How to Cultivate Red Camellia
Regarding the cultivation of red camellia and the maintenance tips for this plant, let's delve into the related greenery content together.
Red camellia, commonly referred to in the market as rhododendron camellia, is a woody ornamental flowering plant of the camellia family. It overcomes the shortcomings of traditional camellias, such as short blooming periods and heat intolerance during summer, leading to no flowers. This type of red camellia is highly adaptable, heat and sun-resistant, and can bloom throughout the year, making it highly ornamental and popular among plant enthusiasts. So, how to care for red camellia? Mainly master the following four management points and two taboos:
1. Light Management
Red camellia loves light and belongs to the evergreen shrub category. It is generally planted in outdoor environments with ample sunlight. For potted plants, they can also be placed in a sunny balcony. Red camellia has a certain tolerance for shade, but insufficient light for an extended period can affect its flowering quantity and easily cause excessive growth.
2. Temperature Management
Red camellia has better heat tolerance compared to traditional camellias. It can bloom even in high summer temperatures of 36°C, but when the temperature exceeds 38°C, it is advisable to provide some shade. Red camellia can be planted outdoors in most southern regions, and when the temperature drops below 4°C, it is important to keep it warm and protected from the cold.
3. Water Management
Red camellia does not require much water and has a certain drought tolerance. However, during the high summer temperatures, water demand is higher. Outdoor plants need to be watered at least once a day. In spring and autumn, watering once every 2-3 days is usually sufficient, and in winter, once every 5 days is enough. The watering frequency can be determined based on weather conditions and the dryness or wetness of the potting soil.
4. Fertilization Management
Red camellia has a long flowering period and requires a lot of fertilizer during the growth peak. It can be top-dressed with a cake fertilizer once a month, or a small amount of slow-release fertilizer can be applied around the potting soil. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can be applied before flowering, but fertilization should not be excessive, with a focus on light fertilization.
In addition to mastering the above four management points, it is important to pay attention to two maintenance taboos:
1. Avoid Direct Sun Exposure
When the temperature reaches 38°C in summer, avoid direct sun exposure for red camellia. Otherwise, the intense sunlight can easily burn the leaves. Apart from the high summer temperatures, the plant can enjoy plenty of sunlight in other seasons.
2. Avoid Heavy Pruning
Pruning is essential in the care of red camellia. Dry, weak, diseased, or dense branches can be pruned, but shaping pruning should not be too heavy, as it may affect the normal growth of the plant.
The above is a detailed explanation of how to cultivate red camellia and some maintenance tips, for your reference and suggestions!