I'm looking to trade for or some how obtain cuttings or seeds for most any camellia. I have none and have seen them around and adore them.
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Donna
CLOSED: Camellia
I can send you some cuttings Donna, I have one big enough to cut on, it's a japanese named variety but I forget the name, will have to look in the morning.
Dmail me ok.
How about a whole plant? I noticed yesterday that we have a baby about 3-4 feet tall. I'll go take a picture of the camellia that it is growing next to.
Here's a picture. The blooms usually have white stripes when they first start to bloom.
Donna, Camelias are very hard to root .. I've been trying for 2 years .. this year I'm trying air layering.
X
Thanks X... yeah, that seems to be the general info I am getting about them. :(
Donna
Hey X, you might find this interesting. When I went to dig up the Camellia it was growing out of a root from the parent Camellia. It was a good 10 feet away from it so I figured it self rooted, I was so wrong. I investigated a few other babies that grow near my big ones and the same thing was happening. Any ideas on why or how that happens? I'm going to try a few ways of getting camellias to root this spring (I have plenty of material to work with).
I severed the root that was leaving the baby so it is still connected to the mama plant. I'm going to wait awhile and see if it might form its own roots that way.
Donna, I have a reddish/pink one that you're welcome to if someone would just tell me how and where to take the cutting. It's blooming now and here's a photo. ( al little blurry but you can see the color. That's an older bloom so the edges are a little brown.)
Everything I've read says to cut new growth, which happens after flowering. So in a another month would be the best time to take cuttings from japonicas. The new growth is a lighter colored green and the stem is still green.
That said, I've never actually met someone who has rooted a camellia. So this may all just be urban legends ;)
Well if Donna doesn't mind waiting and trying it this way, I would be glad to share some with her. Thanks pie for that advice.
I rooted my camelia one year in what most would probably call an unconventional way.
I cut blooming stems (maybe 12 inches long) off of several and gave them to my wife to put in vases in the Spring. I kept the water clean. On a whim, when the flowers fell off, I put them on a window sill and kept changing the water (with some aquarium water I had.)
It probably took 45 days or so, but they rooted in the water. I subsequently put them in pots and two of the four took and were planted the following spring with 'decent' rootballs. They both are alive today, about 3 feet tall.
I've never grown Camellias, much less tried to root them. But what I do for things such as hibiscus, boxwoods, azaleas and other shrub types is take cuttings from the tender new growth. I make about 12" cuttings or less. I find it more difficult to root larger cuttings and hard woody cuttings. I make the cut at an angle, trim all but the top most 4 or 5 leaves. I dip the cutting into rooting hormone and place into a small pot.... like a starter pot. The key here is to have the nubs where you cut the leaves from covered in as much rooting hormone and in the dirt as much as possible. I cover with a baggy. I check it occasionally to make sure any dropped leaves are removed. I leave it for at least a month... some take longer. A gentle tug on the stem can tell you if it is taking root. Once rooting has begun, I gradually bring it out of the baggy, exposing it to the air and elements more each day. Of course it's worthy to note to keep them in the shade while rooting. I've even rooted hybrid tea rose cuttings this way, but they have slightly different needs.
This is just how I have and do root most all of my cuttings. I have no idea if it would work with a Camellia. But truly, it is not worth the time and trouble you good folks would have to go through for one when I can get one from a local nursery here.
My father has a couple, he lives 3 hours away. I know he layers them. I don't know how well that works. I don't get up to see him much, so that's kinda out of the question.
I'm actually reconsidering the entire Camellia idea. Yes, they are beautiful. But I do have a limited amount of space and a lot already to fit into the spaces. I'm a seed nut and a lily nut as well.
Donna
If you change your mind Donna, I'll have this one here ready to cut.
I am new to DG and have been looking for a Camellia forum but couldn't find one; I did a search and came upon this discussion! I was lucky enough last fall to have a 3 hour consulation (courtesy of my lovely mil and sil) with a local gardener. He recommended that I put in Camellias. As a transplanted Northerner (living in beautiful Virginia for the past 25 years) I hadn't ever seen a Camellia until I came to live here. I think of them as a little bit magical. I had never seen them before and am in awe of them! Long story short, I have a lot of land and limited garden budget, so would *love* to have cuttings or roots from any Camellias. I would, of course, be happy to pay postage. I have better than average luck with cuttings and seedlings, so would love to try. I would also just like some good old fashioned advice. Also, is there a Camellia forum I should be looking at? Many thanks in advance. I've found the folks on DG to be amazingly generous with time and plants and I look forward to the time when I can properly reciprocate. villaluna
Hi Everyone!!! I went to a seminar last night held by Michael Polazola, he is 18 years old and has been a Camellia judge since he was 16. I thought you might interested in some of what he shared with us.
He said that you can root the camellia in the sand. Cover it with a 20 oz styrofoam cup and don't peek for over a month. BUT he said it will take years for it to get 2' high. They grow so slow and are very hard to get to take. Because of this is the reason for grafting!!! They graft the camellia onto root stock from the sasaquat(sp) and then the plant grows a lot faster and is easier to establish.
Hope this info helps!!!
villaluna, since the camellia is a southern plant, the mid-south forum may be your best bet for camellia discussion. In the propagation forum there is a current discussion about rooting camellias.
Jeri, I find the grafting stuff pretty interesting. I need to read up on it and how plants respond to grafting as they age. I have some younger camellias (around 20 yrs old) that have either changed color over the years, or bloom at strange times. I have a japonica that blooms between when the sasquana and japonicas bloom. And then two japonicas that were white with light pink stripes at one time, but now are almost all white with an occasional showing of pink in the flowers. Has Polazola written anything on camellias?
Pie I don't know if he's written anything yet. He's still in high school!!!
He did tell us that the camellia color are effected by all sorts of things, amount of sunlight, soil pH, water pH, and even temperatures. The white streaks in some flowers are a virus.
His talk was very interesting and informative to me and I have lived with camellia all my life.
Jeri
My neighbor in back of me has a Camellia as large as like a crepe myrtle tree... small for a tree, but huge for a shrub. I've seen some pretty large ones in my area. So the grafting may be the reason why.
Donna
I have one almost as big as my house, and probably taller than some houses. A pic of it...
Wow... that is huge. See, I wouldn't want to let it get that big.
Donna
That is the only one I have that big. The ones along my house are all tall for hurricane protection. The thick branches catch flying debris. They do look really good cut back each year too, I have a couple of them that get trimmed. Much bushier and the birds love them for cover. I just can't say enough good things about camellias :)
I think I need to move to Louisiana. I had no clue they got that big.
No Marie, that's too far away!
Donna, I have a few camellias I can share with you.
I echo Jeri's suggestion, as my local nurseryman said to do new growth cuttings in sand and put a cold frame over them. But I'll also dip them first in growth hormone.
I'll try rooting them for you.
They'll include Morning Glo ( pure white), Sarah Bernhardt (red and white) and this here with all 3 colors on the same plant, Betty Scheffield.
~Jaye
Marie, you should see my giant Azaleas. They too are way too big!
Lol weegy. How about some pictures of those azaleas!
I need to invest in a chainsaw for this overgrown yard. Excuse the dog who thinks I own a camera only for the purpose of taking pictures of her.
Oh my she is so precious!!! Our boxer passed away more than a year ago and I miss her so much!! You did buy the camera for taking pictures of her exclusively. The plants are just lucky to get into the picture :o)
I had no idea at all that an Azalea could be that big!!!
With regard to the remark about slow growing, I can tell you that I rooted cuttings in 2004 (planted in spring 2005) that are currently a little over 3 feet tall at this very second. No grafting or anything.
They are certainly no weed, but I expect these to be a nice 5' plant in the next three years or so, with about equal width.
Congratulations Jajtiii. Care to share with us your method?
It is certainly not very scientific. Put a bunch of blooming stems (I'm guessing 10 inches long or so) in a vase. The blooms fell off and I noticed them before my wife threw them out (the leaves still looked healthy). I started changing the water about twice a month (with water from a fish aquarium I have - always seem to have good luck with that water). Kept them in a western facing window, so they got a little afternoon sun.
Maybe about two months later, I noticed roots (about an inch long) and dropped them in a pot with potting soil and put them in my rooting container (an old sand box for kids with one of those watering systems you get from Lowes that comes on every other day and mists the whole lot.)
Come late Fall, I turn off the sprinkling system on my rootings and fill the sand box with mulch (not sure if this helps, but it seems like it provides some insulation from the cold) around the pots.
Come the next Spring, I planted them (they definitely did not have the substantial rootballs of a rooted viburnum, hydrangea or euonymous, but it was about 5 inches wide) and really didn't do much after that. They are in a spot that gets great morning sun and then shade the rest of the day. I have not even fertilized them (cept for the old manure I put in every hole before I plant something.)
I can try your method now. Just have to get some liquid fish fertilizer.
Thanks!
~Jaye
Found this on the web. Only problem is, he suggested waiting till June! Too much of a long wait there for some fun!
http://www.camellia.gulfcoast-gardening.com/care/Camellia_cuttings_text.htm
Edited to add:
Villaluna! Welcome to DG. And yes, I'll try to root cuttings for you as well! How could I overlook your request!!! Sorry....my bad!!
~Jaye
This message was edited Feb 21, 2008 9:27 PM
Thank you pie, for suggesting the mid south forum; I will see what info they have on camellias.
And, heavenscape, thanks for your offer. I am going to buy some camellias and see what happens. Anything you can root will be great! I do, of course, have some offerings. My only problem is I'm not sure of the cultivars. I have iris, if you need them. Lots and lots of Iris. I have to figure out what type they are. I think siberian. Also, have lots of daylilies, peony, and other assorted goodies. Let me know if any of those tempt you. Take care, villaluna.
Why must you tempt me with peonies!! Sob! Sob!
I had seen them growing in Va...so lovely in groupings! Unfortunately they don't do well here, unless there are some cultivars that I don't know of!
Pie is right, you need to come on down to MidSouth, Villa. You'll find great people there too, like Jeri11 and I! Lol!
heavenscape.... I don't know about camellias, but I do know about peonies.
I live in Minnesota, and the peonies do just fine here. We have them grow through green chicken wire to keep them standing up after a storm. I've run them over with a lawn mower before, and they came back. My dogs pee on them every chance that they get, and the peonies don't even look worse for the wear. So there must be some version of peonies that can really take a beating!
It's our humidity and heat they can't take!!! I found some at Sam's and I'm gonna try again I'll let Yall know how it works!!!
Jeri
LobsterandI, I didn't listen to MIL that this climate is too hostile for peonies. The ones sold here are supposed to be for this area....wrong!! I kept trying tho', only to have MIL confirmed her belief that I have OCD!!
Jeri, good luck!!
I know Jaye but I sure would like to succeed!!! My grandmother lived next door and I remember her having peonies years ago when I was growing up. It was a bluish color flower but for over 30 years now I've tried them to no avail.
heavenscape, you may be able to "cheat" with peonies. Pick the most heat resistant one you can find and then you ice their feet for 6 weeks in the early spring. They think they've been thru winter and will bloom.