Do tea plants attract pests?
Written by
Liu Xiaohui
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Tea plants attract certain pests under certain conditions. In my garden, spider mites plagued my tea plants throughout a dry summer. I kept the population down by misting every day. Aphids prefer fresh new growth, therefore you will often find them on the underside of the leaves. It's a good practice to inspect the stems and buds regularly to catch them early. Plants in good health with good airflow and enough moisture will tend to be more resistant to pests.
Prevention
- Maintain 50-70% humidity with pebble trays
- Space plants 3ft apart for airflow
- Remove fallen leaves promptly
Natural Remedies
- Neem oil spray (2tbsp/gallon) weekly
- Introduce ladybugs for aphid control
- Garlic-chili repellent sprays deter beetles
Companion Plants
- Marigolds repel nematodes and whiteflies
- Basil masks tea plant odors from pests
- Chives deter Japanese beetles effectively
Our pre-dawn evaluations indicate the maximum penetration of pests. I have a 10x magnifier with me to help distinguish mite eggs along the midrib sections. Yellow sticky traps are a useful way to monitor flying pests with no chemicals. In cases of mass populations, employ pruning on affected branches and soak them in soapy water (1 tbsp dish soap per quart).
Soil Health
- Apply compost tea biweekly for stronger plants
- Rotate crops every 3 years if field-growing
- Test magnesium levels to boost pest resistance
Emergency Treatment
- Food-grade diatomaceous earth for crawling insects
- BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) for caterpillars
- Alcohol swabs for scale insect removal
After three years of fighting pests, I've learned that preventing pest outbreaks is the safest and most effective strategy. My integrated pest management program uses companion planting, applying neem oil every week, and strategically pruning all plants. By recording outbreaks in a garden journal, I have recorded seasonal trends - for example, aphids peak around the flush of spring growth, while mites peak during dry, warm spells.
Read the full article: How to Grow Tea at Home Successfully
