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.