Attractive and useful , the teatime flora ( Camellia sinensis ) is a broad - folio shrub that boasts fragrant , delicate white-hot blooms and shiny , evergreen leaves that can be harvested when young and process to make afternoon tea . If you choose the right spot and provide the right maintenance , you may uprise a tea plant successfully in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 7 through 9 .
Lovely Location
prefer a site for your Camellia sinensis plant that has protection from direct afternoon sun and strong winds . A spot with partial shade or mottled sunlight with some protection from nearby tree canopies is idealistic , although a tea flora should be kept 10 to 15 foot out from trees and structure . If you ’re implant multiple teatime bush , space them 6 to 10 feet apart . Do not plant it in an area prone to flooding . A teatime flora can grow up to 15 feet magniloquent , so ensure you countenance enough infinite for it . All pruning should be done in the fountain after flowering .
Planting Prosperity
Select a healthy tea plant life from the garden center that show no signs of gadfly or diseases . Dig a large trap about 3 sentence the diam of the base clod , implant the bush at the same depth as it was in the container . After backfilling the trap with soil , water deeply to square up any air pocket . afternoon tea plant prefers organically copious , fecund dirt that drains well . Water oft during teetotal period to keep the grime moist , and mulch with 2 to 6 inches of constitutional cloth , such as barque or Natalie Wood chips , save the mulch at least 8 inches from the shrub ’s trunk . To minimise fungal infections , piddle at the base of the plant to keep the leaf dry .
Nutrient Needs
A afternoon tea plant can benefit greatly from steady fertiliser applications . Every other calendar month throughout the growing time of year , fee the shrub with a balanced 10 - 10 - 10 plant food . For every 10 square animal foot , thoroughly mix 1/3 apothecaries' ounce of liquid fertilizer with 1 gallon of water . Use a broadcast sprayer to the go for the fertilizer equally to the grunge , push it back and forth as you spray to keep the content mixed . Avoid link with your skin , and protect yourself by wearing prospicient sleeves , drawers and condom gloves .
Pest Problems
A teatime plant may have problems with aphids , mites and scale dirt ball , all of which can hamper ontogenesis and damage the leaves . If a strong flow of water from the garden hose is n’t enough to keep the pestilence at bay , consider applying horticultural oil color . Mix 2 1/2 to 5 ounces of horticultural water in 1 Imperial gallon of piss and apply evenly to the bush ’s canopy using a pump or induction atomiser . You may need to implement 3 or 4 gallon of the solvent , bet on the sizing of the plant . bust protective wear , and keep the oil by from children and dearie . If you get any of the solution on your skin , contact your medico .
References
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