Growing Camellias VHT109

A comprehensive course in Camelias! Beautiful camellias require little attention, once established, and yet there is so much to know about them. This course is a wonderful way of learning about the different groups of camellias (eg. japonicas, sasanquas, reticulatas), their special characteristics, and their culture. Develops your understanding of soils, feeding, watering, pruning, planting methods, pest & disease control, propagation, & more. Improve your ability to identify different varieties (both common and uncommon), and how to use camellias to achieve desired landscape effects.

Camellias are a hardy group of plants that are grown from cool temperate climates through to tropical regions. While many Camellia species are highly adaptable, the best results are generally achieved by choosing cultivars to suit the climate and conditions you are growing them in.

Tea leaves are derived from the plant Camellia sinensis, a species that does well in tropical and sub tropical conditions. Other species, (eg. Camellia reticulata) does not adapt so well to warm climates, and is generally far better in a cool temperate climate.
Camellia oleifera is another species grown as a commercial crop oil from this species is used commercially in china.

The three most common ornamental species are:

• Camellia japonica mainly bred varieties from the original, smaller flowered species.
• Camellia sasanqua species from Japan, smaller flowers than C. japonica.
• Camellia reticulata species from China.

Course Structure There are 8 lessons as follows:

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.

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school\'s tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

• Describe the nature and scope of cut flower production in greenhouses.
• Determine key cultural practices that are commonly required to develop and maintain a good rate of growth in a cut flower crop.
• Eexplain the initiation and development of flowering in a cut flower crop.
• Determine management practices for cut flower crops grown in a greenhouse.
• Discuss a range of greenhouse management techniques related to cut flower production.
• Explain a range of greenhouse management techniques related to cut flower production.
• Determine a range of harvest and post harvest techniques related to cut flower production.
• Determine greenhouse production techniques for selected herbaceous perennials.
• Determine greenhouse production techniques for selected annuals and biennials.
• Determine greenhouse production techniques for selected bulbs, corms, rhizomes or tubers.
• Determine greenhouse production techniques for selected filler plants.
• Determine greenhouse production techniques for roses and orchids.