Tea Plants!!

Discussion in 'NEW Gardeners !' started by Alexkbrown, Jul 7, 2014.

  1. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    Messages:
    30,588
    Occupation:
    Grandmother Gardener Councillor Homemaker
    Location:
    Under the Edge Zone 8b
    Ratings:
    +14,130
    You need to add calcium then.. A tiny amount of blood and bone should do it, but make sure you work out the quantity for your small pots carefully..
     
  2. Jenny namaste

    Jenny namaste Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2012
    Messages:
    18,905
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    retired- blissfully retired......
    Location:
    Battle, East Sussex
    Ratings:
    +34,588
    You can do a ph test with special strips that show the acidity range dependant upon the colour the strip changes to. It is a more reliable method I think and using a good brand name ericaceous compost mix will ensure a good growing medium,
    Jenny
     
  3. Alexkbrown

    Alexkbrown Apprentice Gardener

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2014
    Messages:
    9
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +9
    I've ordered the ericaceous fertiliser, and i'll make sure that they're drained well and do a real pH test later today, thanks again!
     
  4. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2006
    Messages:
    17,534
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Suffolk, UK
    Ratings:
    +12,671
    pH meters, of the cheap & cheerful type, don't have a good reputation. a pH meter needs to be capable of calibration, and come with some control solutions, of known pH, that the meter can be calibrated against.

    I think that testing potting compost, as distinct from soil, can cause test results to be wrong too. Otherwise I would suggest just getting one of the cheap test tube kits from the garden centre. Their results are generally reliable, the only tricky bit is that you have to gauge the colour, against a colour chart, from what is basically a muddy solution!

    If you used Ericaceous compost in the first place I doubt that pH is a problem (the supplier may have messed-up of course, but hopefully that is very unlikely)
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Marley Farley

      Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

      Joined:
      May 11, 2005
      Messages:
      30,588
      Occupation:
      Grandmother Gardener Councillor Homemaker
      Location:
      Under the Edge Zone 8b
      Ratings:
      +14,130
      surely if you are PH testing then you should PH test the water you are giving them.. Rainwater and not tap would be best I think too..
       
    • Sirius

      Sirius Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Jun 26, 2012
      Messages:
      1,449
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Hertfordshire
      Ratings:
      +1,250
      Your cold frame looks all closed up?
      Lack of air movement will increase the chance of some sort of fungal infection (or similar) which is what the brown spots could be.
      Open up the lid and get some air movement.

      As has been said above, if you are using ericaceous compost, I wouldn't worry too much about the ph.
      What is the source of the water you are watering with?
      Tap water that could be hard? Maybe switch to rain water.
       
    • Alexkbrown

      Alexkbrown Apprentice Gardener

      Joined:
      Jul 7, 2014
      Messages:
      9
      Gender:
      Male
      Ratings:
      +9
      Hey Guys! Sorry I haven't been replying recently, I've been crazy busy. My fertiliser arrived and I've just applied it to the plants. I think I've spotted some blackfly (see pictures) which I've treated one plant for (pesticide). Otherwise I think the brown spots now can be attributed to either a lack of nutrients or bad pH, because it appears to be occurring on all new growth (which there is a pleasing amount of) and so hopefully the additive will fix this. To reply to some points raised, there are only being watered with rain water, so I don't think that's an issue, and I'm stuck between closing the coal frame for a humid environment, or opening it in an attempt to rid my plants of the mysterious brown stuff. Also on a final note, a leaf on the larger plant (new growth) appeared to be covered in thin white hairs, anyone know if this is normal? DSC_0012.jpg DSC_0014.jpg DSC_0017.jpg DSC_0018.jpg
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • PeterS

        PeterS Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Mar 18, 2005
        Messages:
        6,662
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Retired
        Location:
        N Yorks
        Ratings:
        +4,017
        The white hairs are quite normal. Wikipedia says The name "white tea" derives from the fine silvery-white hairs on the unopened buds of the tea plant, which gives the plant a whitish appearance.[2] The beverage itself is not white or colourless but pale yellow

        Have a look here at some info about brown spots on tea leaves. http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/PD-33.pdf
         
      • Alexkbrown

        Alexkbrown Apprentice Gardener

        Joined:
        Jul 7, 2014
        Messages:
        9
        Gender:
        Male
        Ratings:
        +9
        Hello to everyone watching this, It's been almost two months and I thought I'd give you all a little update, the plants seem to be doing well, just over a week ago there was plenty of encouraging new growth, unfortunately then I flew off to the black sea, and today I got back and they're infested with black fly again, so I've treated them with pesticide and I'll see if it works out. Overall though things are looking good for a few tiny cups of tea next spring!
         
        • Like Like x 3
        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

          Joined:
          Jan 9, 2005
          Messages:
          56,490
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Retired
          Location:
          Mid Kent
          Ratings:
          +110,321
          They look dark green to me so I dont think the ph is a problem, but I do doubt you will get enough young leaf tips off them next spring for even one cup of char let alone a full pot.

          Might need to wait a few years.
           
        • Alexkbrown

          Alexkbrown Apprentice Gardener

          Joined:
          Jul 7, 2014
          Messages:
          9
          Gender:
          Male
          Ratings:
          +9
          Thanks Pete, I think I agree with you, but I guess we'll wait and see, maybe I'll get enough for a little teaser of what is to come, and it's also possible I could blend it will a little assam to bulk it out, I know that's what Tregothnan estate do.
           
        Loading...

        Share This Page

        1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
          By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
          Dismiss Notice