Camellias are a bit demanding to care for and not so easy to propagate. There are a few things to consider when growing. The new camellias do not necessarily look like the parent plants, so the seeds are not of the same variety.
How to germinate camellia seeds?
To germinate camellia seeds successfully, they require fresh seeds, a cold stimulus through a change in temperature, and then warmer conditions. Storage, if necessary, should be cool and moist in the refrigerator to preserve germination.
Why aren't my seeds germinating?
There are several reasons why your camellia seeds don't want to germinate. The seeds cannot germinate for very long, so they should be sown as fresh as possible. Longer storage can cause the seeds to dry out easily. If you still don't want to or can't sow so quickly, then make sure to keep the seeds moist.
If you collected the seeds from your own camellias and then sown them straight away in the warm, then they lack the so-called cold stimulus. This or the subsequent change to warmer temperatures is absolutely necessary so that a hormone is released into the seeds that initiates germination.
What is the best way to store camellia seeds?
Ideally, you should not store the seeds of your camellia at all, because dry seeds are hardly able to germinate. If storage is necessary, it should be stored in the refrigerator. Either pack the seeds in a damp cloth (€8.00 on Amazon) or in a plastic bag. The refrigerator not only offers the seeds a good chance of survival but also the necessary cold stimulus.
When does a camellia grown from seed bloom?
Unfortunately, you have to wait a relatively long time for the first flowering of your self-grown camellia. It will take at least four years for the first buds to appear, but up to 20 years is possible. It's a little "quicker" if you pull your camellia from a cutting.
The most important things in brief:
- Seeds not necessarily of the same variety
- only viable for a short time
- temperature changes necessary for successful germination
- If necessary, store cool and moist (in damp paper or in a plastic bag in the refrigerator)
- 4 to 20 years until the first flowering
Tip
In order for your camellia seeds to germinate, they absolutely need a change in temperature or a cold stimulus. This releases a hormone necessary for germination.