How to Grow Camellias Indoors

Camellias grow in a variety of colors.

A camellia is a flowering plant native to Southern and Eastern Asia. Over 200 species of camellias exist, all of which are delicate and highly reactive to their environment. If grown correctly, a camellia flower can live for over 100 years. According to Jennifer Trehane, author of "Camellias: The Gardener's Encyclopedia," most camellias are grown for use in teas and for their decorative flowers. Camellias typically grow best in a cool, outdoor environment. However, with proper care they can be cultivated indoors as well.

Things You'll Need

• Temperature-controlled room
• Potting soil
• Peat moss
• Water-soluble flower fertilizer
• Spray bottle
• Flowerpot
• Gravel
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Maintain a temperature of no more than 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night in the room in which you will grow your camellia. The room will need to supply your camellia with four to six hours of indirect sunlight daily.

2. Purchase a flowerpot large enough to suit your camellia's needs. According to Yvonne Cave and Jim Rolfe, authors of "Camellias: A Practical Gardening Guide," ideally, the pot should be as deep as the plant is tall and twice the width of its fullest point.

3. Place a layer of gravel over the bottom of the pot to allow the soil to drain properly. The gravel should be just thick enough so you cannot see the bottom of the flowerpot.

4. Combine a 3-to-1 mixture of potting soil and peat moss in the flowerpot. The soil mixture should stop 1 inch from the top of the pot.

5. Plant your camellia in the soil mixture so the roots are 1 inch below the soil.

6. Mix flower fertilizer and water in a spray bottle according to the manufacturer's instructions.

7. Soak the soil with the fertilized water and place your camellia in the temperature-controlled room.

   Spray your camellia's leaves and soil with fertilized water once daily in the summer, during the evening. The soil should always be slightly moist.

8. Cut away the bulk of your camellia's leaves and flowers, using a sharp scissors, after blooming season, in late fall. According to William L. Ackerman, author of "Beyond the Camellia Belt," once pruned, your camellia should take the approximate shape of a pine tree.

9. Spray the camellia with water three times a week during the winter. Additionally, reduce its sunlight exposure to two to four hours daily.

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient when growing your camellia; it can take over five years for the plant to develop fully.

References

• "Camellias: The Gardener's Encyclopedia"; Jennifer Trehane; 2007
• "Camellias: A Practical Gardening Guide"; Yvonne Cave and Jim Rolfe; 2003
• "Beyond the Camellia Belt: Breeding, Propagating, and Growing Cold-Hardy Camellias"; William L. Ackerman; 2007