Into The Bloom: How To Grow Tea Plant At Home

Picture this, you wake up, head to your home garden, pluck some fresh tea leaves, and brew your morning cup of tea. Who wouldn't love that? Never thought you could grow your tea plant at home? Well, you can, tea lovers! The experience is simply rewarding. With our Into The Bloom guide, grow your tea leaves at home.

How To Grow Tea Leaves At Home?

Pick The Right Variety: Indian tea regions like Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri do offer ideal climatic conditions for tea to grow but that doesn't mean you can't grow some in your home garden. The key here is to select the right tea plant variety. Based on your location, and climatic conditions, pick a tea variety. Camellia sinensis is the main tea plant but it is available in varieties that are suitable for different climatic conditions. Choose the one that works best for your location.

Plant Seeds/Seedlings: Get tea plant seeds or seedlings from a nursery and plant them in acidic soil. Place them at a distance to allow them to grow well.

Place The Plant Correctly: Place the plant in partial sunlight. Tea plants can't survive in direct sunlight.

Water The Plant: Water the tea plant frequently but don't overwater. 

Tea Leaves Harvesting: Tea plants take their own sweet time to mature. It can take a couple of years for a tea plant to be ready for harvest. Harvesting should be done with a pair of scissors. Young leaves always give the best tea flavour.

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Once harvested, dry tea leaves for a few hours. Once they are completely dry, grind to make tea leaves powder. You can also use tea leaves as is. How To Make Your Green Tea Taste Better

Tips To Grow Tea Leaves Quickly

• Use a balanced fertiliser during the spring and summer seasons. Avoid using a fertiliser that has excessive nitrogen as it can change the flavour of tea leaves.
• Seed germination takes time but if you wish to grow your plant quickly, you can also use tea plant cuttings or young tea plants. 
• Use well-draining soil with a pH level of 4.5 to 6.

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• Maintain a moderate temperature in your home garden for the tea plant. If you don't have natural climatic conditions that boost growth, use artificial lights or heaters to create an ideal environment.

• Check for pests and diseases as they slow down tea plant growth. Use organic pest sprays to control them. 
• Use mulch around the base of the plant to maintain the soil's moisture and regular temperature.
• It is better to grow tea plants in containers rather than directly planting them in the soil as the temperature remains controlled.

Growing tea at home is a satisfying experience but it does require a lot of patience. Keep giving your tea plants good care and attention to enjoy homegrown tea.