When Do Camellias Bloom? A Detailed Guide to Fertilization Techniques

Growing flowers seems to have become part of daily life for urban households nowadays. Not only can it beautify the environment, but it can also cultivate one's character, killing two birds with one stone. Camellias are a great choice. So do you know when camellias bloom and what fertilization techniques are involved?

When do camellias bloom?

Camellias generally bloom from January to April. The flowers are mostly red or light red, with some white, and are mostly double-petaled. They are native to China. At present, wild species can be found in Sichuan, Taiwan, China, Shandong, Jiangxi and other places in our country, and they are widely cultivated in various regions. Common propagation methods include cuttings, grafting, layering, sowing and tissue culture. Cuttings are usually the main method.

What fertilization techniques are there for camellias?

Camellias are plants that like fertilizer, so during cultivation, remember to fertilize. When fertilizing camellias, be careful to apply it moderately. Do not apply too much, and even more importantly, do not apply concentrated fertilizer. Otherwise, not only will the flowers fail to grow well, but the root system will also be damaged. Therefore, when fertilizing camellias, be sure to pay attention to the following points.

1. Base fertilizer

For the base fertilizer of camellias, it is best to use organic fertilizer, such as fermented chicken and duck manure and animal organs, as well as soybean cake and fish bone meal. These organic fertilizers contain nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other components. They are relatively complete and have long-lasting fertilizer effects. When applying, you can dry them in the sun, crush them into powder, first mix them with 5-6 times the amount of dry soil, and then when repotting and filling the pot with soil, scatter it 2-3 cm away from the plant's roots.

2. Topdressing

Camellias prefer cool-natured fertilizer and avoid hot fertilizer, so when topdressing after the beginning of spring, alum fertilizer water must be applied (alum fertilizer water can keep the potting soil acidic). To make alum fertilizer water, add 100 g of green vitriol (that is, ferrous sulfate) to 10 kg of clean water, then add 200 g of soybean cake powder and 1000 g of dry poultry manure and soak to ferment. In hot weather, soak for 1 month; in cool weather, soak for 3-4 months until fully decomposed. When watering, add 10-20 times the amount of clean water according to its concentration before use. Usually, topdressing is generally done once every 10-15 days. You can also alternately water with alum fertilizer water and decomposed liquid fertilizer (that is, the liquid after soaking and decomposing soybean cake, poultry manure, etc.), which can not only satisfy the nutrients needed for the growth and development of camellias, but also keep the soil acidic for a long time.

3. Others

After blooming from March to May, 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate and 0.2% urea can be used for several foliar feedings, once a week, sprayed 3 times in a row, which can make the spring shoots thick and strong; stop fertilizing in June when the buds differentiate into flowers, and apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer once more after August; after the Beginning of Autumn, both watering and fertilizing should be gradually reduced, only watering once every 10 days or so with 0.2% ferrous sulfate; every 5-6 days, spray and wash the leaf surface once with slightly warm clean water close to room temperature. In early January, after moving the flower pot indoors, apply alum fertilizer water once and 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution once, and do not fertilize afterward.

If you want camellias to bloom well, in addition to mastering the above fertilization techniques, you should also pay attention to daily management such as watering and pruning.