What Causes the Defoliation of Potted Camellia
As one of the top ten famous traditional Chinese flowers, potted camellias are deeply loved by horticulture enthusiasts for their graceful blooms. However, during the maintenance process, issues like defoliation and blooming management often confuse新手 gardeners. This article will systematically analyze the causes of abnormal leaf shedding from a scientific maintenance perspective and provide a detailed interpretation of the laws of bud differentiation.
Detailed Analysis of the Three Main Causes of Camellia Defoliation
1. Root积水 leading to physiological defoliation
Camellias have fleshy roots, and积水 for more than 24 hours can cause irreversible damage. It is recommended to water thoroughly every 5-7 days in spring and autumn, reduce to every 3 days during the high-temperature summer, and extend to every 10-15 days in winter. The bamboo stake method can be used to determine this: insert a bamboo stake into 2/3 of the potting soil and check the moisture level after 10 minutes.
2. (T-J) Disease causing pathological defoliation
This disease has an incidence rate of up to 78% during the plum rain season, initially manifesting as brown spots on the leaf edges and later developing into concentric ring-like lesions. It is recommended to spray 25% prochloraz emulsion 1000 times solution at the initial stage of the disease and remove the diseased leaves to effectively control the spread of the condition.
3. Poor air circulation leading to metabolic abnormalities
Indoor maintenance requires ensuring ventilation for more than 4 hours a day. When the concentration of carbon dioxide exceeds 2000ppm in a closed environment, the efficiency of photosynthesis decreases by over 40%. It is recommended to set up a circulating fan to maintain air circulation, but avoid strong wind blowing directly on the plants during the blooming period.
Camellia Blooming Period Adjustment Techniques
Most varieties naturally bloom from November to the following March. By adjusting the temperature, it is possible to achieve year-round blooming. Key maintenance points include: maintaining a day-night temperature difference of 8-10℃ during the bud differentiation period from June to August, applying more phosphorus-potassium fertilizer during the bud formation period in September, and maintaining a temperature of 10-15℃ during the winter blooming period to extend the blooming period by about 20 days. The classic variety 'Eighteen Scholars' requires 120 days of low-temperature vernalization to bloom normally.
Mastering the correct maintenance methods can keep camellias evergreen throughout the year. It is recommended to regularly use a ferrous sulfate solution with a pH of 5.5-6.5 to adjust the soil pH, and using decomposed sheep manure organic fertilizer can increase the plant's resistance by over 30%. Remember: preventive maintenance is far better than remedial measures after a problem occurs.