How to Propagate Camellias? A Detailed Introduction to Common Propagation Methods

Camellia propagation can be done by sowing, cuttings, approach grafting, leaf cuttings, air layering, and tree grafting. Simply choose the appropriate propagation method according to the camellia variety and the local ambient temperature.

Camellia Propagation Methods

1. Cuttings

Select well-grown, semi-lignified branches, remove the leaves at the base, keep the upper 3 leaves, cut a slanted opening with a sharp knife, immediately dip the cut end into 200-500 ppm indolebutyric acid for 5-15 minutes, dry in the sun, then insert into a sand pot or vermiculite pot. After insertion, water and the wound will heal in about 40 days, and roots will form in about 60 days.

2. Approach Grafting

Approach grafting is generally carried out between Qingming Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival. First plant the rootstock in a flower pot, use a knife to shave off about half at the parts to be joined, the cuts should be smooth, then press the cut surfaces of both parties tightly together, wrap with plastic film, water the rootstock twice a day, and they will heal after 60 days.

3. Leaf Cuttings

Use mountain soil as the cutting medium, can mix in 1/3 river sand to facilitate aeration and drainage, put the medium in a clay pot, then carry out pot cutting. Leaf cuttings are best done in the rainy season, take one-year-old leaves as leaf cutting material; too old makes rooting difficult, too tender makes rot easy. Insert about 2 cm into the soil, press the soil firmly after insertion, water thoroughly, then place in a cool and ventilated place.

4. Air Layering

This method has a high survival rate, quick rejuvenation, and early flowering. The method is: on the weak branches that need to be pruned off, carry out ring barking at an appropriate position, the ring bark length can be between 5-8 mm, tie an appropriately sized plastic film, add sterilized and disinfected peat soil or leaf mold into the film, after 7-10 days, carry out another ring bark of 5-8 mm at the lower part of the plastic film; this is called the double ring barking air layering method.

5. Tree Grafting

Grafting propagation of camellias has many advantages: it can maintain the excellent traits of the variety; it can accelerate plant growth, enable it to take shape quickly, and allow large-scale production; it saves scion wood, especially for rare varieties with few scion sources, which is particularly important; tea-oil tree grafting camellia technique: the grafting time is preferably between June and July, at this time the new shoot leaves of the camellia scion have already unfolded, and the temperature is relatively high, so the grafting wound heals quickly and the survival rate is high.