Eucalyptus as a houseplant: 6 care tips

Garden plants are often also suitable for cultivation as indoor plants, including eucalyptus. The Australian deciduous tree is ideal for bringing a little color into the home if a few care tips are followed.

Fertilize enough

The first thing to be said is that each container plant needs more fertilizer than is necessary in a garden bed. Because in the pot, the fertilizer used is washed out faster with the irrigation water and does not reach the roots in sufficient quantities:

• fertilize regularly
• from spring to autumn
• every two weeks
• Universal fertilizer is sufficient for normal bucket soil
• Apply liquid fertilizer with irrigation water

Water regularly

The eucalyptus in the pot needs to be watered regularly. However, the plant does not tolerate waterlogging and therefore special attention should be paid to this when watering:

• Create drainage in the pot
• Use gravel, clay balls or shards
• place over drain hole
• Always keep the root ball moist
• Always let the soil dry on the surface
• only then pour again
• water less in winter

Cut properly

Cutting is particularly important with eucalyptus as a cultivated house plant. Because the tree can reach a height of up to five meters, which is usually too big for a house or apartment. Depending on how big the tub was chosen, the houseplant can also reach a considerable height if it is not cut back:

• very easy to cut
• Pruning can be done all year round
• can be cut back vigorously
• as far as space is required
• grows back with new shoots
• all cross-growing branches should be removed regularly
• this makes the growth habit optically more beautiful
• there is no baldness inside

Note: When you cut the eucalyptus tree, you should never touch the roots or even cut into the root ball here, because the plant cannot tolerate this and could die.

Choose the optimal location

The eucalyptus tree has shimmering, light blue leaves. In order to achieve this effect in a room, the right location is particularly important for the plant:

• sunny and warm
• cooler temperatures in winter
• no blue coloration without sufficient light
• too little sun favors the fading of the leaves

Winter safely

The eucalyptus, which was cultivated as a houseplant, should also receive the right care for wintering. Because if the heating gives off a lot of heat throughout the winter, the tree is also too warm. So he should get the following place in winter:

• in a relatively cool room
• about 13 ° Celsius are recommended
• bright location in winter
• no direct sunlight

Tip: So that you can move the heavy pot with the tree back and forth well, it is advisable to place it on a trellis with rollers from the beginning before planting.

Repot with foresight

Due to the very large and rapid growth of the trees, they have to be repotted regularly. According to the care tips, the trees should not only receive fresh substrate, but also a larger container:

• in the first few years maybe even repot twice
• Eucalyptus grows faster for the first few years
• thereafter at least annually
• use fresh substrate
• Always choose a bucket one size larger
• ideally repot after cutting
• Tree not so big anymore

Note: Unfortunately, it is not possible to propagate a eucalyptus that you have to dispose of due to its size. Neither with cuttings nor with self-harvested seeds will succeed. Because a tree cultivated as a houseplant does not develop any flowers and therefore no seeds despite all the care tips.

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