How to Care for a Tea Plant
Tea plants originated in the Himalayan mountains and in parts of China. The plants are tropical in nature and variously prefer high altitudes and lowland subtropical climates. In all, 45 countries report tea growth annually with roughly 2.5 million acres in production each year. There are two main types of tea: China and Assam. Assam is larger, while China is considered a dwarf plant or small shrub. A half pound of tea can be produced from one bush. Proper plant care will keep them healthy and producing tea, which can be used for drinking either iced on a hot summer day or hot on a cold winter night. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Buy a tea plant that is healthy and free of disease. Look for plants in 1-to-3-gallon containers that are 2-to-3 feet tall. Do not buy plants that appear to be root bound. Water the plant on a regular basis if you do not plant it in the ground immediately.
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Put your tea plant into the ground 10-to-15 feet away from buildings, trees and other plants. Prune the tea plant every so often to promote new growth. Trim the top of your tea shoots back so that it stays between 3 and 5 feet tall. The end result will be flat at the top. Ideally, the plant should not be allowed to grow taller than this height. This procedure will keep the tea plant from reaching an unmanageable point, which is more than 5 feet tall.
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Plant in full sun or light shade or best results. Make sure to plant in an area that is out of the way of flooding summer rains. Tea plants do best in temperatures that are between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Choose soils that have a lower pH level. Soil with good drainage works best for tea plants.
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Water regularly during dry periods, cutting back in fall and winter.
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Use small amounts of dry fertilizer on a consistent basis. Putting a good mixture of fertilizer on plants that contains phosphate, potash, nitrogen and magnesium will keep them healthy.
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Mulch tea plants with a mixture of bark or wood chips. Mulching them will keep weeds under control, and the soil moisture levels will stay in a good range. Place the mulch 8-to-12 inches away from the trunks of your tea plants.
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Look for problems such as mites, scales, caterpillars, aphids and thrips. If you spot these pest or diseases, contact a county cooperative extension agent to find out which fungicide or pesticide will help the plants.
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Tips & Warnings
Obtain a lower pH level in your soil by using a good top soil and compost.
Planting tea plants in smaller containers will cause the roots to tangle together.
Watch out for tea plants when using lawn mowers and weed eaters since they are easy to miss.
Tea plants will stop growing in temperatures above 95 degrees and below 55 degrees.
