How much do camellia seeds cost? Price and planting method introduction
Camellia is the general term for many plants and horticultural varieties of the genus Camellia in the family Theaceae. Because of its graceful plant form, dark green and glossy leaves, and brilliantly colorful flowers, it is treasured by the world's horticultural circles, ranking eighth among the "Ten Famous Flowers," and is also one of the world's precious ornamental trees and flowers. Now let us take a look at camellia seed prices and planting methods!
How much do camellia seeds cost?
The price of camellia seeds is about 0.5 to 1 yuan per seed, but prices vary greatly among different varieties. There are extremely many camellia varieties, with flowers in varying degrees of red, purple, white, and yellow, and even variegated camellias, and the flowering branches can reach up to 4 m in height. It likes warm, humid environments and has a long flowering period, blooming from October to May of the following year, with the peak flowering period usually from January to March.
How are camellia seeds planted?
1. Seed collection: In autumn, camellias should be harvested immediately when the fruit slightly cracks, then placed indoors in a cool, ventilated place to dry, and the seeds taken out after the fruit naturally cracks. After collection, the seeds need to be sown immediately, or they can be treated by stratification in sand storage.
2. Seed treatment: Camellia seed coats are hard, and only after treatment can the seeds germinate quickly and uniformly.
① The seed coat can be nicked with a sharp knife.
② The seeds can be soaked for half an hour in warm water at 40-50°C, then soaked for 5-6 days in clean water at 20-25°C, and the seeds at the bottom layer taken for sowing.
③ The seeds can be soaked for a full day and night in a 100 micrograms/gram gibberellin solution.
3. Sowing method: When sowing camellia seeds, place the hilum facing sideways, cover with a layer of fine fertile soil, and cover with a layer of plastic film to keep the soil moist, so that the seeds sprout and emerge as early as possible.
4. Seedling management: After camellia seeds germinate and emerge from the soil, remove the film on cloudy days or in the evening. After one month, apply some organic fertilizer or chemical fertilizer each month, and loosen the soil in time, preferably shallow rather than deep.
Camellia planting methods
1. Soil: Camellias have quite high soil requirements. Generally, the soil should contain relatively high humus, with a pH between 5 and 6.5, slightly acidic. The best soil mix is 50% mountain soil, 40% sawdust or edible mushroom residue, and 10% cake fertilizer powder or livestock manure and phosphate fertilizer powder.
2. Light: Camellias avoid strong light, so when planting, be sure to pay attention to sunlight. In spring and autumn, sufficient light is required, but in summer, direct sunlight must be avoided. If exposed to strong light for too long, they can easily die.
3. Temperature: Camellias are neither cold-tolerant nor heat-tolerant. Their most suitable temperature is 18-25°C, so the ambient temperature must not be too high or too low, otherwise growth will be affected. In winter, the indoor temperature must be above 3°C; if it is below 0°C, they will suffer frost damage.
4. Watering: Camellias like humid environments. They cannot be too dry, too wet, or alternately dry and wet. In spring, they can be watered more; in summer, water twice a day, in the morning and evening; in autumn, do the same as in spring; in winter, it is best to water before and after the plant.
5. Fertilizing: Camellias relatively like fertilizer, but fertilizing should also be moderate and must not be excessive. Generally, fertilize about 3 times during the nearly half year after flowering, and once in winter is enough. To make the flowers more beautiful, it is best to include more phosphate fertilizer in the fertilizer.
6. Pruning: Pruning camellias is very important. Generally, branches that affect the tree shape and diseased or weak branches are cut off, and flower buds are also arranged. Once the flower buds are too dense, they should also be thinned out. After the flowers fade, they should also be picked off promptly to reduce nutrient consumption.
7. Repotting: Camellias generally need to be repotted once every two years, changing to a larger pot is beneficial for their growth. The best time for repotting is in April. Do not remove all the old soil, and add a small amount of base fertilizer, then water.
8. Pests and diseases: Camellias are very prone to illness. The common main ones are black mold disease and anthracnose. In this case, it is only necessary to spray 0.5-degree Bordeaux mixture. The main pest is the tea shoot moth; in this case, it is mainly enough to cut off the affected shoots.