GROW TEA TREE FROM SEEDS

 

 

 

This is the tea tree plant whose leaves yield essential oil and not tea plants.

There were not many pictures on how these plants grew from young and we wanted to track its journey from seeds to hopefully, maturity, and be able to extract our own tea tree oil.

Oil extracted from its leaves, twigs, and barks is very useful and had been used for thousands of years as herbal medicine to treat ailments ranging from sunburn, acne, fungal infection such as athlete’s foot and dandruff.

The primary usefulness of tea tree oil is its effectiveness as a natural antiseptic.

 

SEEDS & GERMINATION NOTES

The seeds came with its flower pods and this is how they looked.

 

 

We sowed them on November 19, 2019, at 2.52 pm and they all germinated on November 22, which was how we end up with over 100 seedlings in our home!

 

 

 

The seeds were very small and it was hard to separate them to sow, thus when they germinated, it was time-consuming to set them apart for growing.

 

 

These seedlings grew very slowly. The first set of true leaves did not show for another 14 days.

 

 

GROWING NOTES

 

Before one month old, seedlings were frail and there was a higher risk of wilting or “damping off”.

This is what it looked like.

 

 

First, the tip of leaves will brown and the leaves began to yellow. Then full wilt with seeds husks still attached.

Their roots were still healthy albeit, a single strand instead of mass.

 

 

TIP – INCUBATE Seedlings until 2 sets of true leaves showed

 

 

Seedlings’ survival rate improved when there was more roots mass and showed at least two sets of true leaves.

 

 

PLANTS IN HYDROPONIC PLUGS (LIQUID-BASED)

 

Growing them in liquid allowed us to observe how these seedlings progressed as well as testing which nutrients and schedule applications work better for them.

 

 

See how tiny they were once set into hydroponic collars?

Their roots barely peeked out at the base of the sponge.

 

 

Tea Trees with at least two sets of true leaves are less likely to wilt and tolerate heat very well.

 

 

 

We played with prototype designs to grow trees in recyclables during the stay in (COVID19) period in Singapore (April 4 to June 1, 2020), especially for our hydroponic plants.

The aim of our project was to grow them as big as possible in a containable reservoir for further studies.

 

 

 

 

Thickening woody trunk on hydro plants was evident and we could almost see the characteristics of the emerging trees.

Growing them in hydroponic plugs means we see the whole plant, inside and out.

 

 

 

 

SOIL – BASED PLANTS 

Progress in soil was slower, but once settled, they tolerated heat very well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pots were modified to stimulate a swampy and wet environment at the roots zone.

 

 

ESSENTIAL OIL + SCENT

 

Much to our surprise, we did not have to wait until the plant mature to enjoy the scent of tea tree oil.

This delight was experienced when the seedlings were only two months old.

 

OBSERVATIONS

 

We took the opportunity to study our plants deeply and these are some of our findings on tea trees.

Stem cutting does not root.

It seems to be possible only from seeds grown at this point.

 

 

This is a very hardy plant, the bald trunk regenerates itself.

 

 

Trunk Manipulation is possible.

 

 

HARVEST

 

 

BENEFITS

 

Our learning journey started on the usefulness of leaves extract from these plants.

We tested the extract on ourselves.

It was very good as mosquitoes repellent, treats itch and inflammation instantly, great for pimples!

 

 

 

 

LIMITED TREE SAPLINGS (From Seeds) – FOR SALE

<<SOLD OUT>> NOV 10 2022

 

 

 

 

 

SHORT NOTES ON TEA TREES

Natural environment is swampy & wet soil

Natural height is 20 feet

Natural spread of this tree is 10 to 15 feet

KEY – Warm environment is best, loves SUN

Hardy in USDA zones 8 – 11

Ideal soil need to be low in nitrogen (don’t use fertilizer) + lime-free

Need to keep medium moist, constant access to water

Can be grown indoors in a container

Maintenance – Constant pruning

Aromatic scent from foliage

Leaves’ oil can be extracted by steam or alcohol as a solvent

Few years to see flowers

Hermaphrodite species (both male and female organs)

Evergreen shrub

 

* Farm Project *

Commissioned Project – Seeds are from clients for tracking & observation