The truth is that, oftentimes, camellias don't seem to take well to being grown inside. Birdinthepalm is a happy exception! It appears to be difficult to create the kind of atmosphere that they will thrive in. Particularly during the winter, when typical indoor humidity levels go way down inside. That, in combination with some improper watering practices (maybe?) could cause some real problems. A fast draining potting mix is always best for containerized plants, making over watering more difficult. If your medium drains properly, then you SHOULD water it to overflow each time, rather than giving it little sips. However, I've sure seen some soils that were mucky and soggy, and difficult to manage. Birdinthepalm explained it perfectly....they like being uniformly moist, but must never be overwatered! A fast draining mix makes that possible.

I found a picture of tea seeds at: http://narien.com/product/tea-seeds I have several tea plants, but they are still fairly small, and I haven't seen what the pod may look like yet. Considering the form of the plant, it seems that growing new plants from cuttings would be far preferrable than trying to get them growing from seed. Here's what it says about growing from seed: How to Grow Tea Tea seeds are relatively easy to grow. If you are not planting right away, store the tea seeds in a refrigerator. Tea seeds left at room temperature will rapidly loose moisture and become less viable. 1.Soak the tea seeds in water overnight prior to planting. 2.Plant the seeds in a small pot or seed starting containers, and cover with approx. 2.5 cm (1 inch) of soil. Best soils to use are a well draining organic potting soil. 3.Water frequently by misting to keep the soil moist, but not soaked. A misting spray bottle works well. 4.Place the plants in a shaded area until the seeds begin to sprout, then gradually move outdoors into sunlight. If using grow lights inside or in a greenhouse, make sure the plants receive approximately 12-18 hours of light. 5.Water approximately two times per week in the first year as the roots become established. Teas grow well in warm, humid environments, so if you reside in an area that gets cool weather in the Winter and you are planning on growing outdoors you'll need to move them inside during times of cold temperatures. If you have, or can set up a green house area, where you can control the temperature, moisture and light you should have no problem at all with the growing process regardless of the climate in your region. Germination may take up to six to eight weeks, and as the plants first begin to grow it's important that they have some shade and aren't overexposed to the sun to ensure that the young plants don't dry out. As your plants begin to develop and its roots become stronger, you can gradually allow them to be exposed to more and more full sunlight. If you are growing in a controlled environment, twelve hours of light per day is ideal as your plants begin to reach maturity. Regular watering is essential as the roots of your tea become established, approximately two times a week is usually sufficient and rather than just soaking the soil you could mist the entire plant during waterings. Camellia Sinensis is an evergreen shrub best suited for zones 6 though zone 8 (Mid-west to Southern US). Grow tea in a well-drained and sandy soil that is slightly on the acidic side. A typical tea plant will produce several thousand tea leaves per year. For a consistent daily supply for a family a hedge will be needed. If you are planning on growing your tea plant indoors, you'll need to prune it so that it doesn't outgrow its environment. Tea plants can flourish in very small areas, but without trimming they will continue to grow and can reach in excess of two meters in height - which may be a bit tall for some environments.

The 1/3 rule won't work with the harvest of camellia leaves for tea. You'll only be using the uppermost two or three leaves (from each branch) at any given time. Since the pinching off of these leaves will stimulate new growth, you'll be able to harvest another flush of growth in a few weeks (during the active growing season). I have NO idea how much (in volume or weight) of a harvest you'd need to make a single cup of tea. By the time the leaves are dried and processed, you aren't left with what looks like much from that particular harvest. I also don't remember how many times per season the leaves can be harvested. (I've only visited the tea plantation twice.) Much of that would depend upon the time of year, general climate, vigor of the plant, and the quality of the growing conditions. The older leaves would be extremely bitter and vile tasting as tea. Besides, those leaves are the energy generators for your plant. Without a lush complement of mature green leaves, your Camellia wouldn't be able to continue on to produce new growth over and over again. Also, if you remove the leaves or branch sections from older parts of the plant, you'll reduce the amount of energy that will be devoted solely to the production of new leaves at the tips of the branches.

Another recommendation for Upton Tea Company. They have an excellent selection and their shipping dept is awesome. The package arrives in two or three days. DH likes flavored iced tea and drinks it all year round, so I order various flavored teas from Upton, i.e., apricot, black currant or mango. I make it in a coffeepot. They sell iced tea makers but I think a coffeepot works just as well. I like brewed hot tea, especially Nilgiri and Irish Breakfast. They have so many types, it boggles the mind! I'd love to try lots of them.