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Overwintering Camellias in unheated Garage
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Posted by YellowThumb 5a Ontario (My Page) on Thu, Nov 17, 05 at 0:31
This is my first year of growing Camellias. They are not hardy in my zone, so container growing is my only choice. My problem is Camellias need domancy period, my house is heated to about 21 degrees, way to high for domancy. So the unheated Garage is the only choice, it's from -4 to 10 degrees, might work. But there is no sunlight in my garage, I have to use artifical light. I have a 400W MH light, it might be too strong given the temprature. I have some AgroSun fluorescent tubes as well. Could somebody tell me what kind of light I should use? How long domancy time those subtropical plants need?
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Tao |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Overwintering Camellias in unheated Garage
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| On the contrary, as far as I know, camellias do not need a dormancy period, since they can flower in fall, winter and spring, and keeping broad leaved evergreens of most types in a not so bright area through the winter might kill them , since most older literature says they still need light even during the winter months. I've had mine indoors for years through the winter, and usually get winter or spring blooms on mine at a temperature in the seventies during the day and bright light, but they do need humidity in the winter. Just be careful with the watering as well, as they hate sitting in standing water , and I have lost a few outdoors that didn't have the water in the saucers romoved soon enough. They like moisture , but not soggy soil. |
RE: Overwintering Camellias in unheated Garage
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| Camellias do not need a dormant period. They normally bloom during the winter months and need the cool temperatures to bloom .I grow several large camellias in my unheated garage which also has no windows. I just use a 75 watt grow light bulb and they bloom for me all winter. The secret is to leave them outside in a sunny place to develop until the buds start to expand. I put them on my south facing deck and let them get a few light freezes. They should be fine next to the house into the lower 20's. This seems to set the bud development into motion as they then seem to expand and develop at a faster pace when I bring them into the garage. |
RE: Overwintering Camellias in unheated Garage
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| Thanks for the suggestions, they really makes sense. In an unheated garage, it's easy to maintain the high humidity. I am going to use four 40W growth lights for all my Camellias and Osmanthus. I am not going to put them there all winter, after getting some light freeze in the deck and another month in the unheated garage, I should be able to bring them to my heated house. |
RE: Overwintering Camellias in unheated Garage
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| I keep my camellias in the garage only during the night. In the morning, I put them inside, in front of my house, it's "colder" than the other side. There's no light in my garage. It's a good solution... and some sport every evening and morning... Laurie. |
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