Eucalyptus

Family. Myrtaceae.

Where it grows: Australia. 

What it looks like. Eucalyptus trees are fast-growing evergreen or deciduous, spreading trees, often of impressive size. The trunks are very strong, powerful, their bark is painted in various shades of green, reddish, brown, orange. Often the bark peels off in thin layers. The leaves are simple, dark green, glossy, leathery, narrowly lanceolate. The buds are collected in small inflorescences - brushes and resemble powder puffs - have many long stamens of white, orange, red, pink color. The leaves contain useful essential oils and emit a pleasant aroma when damaged.

Height. Some trees in nature reach a height of 100 m. In domestic conditions it develops quickly - in one year it can reach a height of 1 m. Indoors the final height is regulated by pruning at a height of 90 - 180 cm.

Care at home

Temperature for indoor plants

In spring and summer, the optimal temperature range will be from 18 to 24° C. Eucalyptus loves warmth and, with sufficient watering, will tolerate the summer heat well. In the winter months, it is advisable to provide rest in a cool room with a temperature of 7 - 12° C.

Growing, pruning 

Eucalyptus is easy to grow indoors, but it does take up a lot of space. Trim long branches to keep the tree compact. Rotate the container a quarter turn every week to ensure symmetrical growth. Move the plant outdoors during warmer months.

Lighting

At home, representatives of this genus love a brightly lit place with plenty of reflected sunlight and direct rays in the morning and evening hours. On hot summer days, light shading is possible. They are successfully grown under artificial lighting. Good growth rates are possible only with the onset of long daylight hours.

When does bloom? 

Flowering does not occur in indoor conditions.

Diseases and pests 

Leaves fall off when the soil is dry for a long time or there is a lack of light. If water stagnates in the tray after watering, the plant rots.

Eucalyptus  is rarely attacked by insect pests; only spider mites, mealybugs, aphids and scale insects sometimes appear.

Reproduction

The seeds are sown in spring on the surface of slightly moistened, loose, nutritious soil - for germination they must be in the light. At a temperature of 21 - 24 ° C and under cover of transparent plastic, glass or a simple polyethylene bag, germination occurs within a few days, but for some species it can take up to a month.
Germination of fresh seeds is good, but many young seedlings die from non-compliance with the water regime and lack of light. Crops are aired daily, gradually increasing the airing time. The first picking is carried out when the shoots reach a height of 4 - 5 cm and have 4 leaves.

Eucalyptus reproduces well by cuttings, which can be rooted throughout the year. Cuttings root most successfully in high humidity - cover young specimens with glass or a transparent polyethylene bag.

Soil

Tolerates most types of soil with good drainage and neutral or acidic pH.  To improve drainage, add 20% sand to the soil. 

Feeding

Every ten days from spring to mid-autumn, feed the plants with water-soluble fertilizers. Do not use fertilizers with a high nitrogen content - the trees will not bloom as abundantly. Eucalyptus does not like an excess of nutrients - feed it moderately.

Purpose

Greening of spacious rooms with good lighting. 

Air humidity

It tolerates dry conditions well and will only need additional moisture when very hot weather sets in. It welcomes constantly ventilated rooms with a good air flow. 

Soil moisture

In spring and summer, keep the soil evenly moist or allow it to dry out a few inches between waterings. If it dries out too much during this period, the tree may lose some leaves. In the winter months, if kept in a cool room, simply protect the soil from drying out completely. It is advisable to use softened water for watering.

Transplantation

Young specimens are replanted annually as they grow, in spring into larger pots. Mature eucalyptus trees are difficult to replant due to their size, so the top layer of soil is replaced with fresh soil annually. It tolerates replanting easily. Use a plastic pot for planting, not a ceramic one.

Note

All parts of the tree are poisonous - take precautions when handling the flower and keep eucalyptus away from children and pets. The essential oil is used in the perfume industry and medicine. The aroma of the leaves invigorates, relieves fatigue. Eucalyptus can cleanse the air in the room from harmful impurities. Do not buy specimens with falling leaves, and if you do buy such a specimen, root the cuttings taken from it. With age, trees shed their lower leaves - this is normal.

Varieties:

Lemon Eucalyptus - Corymbia citriodora

Tall, spreading trees with slender trunks covered with smooth, thin, light bark. The shoots are thin, abundantly branched, and can be painted in yellow or burgundy-brown shades. The leaves are hard, narrow, entire, up to 20 cm long, with a central vein highlighted in a lighter shade. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs on long petioles. When damaged, the branches and leaves emit a strong lemon aroma. The flowers have long white stamens, are collected in small inflorescences, and rarely appear when grown indoors. 

Eucalyptus deglupta

Famous bright trees, the bark of which is painted in very different shades. In their natural habitat, these evergreen trees reach 80 m in height. This variety is the most frost-resistant and can withstand short-term frosts, and, in addition, it is the only one that lives in the northern hemisphere. The leaves are dark green, narrow, lanceolate, reaching 15 cm in length. The leaf blades are hard, entire. White fluffy flowers are collected in small axillary panicles.

Unfortunately, this tree is characterized by rapid growth, which makes it difficult to maintain at home. 

Eucalyptus viminalis

Slender trees with a spreading, airy crown 40-50 m high and a slender trunk covered with smooth, light brown bark. The leaves are narrowly lanceolate, 9-24 cm long, entire, bluish-green. The inflorescences are small - axillary or apical, bearing several greenish-white fluffy flowers with numerous long, straight stamens. 

Eucalyptus Populus

Evergreen spreading trees with thin, multi-branched shoots. The leaves are matte, bluish-green, rounded or broadly lanceolate, arranged alternately. The leaf blades are entire. Loose inflorescences - panicles bear many small, greenish flowers. 

There are attractive ornamental foliage variations of these plants with leaves colored in a burgundy shade or dark green leaf blades with large white spots. 

Eucalyptus gunnii

A low evergreen tree with a spreading crown and a thick trunk covered with thin, peeling bark. The leaves are lanceolate, dark green, reach 8 cm in length, arranged alternately, on thin, long petioles. The flowers are cream or brownish, collected in small racemose inflorescences. 

Eucalyptus globulus

Medium-height evergreen trees with thin trunks covered with peeling bark. The leaves are lanceolate, green, glossy or matte, covered with a bluish coating, reaching 6 - 35 cm in length. An interesting feature of the plant is that young leaves are located on thin branches in opposite pairs, while adult leaves become alternate. The lower surface of the leaf blades is painted in a lighter shade. Attractive white or cream flowers have numerous fluffy stamens and are collected in small inflorescences. 

Eucalyptus cinerea

Evergreen spectacular trees up to 15 m high with a gorgeous spreading crown formed by repeatedly branched thin shoots. The leaves are heart-shaped or rounded, sessile, silvery-gray, reaching 11 cm in length. Young leaves often have a pinkish or purple hue, and emit a pleasant aroma when damaged. The flowers are creamy, axillary, collected in small inflorescences.