If you are a tea lover and want to find out how to grow the tea plant at home, then you’ve reached the right place! In this article, we will tell you about the origin of this plant, analyzing its characteristics, and we will discover together all the tips and tricks on how to grow the tea plant in pots.
Origins of the Tea Plant
Before discovering the necessary conditions to cultivate this plant, it is important to find out what its most ancient origins are. The tea plant, also known as Camellia sinensis is a plant species whose leaves and shoots are used to produce the tea.
The first reliable evidence of the use of tea dates back to the third century. We find Buddhist monks among the very first consumers of this drink. It is no coincidence that tea is mainly grown and consumed in Bangladesh, China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Japan. However, let’s not forget the importance that the United Kingdom has with this drink, so much so that it has become an indistinguishable piece of national identity.
As we know, there are many types of tea, but what few people know is that they all derive from the same processing of the leaves of Camellia sinensis. What differentiates one type of tea from another are the processing methods of the vegetable parts and the latter’s harvesting period.
The best known and used varieties of tea deriving from Camelia sinensis are: White tea, yellow tea, black tea, green tea, oolong tea, and Matcha.
How to Grow Tea Plant?
To cultivate this plant, it is advisable to analyze the climatic and soil conditions it needs. As we have seen, the tea plant is grown mainly in areas where there is a tropical and subtropical climate.
It is also essential to analyze the rainfall pattern. This condition is vital to understand how to grow the tea plant in the best way. The tea plant prefers a location exposed to the sun’s rays. This plant also loves areas rich in humidity.
You may wonder how it is possible to grow this plant in the cold regions of England. In fact, this is not a problem. According to experts and tasters, this climate would make the leaves tastier.
The only unfavorable condition is production, which will be more scarce and less productive than in other tropical regions.
The tea plant can be grown starting from already developed seedlings or directly from the seed. Tea seedlings are more challenging to find, while seeds to begin growing with are readily available.
Therefore, if you want to start from the seed for your cultivation, you have to soak the seeds for 2-3 days and plant them in abundance since they have little germination. It is crucial to plant the seeds of the tea plant in calcium-free soil. Thus, it is necessary to keep an eye on the irrigations and carry them out with rainwater, which is free of calcium. Tap water is not recommended because limescale tends to be present, unsuitable for the tea plant.
What Is the Ideal Temperature for the Tea Plant Bud?
The tea plant germinates with a constant temperature ranging from 20 to 25 degrees, and it takes a maximum of one month and a minimum of two weeks to see the first buds bloom.
Once the seedlings have sprouted, the next step is planting. It is important that the outside temperature never reaches temperatures below 16 degrees, and this condition also applies to the night hours.
This plant’s productive life lasts about ten years, but in some cases, there have been episodes that the tea plants have exceeded the century of productive activity.
If we have found out all about growing the tea plant, now let’s move on to maintaining it. The tea plant needs a particular pruning and, in fact, if we let it grow freely, it can reach several meters in height. For this reason it is necessary to make a topping at the height of the waist.
