Those things about the camellia's vernalization
A comprehensive introduction to the common knowledge of flowering plant care, focusing on camellias and their vernalization. Let's learn about it together. Many flower enthusiasts don't fully understand the issue of camellia vernalization. Vernalization refers to the process where flower buds need to go through a period of low temperature or short-daylight to bloom; otherwise, the flower buds cannot fully develop and mature. This is why many camellias do not bloom large or the flower buds fall off before they can be seen, mainly due to insufficient vernalization transition.
The vernalization temperature and duration of camellias vary by variety, generally requiring a low temperature of -3°C to 5°C for 10-20 days or more. Early-flowering varieties require a shorter vernalization period and can tolerate higher temperatures, while late-flowering varieties need a longer vernalization period and lower temperatures. If you purchase camellias between September and November and immediately place them in a high-temperature greenhouse, it will prevent the vernalization process, causing the flower buds to stop developing or leading to bud drop.
Therefore, when buying camellias, do not rush to increase the temperature. Make sure the camellias fully undergo vernalization in their local environment, experiencing a period of low temperature (gradually reducing the temperature) maintaining a minimum temperature of 0-2°C and a maximum temperature of 5-7°C for over 20 days. Then gradually increase the temperature to a minimum of 8-10°C and a maximum of 15-25°C to ensure smooth blooming. Many families place camellias indoors for the winter, which can lead to insufficient vernalization due to high indoor temperatures, severe lack of sunlight causing nutritional depletion, and very low humidity, leading to flower and bud drop. Preventive measures include ensuring the vernalization process through low temperatures, placing them in a location with direct sunlight indoors, and covering the pot with plastic film to increase humidity until blooming.
This can be simply understood as camellias needing a process of gradual cooling and gradual warming, while maintaining proper humidity and sunlight.
Insufficient vernalization transition can easily cause the flower buds to swell and then fall off. Most camellia varieties need to go through a vernalization period before blooming (except for flower peonies and some japonicas). Therefore, it's best to buy early-flowering varieties in the north, which have lower vernalization requirements. They should be exposed to sunlight from the south during winter. If the room temperature is high, with no temperature difference between day and night and no sunlight during the day, camellias can indeed become weakened, bloom poorly, drop buds, or even die.
The above is the complete content about the things of camellia vernalization. Green plant enthusiasts might find it useful for reference.