life. Camellias have very high ornamental value, with many petals, commonly in colors such as pink, red, and white. They are very popular with consumers, which attracts many people to grow them. However, most people do not know much about camellia grafting and cutting methods.

Can Camellias Be Propagated by Cuttings?

Camellias can be propagated by cuttings. The main methods are as follows:

1. For camellia cutting propagation, mid-June and around the end of August are the most suitable. Choose current-year semi-ripened branches from the outer part of the canopy that are firm in tissue, with intact leaves and plump leaf buds, as cuttings, 8-10 cm long, keeping 2 leaves at the tip.

2. When cutting, keep a little old branch at the base if possible; after insertion, callus tissue forms easily and roots develop quickly. Cut the cuttings in the early morning and insert them immediately after cutting, about 3 cm into the medium. During insertion, the leaves should overlap each other, and after insertion press firmly with your fingers.

3. Shallow insertion is better, as it allows airflow and speeds up healing and rooting. The cutting bed needs shading; mist the leaf surface daily to keep it moist, and maintain the temperature at 20-25°C. About 3 weeks after insertion, healing begins, and roots form after 6 weeks.

4. When the roots are 3-4 cm long, transplant into pots. During cutting, dip the base of the cuttings in a 0.4%-0.5% indolebutyric acid solution for 2-5 seconds, which has a clear effect of promoting rooting.

How to Graft Camellias (and When)

1. To improve the grafting survival rate, grafting must be done during the period when the rootstock is vigorously absorbing water and nutrients, generally from May to September. According to experiments, June to July is the best grafting time. At this time the temperature is suitable, the current-year camellia scion has already lignified, and the transplanted rootstock seedlings have survived, so the grafting survival rate can reach over 90%.

2. Softwood grafting method: This refers to grafting semi-lignified scion branches onto new branches of a non-semi-lignified rootstock, generally using the cleft grafting method. After grafting, cover the scion and graft union with 2 layers of plastic bags, then put a kraft paper bag over the outside to block strong light. After survival, gradually remove the paper bag and plastic bags. In this grafting method, because both the rootstock and scion are young branches, the cambium is thick, healing is fast, and the survival rate is high. It is the main method for camellia grafting propagation or for cultivating a single camellia tree with multiple varieties.

Management After Camellia Grafting

1. Loosening the binding: When axillary buds grow from the scion, the sealed wrapping film can be untied. After about another 20d, cut the tightly tied binding tape so that it can grow and develop normally.

2. Removing sprouts: On high-rootstock grafts, the rootstock produces many sprouting branches and they grow quickly, so they must be removed promptly; otherwise they will affect the growth of the scion, causing slow plant growth in mild cases and yellowing and withering of the plant in severe cases. Remove sprouts until the scion's growth becomes dominant.

3. Shaping: After the graft survives, it should be properly shaped. According to the needs of the camellia's tree form and branch positions, use rope to tie and shape it in the desired direction.

How to Control Camellia Pests

1. Scale insects. Control method: mainly manual removal. If the affected area is large and the number of insects is high, use 25% phosmet plus 600 times water solution, spray once every 1-2 weeks, and after 3-4 consecutive sprays the scale insects can be killed.

2. Tea tussock moth. Control method: During the overwintering period, carefully search for and remove its egg masses. When the larvae gather, pick off the infested leaves and crush them. During the larval stage, spray with 90% trichlorfon 1000 times solution; or 50% fenitrothion emulsifiable concentrate 1000 times solution; or 50% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate 3000 times solution; all have good effects.

3. Tea bagworm. Control method: In the cold winter season, for already damaged leaves or branches, prune and cut them off. If the affected area is not large, manually capture and kill the larvae. During the larval damage period, spray with 90% trichlorfon technical material 1000 times solution; or 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate 1000 times solution for control, with very good effects.

Camellias can not only be propagated by cuttings; their growth after cutting is also very good. In addition, camellias can also be propagated by grafting, and when grafting, an appropriate time must be chosen. Care after cutting and grafting is also very important, and pest control must be done properly.