Tea plants are perennial woody plants: they have a total developmental cycle that spans their entire life, as well as an annual developmental cycle that governs their growth and dormancy throughout the year. The total developmental cycle builds upon the annual cycle, which is constrained by and follows the rules of the overall development.
Based on the reproductive characteristics of tea plants and practical applications in production, they can be divided into four biological age periods: seedling stage, juvenile stage, adult stage, and senescent stage.
1Seedling Stage of Tea Plants
This typically begins from seed germination or successful cuttings until the tea plant emerges from the ground and reaches its first period of growth cessation, usually lasting for one year. The key management focus during this period is to ensure Water supply, maintain humidity, and provide shade.
2Juvenile Stage of Tea Plants
This stage runs from the first period of growth cessation (usually winter) until the tea plant is ready for commercial production. It generally lasts 3 to 4 years. The duration of this period is closely related to cultivation management and natural conditions.
The juvenile stage is the most malleable period for tea plants. Cultivation practices must focus on shaping the plant through Pruning to inhibit upward growth of the main stem and promote lateral branch development, thereby fostering robust framework branches and a dense branching structure. Additionally, it is important to maintain deep, loose Soil to allow for extensive Root distribution. During this stage, excessive leaf picking should be avoided, especially in the first two years, to prevent stress on the developing plant.
3Adult Stage of Tea Plants
The adult stage refers to the period from when the tea plant enters full production until the first renovation, also known as the prime stage, which can last 20 to 30 years. During this period, the tea plant's growth is most vigorous, and both yield and quality reach peak levels. Cultivation management during this stage primarily aims to prolong this period. This includes enhancing fertilization and cultivation, alternating light and deep pruning to maintain the Canopy, and removing diseased, dead, and weak branches within the crown. In the early stages of adulthood, emphasis should be placed on developing the canopy to expand the harvestable area quickly.
4Senescent Stage of Tea Plants
This is the period from the first natural rejuvenation until the plant dies. The senescent stage can last several decades, with some plants surviving up to a century. Even in senescence, tea plants can still produce yields for many decades through rejuvenation techniques. When a tea plant has become very old and repeated rejuvenation efforts fail to improve yield, it should be promptly replaced with new planting material.
Reference Book: Tea Plant Cultivation Science, Fifth Edition
Text: Yang Rui