Camellias Factory

'Fabbrica delle Camelie' is a project born in 2013 from the collaboration of Centro Comunale Compitese, the City of Capannori, and the 'N.B. Busdraghi' High school of Mutigliano with the aim to produce new camellia cuttings.

The Fabbrica is a special greenhouse of around 30 m2, covered with a nylon material blocking excess sunlight; the topsoil used is a special mixture particularly effective with camellias. The greenhouse is supplied with a nebuliser to water the young camellias cuttings. The water used comes directly from a rain water collector of 2500 l, and only during the summer there is the need to pump water from the local sources and water main.

Bedding out the cuttings

A small twig 10-15 cm long is cut from a grown camellia around the end of July. The twig will grow its own roots and will be left with only two or three leaves at the top, cut in half: this is done to reduce evaporation. The cuttings will then be submerged first in water and then in a ferilising powder to ease the rooting process. The cuttings are now ready to be bedded out in the topsoil and grow. After a few months, twigs will have fully grown roots and will be transferred to individual vases. Two more years of waiting and the camellias will be ready to be sold.