The Life of a Tea Bush

Seed Germination

• To germinate, tea plant seeds need a shady spot, good drainage and a temperature range at around 74 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit to germinate reliably. A seed flat filled with vermiculite or sand works well as a planting medium. Plant tea seeds 1 inch deep and 1 inch apart, and keep them damp until they germinate. If germination is successful, you will see new shoots within one to three months after sowing.

Early Development

• After germination, tea seeds need six to 12 months before they are ready to be transplanted to the garden. While the seedlings are developing, gradually move them from the shady germination spot to a partly shaded area. When you see three to four leaves growing, transplant them into individual 1 gallon pots. When mature enough to plant out, select a sunny spot with soil that drains well.

Growing Season

• A woody evergreen, the tea plant keeps its glossy green foliage year-round. Once established, this long-lived shrub or tree will grow for 50 to 150 years. It will start producing seeds within four to 12 years. A mature tea plant can grow up to 20 feet tall with a 15 foot spread. You can keep it smaller, as many gardeners do, by pruning. In the fall, when the tea bush blooms, the delicate white flowers give off a tropical floral scent.

Basic Care

• Fertilize the tea plant lightly in spring after the winter flowering ends. Apply 8 to 16 ounces of cottonseed meal -- a slow-release, organic fertilizer -- per plant, working it into the soil and watering thoroughly to settle it.To keep the shrub compact, do not over-fertilize. Do any pruning in late spring or early summer. When pruning sterilize cutting tools with rubbing alcohol or a household disinfect. The University of Florida IFAS Extension suggests using bark or wood chips to mulch the soil under the canopy 2 to 6 inches deep. Leave about 8 inches of space between the mulch layer and the base of the stalk.

Tea Harvest

• Though many people grow the tea bush as an ornamental landscape bush, you can harvest true tea from this plant. Tea comes from leaf growth at the tips of the branches, usually two to three leaves as well as the new bud. The tea harvest extends from late spring and summer through early fall. The only difference between green and black tea, is when it's harvested and how it's dried.

Potential Problems

• The main problem you're likely to run into during the life of a tea bush is chlorosis, which causes a general yellowing of the leaves. Rather than a disease, chlorosis is a condition commonly caused by poor drainage, too much fertilizer or a high pH. Tea plants thrive in soil with a pH of 4.5 to 7.3.