Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Rooting a Camilia

On my recent trip to Meridian to my friend, Diva's childhood home, I was taken back at the gorgeous antique variegated Camila tree that was in full bloom in the yard. Each five of us wanted to take a piece of that Camila home with us to put in our own yards to bloom each year so that we could enjoy it's beauty.

"How can we do that?", asked High Mae, who is in the midst of landscaping her yard.
"I think I know!", I then began to explain the easy method for rooting a Camila.
Here is a simple, least cost method, yet still scientific, to root a camilia.
The simple method is as follows:

Find a few 5 gal garden pots/buckets to fill with sand.
Keep about 2-3 leaves on each branch. Cut the large leaves at 1/2 size. Stick into containers.
Use only "clean sand" to fill the container to the 1/2 amount and wet the sand.
Cut 5 or 8 of last year's fresh branches, about 4 inches, dipped the cut surface with root-on powder. (Make a 1/2" slant cut at bottom of each branch, dip it into rooting power.)
Prepare a hole into the sand at 45 degrees angle and insert one branch. gently tap the sand even. Cover the container with a glass or plastic sheet.
Keep the container at a warm and bright spot(no direct sun). Then forget about. Each month check the rooting or wet the sand if it is necessary.
Do not water it too often. If the lower part of sand is still moist, that is perfect.
After one month, if any branch or leaf is dead, pick it out. If the branch is still green, you have a good chance.
After 2 months, you can gently pull up the branch, if there is any resistance. Stop!( sounds like filing income tax) Likely there is root down there.
After 3 months try to loose up the sand with a small stick to release a branch up for examination. If there is a root formation, You are on the way to have many rooted cuttings.

Warning: There is no guarantee to return your rooting investment. But with a bit of luck and alot of prayer, you just might have a healthy growing bloomer in your yard.

11 comments:

Kristin - The Goat said...

A long long time ago when I had a yard that I actually tended (haha) I played with root cuttings. I had pretty good success for as little information I had when I started.

Keetha Broyles said...

We don't have camillias, nor magnolias, up here - - - sooooo sad.

We do have peonies though.

TuTu's Bliss said...

I have no green thumb :(

I didn't want you to miss out on this. There is a spring fling give away carnival and I thought of you..
http://www.thesitsgirls.com/

You don't need what I'm giving away but there are a ton of other special treats to chose from!

TuTu's Bliss said...

I have no green thumb :(

I didn't want you to miss out on this. There is a spring fling give away carnival and I thought of you..
http://www.thesitsgirls.com/

You don't need what I'm giving away but there are a ton of other special treats to chose from!

Derek said...

Great post! Thanks for the info! We have two HUGE ones in Orange Beach. I'll have to give this a try and see if I can get them to live in Tuscaloosa.

Chandy said...

Oohhh, I'm keeping this info for my future garden. Thanks!

Darlene said...

I sure wish I had a green thumb as that is beautiful!

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

Kirby-that is encouraging. I hope that ours will make it!

Keetha, you need to move down to the south, honey child. Come May we are ablaze in beauty! You should see the azalias!
And the sweet smell of magnolia blossoms- oh! Home.

Tutu- I think you sell yourself short! I will drop by and check out what you got. I love a giveaway!

Derek- I will bet cha can. JUst make sure you have some sand in your soil when you transplant. I am headed to OB next week..I cannot wait!

Chandy- I saw your flowers...I know you can do this!!

Darlene, with a bit of luck, I will bet you can. It would be worth a try! Anyway, I know you can cook good!

Keetha Broyles said...

Leigh - - - we DID live in the south from for 12 years. I still remember the smell of the camillias and the beautiful magnolias, and the azaleas, and the rhododendrons. Gorgeous.

"J" said...

My brother just up-rooted a small magnolia for us to plant up at the lake!!!!! My dad's property had a ton of pretty magnolia's!!! I hope we can get it to grow!!!! It seems to be doing good...it's about 2 1/2' tall in a big bucket!!!!!

=)

The pink flowers are soooooooooooooooooo pretty!!!! I've never seen them before?!?

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

Oh camilias....SO pretty! I could never grow in my Jersey Shore soil (or lack there of :-).