Is it good feng shui to grow camellias at home? Care, pruning, watering frequency, potting and repotting methods

Camellia is also known as the camellia flower; its flowering period is fairly long, blooming from October to May of the following year, with the peak bloom usually from January to March, and it is widely grown in many places.So is it good feng shui to grow camellias at home? How do you care for and prune them? How often should you water? What are the methods for potting and repotting camellias?According to Mr. Hu, a folk-custom research expert, the camellia carries the meaning of great wealth and high status, and is very suitable for placing in the home.

How do you care for and prune camellias?

Care:

1. Camellias are actually very easy to keep alive. After buying one and bringing it home, just place it in an environment with good ventilation, ample light or bright indirect light, and a certain amount of air humidity; it can be placed on a balcony, in the living room, and other such places.

2. One thing to note is not to move the camellia's pot easily. Frequently changing the camellia's position or turning its direction can easily cause leaf drop and bud drop, and in severe cases can even lead to the death of the plant.

3. When fertilizing camellias, be sure to apply light fertilizer frequently. Generally, for a 30 cm flower pot, apply about 20 grams of compound fertilizer at a time; if using cake fertilizer, about 80 grams can be applied. For camellias in the bud stage, an appropriate amount of monopotassium phosphate can be sprayed to promote the opening of the flower buds.

4. Too many flower buds can easily lead to insufficient nutrients for the plant, thereby affecting flowering and even causing bud drop. Under normal circumstances, all axillary flower buds and flower buds shaded by branches and leaves should be removed, leaving only the flower buds at the top of the camellia. In this way, the plant has enough nutrients to supply the opening of the flower buds, which is conducive to large flowers and vivid colors.

Pruning:

1. There are many pruning methods for camellias, and pruning needs to be done according to different varieties. For varieties such as Hongluzhen and Dongfangliang, because they grow relatively fast and their plants usually grow fairly upright, we need to start pruning from their upper end, cutting off about one third of the plant's height, and also cut off entirely some of the branches in the middle that easily block light. Branches that grow faster should have a somewhat larger portion cut off, while those that grow more slowly can have less cut off or not be cut at all.

2. After pruning, camellias should also have their leaves picked accordingly, as this helps them grow better. After our careful pruning, the camellia grows more rapidly in the second year, and the shape it grows into is very attractive.

3. There are also some camellia varieties that grow relatively slowly but have fairly good shapes, such as Sai Mudan and Yuanyang Fengkou; these are all relatively beautiful camellia varieties. In this case, we only need to prune the branches that grow relatively fast, so that it looks comfortable, and keep the branches at a consistent length. During the growth period, also note that diseased branches must be cut off in time. To ensure good growth order, you can remove the terminal buds of unpruned branches so that they branch out in all directions, increasing their ornamental value. There is also a five-colored camellia, whose branches are soft and whose crown is large; in this case, pruning only requires cutting off the side branches below the main trunk's branching point, and then appropriately pruning the crown until it looks beautiful.

How often should camellias be watered?

1. Camellias require alternating dry and moist conditions. Watering is generally done by watering thoroughly once the soil has dried out. When the soil surface has dried through, the leaves droop slightly, and the sound when tapping the flower pot is relatively crisp, it means it has dried through, and this is a good time to water.

2. In spring, as the temperature gradually rises, you can water a bit more, but note that it is enough to keep the potting soil in a moist state; in summer, as the temperature gradually rises, in addition to daily watering, you also need to frequently spray water on the camellia plant. However, in summer there can also be rainy weather, and some areas even have plum rain, so in summer, in addition to paying attention to spraying water to raise air humidity and lower temperature, you also need to drain water during rainy weather to avoid root rot; in autumn, the weather is relatively dry, and watering is the same as in summer, and you need to pay attention to spraying water. Starting in late September, the number of waterings should be increased, which can promote the growth of the camellia; in winter, watering should be appropriately reduced, and the soil should be kept on the dry side. Before cold weather arrives, the soil can be kept moist. In addition, during the flowering period, be careful to keep the soil moist, and it is best not to let it dry through.

Basically, water more in spring, summer, autumn, and during flowering, and control water in winter.

3. When watering camellias, the watering time generally varies according to the season. In spring and autumn, apart from the morning and noon when it is not suitable to water, water can be given at other times. In summer, it is not suitable to water at noon; it should be done in the morning and evening. In winter, watering is generally done at noon when the temperature is high; do not water in the morning and evening, and when watering, pay attention to the water temperature, which should not be too low.

Appendix: Methods for potting and repotting camellias

1. Choice of soil

According to the growth characteristics of camellias, it is best to choose slightly acidic, fertile, loose, and well-drained mountain soil as the potting soil. Good drainage is very important, and calcareous soil must not be used. In addition, if clay is used, the plant will also grow poorly, and using alkaline soil will cause the leaves to turn yellow and wither.

2. Choice of pot

The most suitable pot for potted camellias is an earthenware clay pot, because its drainage and breathability are both relatively good. The size should be moderate. Generally, for a two- to three-year-old small seedling, the flower pot diameter is about 13~17 cm; for a four- to five-year-old plant 60 cm tall, a pot with a diameter of 20~24 cm is suitable; for a seven- to eight-year-old plant 80 cm tall, a flower pot with a diameter of about 33 cm is needed.

3. Potting time

The potting time is November in winter and early spring from February to March. This is because at this time the flower buds are at their plumpest and the flowers are in full bloom, making it very suitable for potting. If you want to repot when the flowers have faded and new roots are sprouting, then you must take special care not to damage the plant's root system.

Generally, potting is stopped around the budding period, because this is when new shoots are about to sprout and leaves are unfolding, a time when a large amount of water is needed. If potting is done at this time, the new roots are easily damaged, which will affect growth and development. High temperatures and the harsh winter season can easily cause the plant to die, so potting is also taboo then.

4. Potting method

Place 3~4 pieces of broken tile over the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot, and put in a layer of coarse-grained growing medium or some sun-dried chicken and duck manure and other base fertilizer. Plant the plant in, then add mountain soil until the pot is 80 percent full. After the potting soil is roughly level with the plant's root crown, firm the soil with your fingers. Water thoroughly; the first watering after potting must be sufficient. Water until water comes out of the bottom of the pot. Finally, place the plant in a shaded spot, and after about 10 days it can be exposed to sunlight.

Camellias are repotted about once every two years, and larger ones can be repotted once every 3~5 years. When repotting, you can use a bamboo stick to loosen the soil around the inner walls of the flower pot, then lift the plant out with the entire root ball. Cut off the poor, blackened roots. Then plant it in the pot and add mountain soil. The rest is basically the same as potting.