The Australian tea tree is used to other habitats in its homeland. If you want to keep the plant in the tub here, you should follow a few care instructions.
Since growing an Australian tea tree is not necessarily the easiest and the myrtle plant with the botanical name Melaleuca Alternifolia can only rarely be bought as a young plant, it is particularly important to take proper care of the plant. In order to be able to do this, however, you first have to know about the preferences of the plant and find out what is not good for it. So how demanding is the Australian Tea Tree, whose tea tree oil is highly potent, really?
Worth knowing about the type of plant
In order to better understand the preferences and proper care of the Australian tea tree, you should know about its natural habitats. The Australian tea tree can only be found growing naturally in Australia and Tasmania, where it is mainly found in swampy or humid areas. It was only after James Cook discovered the plant and used its leaves to brew tea that it found enthusiastic followers in other parts of the world.
Considering its natural habitat, it becomes clear that the plant not only needs a lot of sun, but also a lot of humidity. For this reason, it is always important to ensure that the roots of the Australian tea tree do not dry out when caring for them - this would mean the death of the plant.
- the shrub of the Australian tea tree is evergreen
- The shrub develops white flowers in the middle of the year
- perennial plant
- up to seven meters tall
- the older the plant, the firmer its trunk looks
Important information about caring for the Australian tea tree
Caring for a plant does not only include regular watering, but much more things that need to be observed and carried out regularly if you want to keep your plant he althy and long-lasting. If you observe the following care details for the Australian tea tree, you can hardly go wrong. The Australian tea tree is suitable because of its requirements and sensitivityrearing especially for everyone who has a green thumb.
❍ Overwintering Australian Tea Tree
First of all, it should be clear that the Australian tea tree, despite its growth, belongs in the bucket to be cultivated as an ornamental plant. This is because it is not winterproof and absolutely cannot withstand temperatures below one degree Celsius. This means that as soon as it gets cooler, he should be brought into his own premises. At best, it should be placed in a light-flooded place near large windows so that it can be aired regularly. The sunnier and warmer the room, the more the Australian tea tree should be watered indoors during the winter. However, it is important that there is no waterlogging.
❍ The ideal location during warmer seasons
Because the Australian tea tree is an ornamental plant that is grown in tubs in our climate zones, there is plenty of space on a balcony or terrace to house the plant well. It is only important that the Australian tea tree is placed where it is very sunny but wind cannot harm it much. The ground should be able to drain water to avoid waterlogging and not make the tea tree susceptible to diseases.
❍ Watering the Australian Tea Tree Properly
Moisture is of great importance for the Australian tea tree, especially in warmer temperatures - frequent watering of this plant is therefore an absolute must from spring to autumn. It should be noted that the water used for watering is low in lime. Rainwater is best used, alternatively softened water can be used. In general, the Australian tea tree prefers a pH of 5-6. As far as the right soil or the right substrate for keeping the tea tree in a bucket is concerned, it should be as nutrient-rich and low in lime as possible - rhododendron substrates, for example, are suitable.
❍ How to properly fertilize an Australian tea tree
If the Australian plant gets a nutrient-rich substrate as a habitat, you don't really have to pay too much attention to fertilizer when it comes to care. If you want to do something good for your plant, you can give it a kind of fertilizer treatment: This should ideally take place between spring and autumn and last 14 days. Any conventional plant fertilizer for pot plants is suitable for this fertilizer cure, it is only important to note that the fertilizer is low in phosphate and nitrogen.
In principle you canWhen caring for the Australian tea tree, you can leave one or the other mistake behind without a guilty conscience, because even with its higher demands, the plant proves to be a robust and long-lasting plant after successful rearing. The only important thing is that the root should never dry out.
❍ Pruning the Australian tea tree correctly
Since the Australian tea tree can reach a height of up to seven meters and can also grow densely and bushy in the tub, you can see quite quickly after the successful rearing phase. But that is not a problem, as the Australian tea tree can be cut and shaped without any problems. As long as the roots are intact and he althy and the tree appears strong enough, the tree can be pruned in practically any way. Only young plants of the species should be spared, as they have not yet formed enough strength in the trunk. Those wanting to reach more shoots should make a pruning just after the faded flowers after the plant has bloomed - this will help the tree grow more densely, ideal for pruning round and maintaining a more compact shape.
The most important things about caring for the Australian tea tree in brief
- loves lots of sun and humidity
- Prevent waterlogging
- use low lime water for watering
- not winterproof
- fertilize once a year
- Nutrient-rich soils are preferred
- The root must never dry out
Since the Australian tea tree grows quickly and plentifully, it is also very important to repot it regularly and provide a little more living space - the substrate used for this should be fresh and not used before, otherwise the tea tree could be more susceptible to disease. You can also regularly check whether the roots show damage - if this is the case, you can cut them back with a sharp knife in the affected areas. Each time you repot, a layer of gravel should also be placed in the bottom of the pot to avoid waterlogging. A clear sign that the plant needs to be repotted is when the root is already growing out of the tub's water outlets.