It has a moderately slow growth rate, making it an excellent choice for containers.
A spacing of at least ten feet apart is usually recommended for full-sized cultivars.
Mix compost into the planting area to add nutrients to the soil and improve drainage.
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Water the area well.
Water your plant deeply as it grows to encourage root development.
Warning
In some tropical regionsespecially Hawaiithis species has escaped cultivation and naturalized in the wild.
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Light
This plant prefers a location withfull sunthough it can tolerate a little shade.
However, flowering will typically be more abundant if it is located in full sun.
Soil
New Zealand tea tree readily grows in fertile, slightly acidic soil.
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Its planting site also needs good drainage.
The plant is fairly tolerant of poor, infertile soil, though it doesn’t like heavy soil.
you could amend heavy clay soil with compost or otherorganic matterto improve drainage.
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Water
Water young New Zealand tea tree plants regularly so the soil remains consistently moist.
However, do not let the plant sit in soggy soil.
Established plants like a more moderate moisture level, and they have some drought tolerance.
You typically only have to water them if the soil begins to dry out from a lack of rainfall.
Temperature and Humidity
New Zealand tea tree is hardy inUSDA cold hardiness zones9 to 10.
Bring the container indoors each winter and provide it with as much sunlight as possible.
Move it outdoors in the spring once the temperature is consistently above 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
But don’t cut back more than one-third of the plant at one time.
Sow them in spring in trays filled with seed starter mix, just barely covering the seeds.
Transplant each seedling into its own small pot when they are large enough to handle.
They will need protection from cold in their first two years outdoors.
Repotting is best done in spring.
With both in-ground and potted plants, reduce watering during the winter months.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
This plant typically doesn’t have problems with pests and diseases.
Occasionally it might acquire webbing caterpillars, borers, and scales.
A horticultural oil such asneem oilis a good treatment for pest problems.
The best defense against any problems is to provide the correct growing conditions.
Failure to bloom is usually due to bad drainage or lack of sunlight.
This condition is called chlorosis and develops when alkaline soil prevents the plant from properly taking up soil nutrients.
A plant that begins to wilt and collapse is probably suffering from root rot due to overly moist conditions.
Leptospermum Scoparium - Plant Finder.
Missouri Botanical Garden
Hawaii’s Most Invasive Horticultural Species.Big Island Invasive Species Committee
