Growing Camellias

• Become an expert at the classification and culture of camellias.
• Develops your understanding the cultural requirements
• Improve your ability to identify different varieties (both common and uncommon)
• Learn to use camellias to achieve desired landscape effects.

Lesson Structure

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction
   • Review of the system of plant identification
   • General characteristics of the group
   • Information contacts (ie: nurseries, seed, clubs etc)
2. Culture
   • Planting
   • Staking
   • Mulching
   • Watering
   • Pest & disease
   • Feeding
   • Pruning
   • Protection from wind, salt air etc.
3. Propagation
   • Methods of propagating camellias
4. Using Camellias
5. The most Commonly Grown Varieties
6. Other important Groups
7. The Lesser Grown Varieties
8. Special Assignment - On one selected plant or group.

Aims

• Identify different camellias.
• Describe the cultural requirements common to most, if not all, camellias.
• Propagate camellias
• Determine and describe different ways of using Camellias.
• Describe the identification and culture of most commonly cultivated camellias.
• Describe the identification and culture of sasanqua and reticulata camellias.
• Discuss a range of lesser grown species and cultivars of Camellia.
• Discuss a specialist camellia related topic in depth.

What You Will Do

• Different camellia species can have varying, specific needs and requirements. At the same time, certain general comments can be made that apply to the culture of most if not all cultivated camellias.

Camellias

Camellias suffer from few problems provided that they are grown in suitable environmental conditions. As with all plants, the most important foundation for thriving growth is the soil they are growing in. They prefer moist fertile soils that are free draining and full of good composted organic matter. When camellias are not grown in these conditions, they tend to suffer regularly from pest damage. When grown in ideal conditions they are rarely bothered with any problems at all.In a temperate climate, most camellias will grow in the open ground; however extreme cold can be a problem in colder temperate regions; and excessive heat can pose difficulties in a region where there are very hot dry, sunny summers and severe winters or in sub-tropical or tropical areas.Cold hardiness is of serious concern to growers in parts of Britain and Europe; and hot summers have been a concern for growers in northern and inland Australia (for example).

Who will Benefit From This Course?

Those want to:

• Start  their own business in supplying plants for the retail or wholesale nursery industry
• Specialise in camellias
• Start a garden club for camellias
• Breed new varieties