Has anyone propagated camellias from an original plant?
by
Ticia
I see them blooming all over the place here in SC and wonder if a cutting, a seed, an expended flower from a plant will create a new same plant or will it look like something else?
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Propagation by cutting is making a clone of the original plant. As long as your parent plant is not grafted on to a root stock (as with many fruit trees and roses) you will be growing exactly the same flower, leaf, and form that attracted you in the first place. Some plants will root easily in water but others need special circumstances to encourage roots to grow. You can try all three of these methods to see which works best for you. Try rooting a cutting in plain water. If it does produce roots you can pot it up until it grows a substantial root mass, then plant it in the ground. A second way is to take semi-ripe stem cuttings in the late summer, dip the cut end in rooting hormone, and plant in a container of potting soil. You'll know the cutting has rooted when new leaves begin to grow from the stem. Finally, you can layer a branch from a healthy camellia. Bend one of the branches down so it lays along the soil. Make a slight nick in the bottom of the stem, hold the injury open with a twig or small stone, then bury the wounded part of the stem in the soil. Allow the end of the branch to remain above ground. Within a year new roots should form at the site of the injury and you can cut the newly rooted branch away from the parent plant and plant it in the ground.Camellias produce flowers on their own and do not need a second camellia to act as a pollenizer. From seed Soak the seed for 12 hours or crack carefully the hard coat to aid in germination. Plant in good soil, peat moss, or a combination of peat moss and sand. Keep the soil damp. Seed usually germinate in one month if planted immediately after harvesting.Cover the pots with plastic, and place them in a warm spot with bright indirect light (not full sun). Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Germinating Seeds: (optional) If you prefer, you can germinate camellia seeds in a plastic bag with a handful of soil, then plant them in pots once they germinate.
Hi Ticia! I have not tried Camellia but have had success with Nandina, Spirea and Gardenia. I have used the "layering" method .Think of it as a little satellite plant attached to the mother ship. Of course this only works if you have small branches near the ground. Softwood cuttings in the Spring, placed in play sand, also works really well! Check out Mike McGroarty's site for tips on these methods.
Camellia (and other shrubs) – Propagating Step by Step
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