Tea tree oil is used in the treatment of many bacterial and fungal infections – notably skin problems, rashes, boils and insect bites. Tea is an acid-loving plant that prefers a pH between 4.5-6.5. Gather tea tree seeds once the rounded, button-like seed capsules mature. When sprouts begin to appear, remove the plastic wrap. This small shrub can grow up to 3-7 feet (1-2 m) tall. Choose seed capsules that are slightly split but not completely open. In the fall, your tea shrub will flower with small white blossoms that have a delightful scent. While tea plants are usually propagated via cuttings, it is possible to grow a tea plant from seed. Keep them under light shade during their first summer. Mist the seeds with some water every few hours so they don’t dry Tea trees are attractive garden plants though their primary usage is the oil extracted from the plant. It is also found in parts of Australia, Japan, Taiwan, and Indonesia. Spread the soaked tea seeds on a dish towel or tarp in a Gently press them onto the surface with a wooden block or with your palm. According to the Tea Advisory Panel, an astonishing 40% of the fluid drunk in the UK every day is tea.It’s our nation’s brew of choice, and has been for several hundred years. Move the potted tea tree seedlings to a sheltered area outdoors. Put the pot outside in a shady corner. Crack the capsules Use a nursery tray that is large enough to accommodate the nursery flat with an extra inch of space on all sides. The tea plant seeds should be planted with the eye of each seed planted horizontally in the soil (facing upwards). Try to pick a site not too exposed to winds and morning sun. Sprinkle the tea tree seeds across the surface of the peat mixture. It has been drunk for thousands of years and is steeped in historical Sign up for our newsletter. Bury the seed about an inch (2.5 cm.) 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Provided frequent pruning of both foliage and roots, useful little trees like these don’t have to become larger than a bonsai in a kitchen window. shrub that thrives in cool, moist regions where it attains heights of 20 feet Drain the remainder of the seeds. When growing tea from seeds, the seed must first be soaked Yes, you can grow a tea Tea trees belong to the genus Leptospermum, which includes commonly cultivated tree species such as the Australian tea tree (L. laevigatum) and New Zealand tea tree (L. scoparium). Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Growing something from nothing (except quite a lot of sweat). So, it will be better to grow it from cuttings or get a plant from a nursery. Growing tea from seeds is best accomplished in USDA zones Germinating Tea Seeds. the plants for a week in the fall prior to transplanting them outside. 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