A Complete Guide to Practical Camellia Winter Care Techniques

Many camellia growers do not know how to care for camellias in winter. Camellias have a certain cold resistance; camellias planted in the ground in the difficult Yangtze River region can overwinter successfully, and as long as the roots are not damaged by freezing, growth in the second year is generally unaffected.

When the temperature drops to 0 degrees Celsius, potted camellias should be moved indoors to a sunny spot or into a sun-facing plastic shed for care. If the temperature inside the shed reaches above 25 C in the afternoon, it should be ventilated to cool it down; especially when affected by warm air currents and the weather is abnormal, cooling and ventilation are even more necessary in the afternoon, otherwise leaves and buds will drop, and some diseased plants may even be suffocated to death.

In winter, camellias should still be watered only when dry, and watered thoroughly when watered, but treatment should be differentiated. The water temperature should be the same as or slightly higher than the air temperature; if the water temperature is more than 5 degrees Celsius below the air temperature, it may cause camellias to catch a "cold." In winter, camellias are only in semi-dormancy; leaf buds and flower buds are still growing, and some varieties can even bloom proudly in frost and snow. Therefore, camellias in plastic sheds should still be fertilized, so the plants accumulate more nutrients to benefit flowering and vegetative growth after spring begins.

For varieties such as Yilanjiao, if winter fertilizer is sufficient, the flower color will be brilliant, the flowering period long, and the plant able to resist wind and rain and endure jolting. Without winter fertilization, buds and flowers are prone to drop in spring. However, the fertilizer concentration must not be too high; mainly use phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, and you may also add 1/500 monopotassium phosphate to diluted organic fertilizer liquid, applying about once a month.

When potted camellias overwintering indoors bloom (early-flowering varieties begin blooming at the end of November, and ordinary varieties bloom from February to April), do not place them in a spot with too strong light or too high a temperature, otherwise the flowers will fade early. Removing excess buds can promote larger flowers and more brilliant color, and can extend the flowering period. When watering, do not spray water on the flowers, otherwise the flowers will rot and the flowering period will be shortened. After the flowers fade, promptly remove the spent flowers.

Camellia Winter Care (Practical)

Winter Flower-Growing Tips, Told by an Expert Grower

This year's cold wave has come fiercely, and many places across the country have already seen snowy weather. How can you ensure the plants at home overwinter safely?

Place Indoors Near Sunlight

In the cold winter, we can stay in air-conditioned rooms enjoying spring-like warmth, while plants have habits like people but are much more fragile in vitality; they need a warm space even more to resist the severe cold outdoors.

In Terms of Timing, flower growers must always pay attention to the weather forecast and move cold-sensitive flower pots indoors before the first frost. Apart from plants with relatively strong cold resistance such as fruit trees, boxwood, camellias, and nandina, most ornamental plants are not cold-resistant and must be brought indoors in winter.

In terms of placement, enclosed balconies and glass sheds are most beneficial for flower pots overwintering. If conditions permit, it is best to place the flower pots in a glass shed; the all-glass space, while protecting plants from the severe cold and wind and rain outdoors, can also ensure they enjoy normal light. If there is no enclosed balcony at home, then the flower pots should still be moved indoors. But some plants are toxic; apart from air-purifying plants such as spider plants, pothos, and cactus, other flowers are best not placed in the bedroom, and placing them in the living room is most suitable.

In addition, in terms of light, whether on an enclosed balcony or indoors, flower pots should be placed near glass doors and windows where they can receive sunlight. Note that when placing them, they should be kept at a certain distance from the surrounding glass.The temperature of glass is very low; even if just a single branch or leaf touches it, if you are not careful, it may cause frost damage to the plants.

Use Cloth Covers for Warmth, Avoid Ventilation

The degree of cold each winter is hard to predict. Last year the lowest temperature reached minus eight degrees, and this year, affected by the cold wave, the winter temperature may also hit a new low, which means more ample cold-proof preparations must be made.

If the temperature remains above zero, placing flower pots indoors is basically no problem, but if the temperature drops below zero, especially below minus four or five degrees, more rigorous warmth measures need to be taken for the plants.

Putting plants in air conditioning can be a warming method, but in practical terms, the most practical method that can also achieve a warming effect is to cover the flower pots with plastic sheeting. There are two ways to cover flower pots with plastic sheeting: one is to cover with plastic sheeting and then use rope to slightly wrap the bottom, leaving gaps without tying tightly; the other is to tie it tightly with rope and then poke a few holes in the plastic sheeting, thereby preventing the plants inside the cover from developing rotten leaves due to excessively high temperature.

Temperature is the most important factor in ensuring plants overwinter safely. Even if plastic sheeting is used to cover the flower pots, the doors and windows must not be opened; once ventilated, the plants are very likely to freeze. You cannot use the summer mindset of needing ventilation to care for winter plants.

Water Sparingly, Do Not Fertilize

In winter, plants enter a semi-dormant or dormant state, and metabolism slows or stops accordingly.

For plants placed indoors, watering must not be too frequent; too much water will cause the roots of the plants to rot due to lack of oxygen, so water appropriately according to the degree of soil dryness. Generally, you can use your eyes to observe whether the soil color has turned white, or use your fingers to touch and feel whether the soil is dry, to judge whether watering is needed. For ordinary plants, in summer you might water once a day, while in winter only once a week is needed; and for plants such as cacti and cactus balls that do not need much water, depending on the degree of dryness, they may need watering only once a month, and just dripping a few drops around them is completely enough.

Apart from fruit trees such as grapevines and peach trees that need ample nutrients, plants must not be fertilized in winter. Because the fertilizer cannot be flushed away, and the flowers stop metabolism and do not need fertilizer, fertilizing in winter will burn the plants to death, achieving the opposite of what is desired.

Pay More Attention to Newly Bought Plants

In winter there are relatively few local flower varieties, and more varieties from other places, especially the plants on the market; most are varieties shipped from tropical regions for sale. Many flower sellers, in pursuit of profit, will use a few little tricks. "When choosing flower pots, choose ones with firm, solid soil, because this means the roots of this plant have already grown very maturely. If you choose soft, loose soil, you cannot be sure whether the roots inside are new or old; if what you buy has new roots, then the survival rate will also be lower."

After bringing newly bought flower pots home, you must not be careless either; after all, they are bought flower pots, so it is best to be extra mindful. Some sellers on the market, in order to reduce the amount of soil used and lower costs, will tie up the plant's roots with straw. If you do not check and let the roots remain bound for a long time, the plant cannot grow normally, and this is also one reason many people find it difficult to keep plants alive after buying them. Careful growers will repot the bought flower pots and turn over the soil; if they find straw binding the roots, they promptly remove it, then cover the hole at the bottom with a piece of tile. Doing so first prevents soil from falling out through the hole, and second prevents the water poured in from being unable to flow out and causing the plant's roots to rot.

Suggestions:When adding new flower pots in winter, it is best to choose plants that combine ornamental value and cold resistance, such as plum blossom, camellia, spider plant, boxwood, and pothos.