The Australian tea tree is exotic and can only be grown in this country under certain conditions. You can find out here what needs you can meet it with.
It's no wonder more and more people are keen to grow an Australian Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia). After all, its tea tree oil has been known for years for its healing and antibacterial effects, which counteract many diseases and have also proven to be highly effective in the cosmetic field. But how do you actually plant such a tree? Very few people know whether the tree is persistent and has high demands. Are there any special features to consider? And how does the Australian tea tree feel most comfortable? All of these questions tend to come up when you think about getting an Australian tea tree.
Important facts about the Australian tea tree
Before you set about planting the Australian tea tree, you should know about its needs and characteristics - after all, the acquisition and cultivation of the tree should be a success. At this point it would be worth mentioning that the tree with the botanical name Melaleuca Alternifolia is hardly available as a tree in this country, but only as a seed to grow.
It belongs to the myrtle family and is characterized by an evergreen shrub that develops white flowers in the middle of the year. The narrow leaves of the tea tree can grow up to three centimeters long. It is important to know that the tree does not tolerate sub-zero temperatures, i.e. it is not winter-proof. Despite the growth height of up to seven meters, the plant can be kept in the flower pot and grow. The Australian tea tree can also be purchased if you can and only want to provide a small balcony or terrace for it.
Optimal location for the Australian tea tree
If you look at the origin of the tree, choosing the right location is not that easy in this country. Since the Australian tea tree naturally only occurs in Australia and Tasmania, it needs a warm andlight-flooded place - in summer it is ideal on the balcony or on a terrace. However, the tree should be sheltered somewhat from the wind. Its need for sunlight is high, so pay special attention to it.
Growing Tea Tree Seeds
Once the seeds for an Australian tea tree have been purchased and the future location has already been selected, the plant can be grown. For this purpose, potting and cactus soil is very suitable as a substrate. Now it is time to moisten the substrate and spread the very small seeds on it. A light pressing of the seeds can be done with a piece of dry wood. You should not use your fingers for this in order to avoid bacteria and germs, to which the seedlings of the plant in particular can react somewhat sensitively. The seeds do not have to be covered, but a thin layer of sand can be spread over the seeds.
The seeds of the Australian tea tree germinate best at 18 to about 20 degrees Celsius and high humidity, which is why they are best kept in a greenhouse. In particular, it is important to note that conventional watering is not recommended for fine seeds like these, as they could wash away. A better solution would be to place the perforated brooder in a bowl filled with water an inch deep. The seedlings must not be placed in direct sunlight, but still need plenty of daylight. When the seedlings are about half a centimeter high, the water should be removed from the saucer for conventional watering.
How long do you have to wait for the first seedlings?
It takes about four to five weeks until the first seedlings can be seen. It also takes a very long time for the small sprouts to grow in size. So it pays to be patient and not give up, even if nothing happens for a long time.
Precisely because the seedlings grow so slowly and only gain strength and resistance later, their risk of infection is very high. For this reason, only fresh and non-reused substrate should be used for growing this plant and mineral substrates such as Seramis should also be used. If you make sure when planting the seeds that the shells used are clean and cleaned and you air the seedlings regularly, nothing should happen to them.
Repotting the plant
Once the sprouts have reached a size of at least 10 centimeters, you can start repotting. Before doing so, however, it should be briefly checkedwhether the young plant seems stable enough. Now the Australian tea tree needs acidic substrate, i.e. at best rhododendron soil (e.g. available here). It should also be noted that the tea tree feels more comfortable in acidic soil and should therefore not be watered with water that is too calcareous. If your own water is too calcareous, it is advisable to repot more frequently. The first repotting should be done as follows:
❶ Loosen the soil on all sides
❷ Carefully lift the young plant including the roots out of the soil
❸ Check the roots visually for damage or mould
❹ Broken roots also cut off with a pocket knife
❺ fill a layer of gravel in the new pot
❻ insert the young plant carefully with the roots
❼ use some substrate to stabilize
❽ fill with substrate
❾ Press substrate
❿ Water
If the seedlings grow too fast and too thin, this does not indicate he althy growth and the need for the first repot, but a lack of light. The problem here is that the plants grow unstable and don't gain enough strength in the stem that they would eventually die or break off. For this reason, you should better avoid covers and make sure that the plant can grow in a light-flooded place.
Other Important Details About the Australian Tea Tree
- Cold horsetail tea is good for watering the plant because it provides strengthening silica
- Seedlings are sensitive, which is why fertilizing must be avoided in the first few weeks
- bushy growth
- deep root allows new growth again and again
- does not tolerate waterlogging
- the soil must not dry out required pH: 5-6
- high light requirement
- the soil should be low in lime
- kept in a bucket, on the terrace or on the balcony
- was used by explorer James Cook to brew tea from its leaves
- Tea tree plantations are considered to be particularly closely guarded
- Only seeds of the plant commercially available, hardly any mature tea trees