Sage Garden Herbs - Tea

Tea - 12" Pot

CAD $49.95

Description: This is "real" tea - one of our most requested items! Tea is a shrubby sub-tropical that in fact can be grown as a perennial in parts of the west coast of Canada and the US. In Manitoba, Tea can easily grown in a container, and wintered in an average to warm area of your home. The top growth is what is harvested for the beverage, and frequent pruning yields a dense, bushy plant that can be very productive. It is a treat to be able to offer these large, well established Tea plants to Manitoba gardeners in 2012!

The Tea plants available are 12 - 18 inch tall specimens. Tea plants are slow to establish, so the larger size gives you a significant head start on growing a gorgeous container specimen.

Latin Name: Camellia sinensis
Main Uses: Herb, Tea Plant

Zone Hardiness: Zone 9
Exposure: Diffused light outdoors / bright light indoors
Ht: 90+ cm. (3+ feet) as a houseplant
Flower Color: White - very fragrant
Flowering Time: Summer

Tea - 12" Pot

CAD $49.95

Pruning: Prune frequently to encourage bushiness.

Harvesting: Harvest the top leaves regularly, cutting with sharp scissors at leaf intersection points (internodes).

Growing in Containers: Very well suited to containers.

Fertilizing (Containers): Tea plants prefer an acidic soil - use Welcome Harvest organic potato fertilizer regularly through the spring and summer.

Watering (Containers): This plant loves to be well watered during the summer months. Water deeply and check regularly.

Growing in Mixed Planters: Not well suited for mixed planters.

Fertilizing (Garden): Not well suited to in-ground gardens.

Watering (Garden): Not well suited to in-ground gardens.

Tea - 12" Pot

CAD $49.95

Suitability for Indoors: Excellent houseplant for green thumbs - requires a little extra attention to flourish.

Exposure: Brightest available.

What about Grow Lights? Grow lights are not required, but will keep plants actively growing during the short daylight hours of winter.

General Indoor Care: This variety is happy when grown warm year round, but can tolerate a cooler location when wintered indoors (growth slows in cooler conditions). Bring indoors by Labour Day, and choose a location that is bright and never gets below 15 C. Avoid heat/air conditioning vents. To improve humidity for your plants, set up a pebble tray; this is simply a layer of rocks set on the plant's saucer (not in the pot, but below it!). Any water that runs through the drainage holes is captured among the rocks and evaporates up around the plants. Rinse plants under fast flowing fresh water every few weeks to remove dust and significantly reduce the chance of pest problems.

Indoor Container Suggestions: Minimum deep 10" pot with excellent drainage. The ultimate size of this variety is very much influenced by the size of container you choose. However, pot up in increments of 2".

Winter Fertilizing: Repot or refresh soil in fall, when bringing pots indoors. Add up to 25% quality compost. No additional fertilizing is required between October and January. As light levels go up, and new growth emerges, start fertilizing monthly, using an acid-loving-plant fertilizer such as Welcome Harvest Potato food. If growing under lights, fertilize bi-weekly right through winter. Non-organic fertilizers are not recommended, as these can cause burning or difficult-to-manage changes in the soil.

Winter Watering: Water deeply when top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch. Check soil moisture at least once per week. As daylight hours increase, watering requirements will also increase.

Special Instructions: During the transition from summer to winter - especially where plants move from outdoors in - Tea can experience some stress. A common symptom of this stress is a certain amount of leaf drop. Don't worry if this occurs, new growth will follow shortly. Pay attention to not over water during this period - only water as the top inch of soil dries out.

Links to More Information:

Tropical Spice & Fruiting Plants

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