The evergreen indoor eucalyptus (Eucalyptus) belongs to the myrtle family. Australia is considered the birthplace of the plant. In nature, it looks like a small neat tree with a pyramidal crown. The smooth blue-green leaves of the plant have a waxy sheen. A distinctive property of eucalyptus is the ability to purify the air. Due to the fact that the leaves of the plant secrete phytoncides that kill bacteria, eucalyptus essential oils are often included in antiviral drugs. One such tree will be enough to significantly improve the atmosphere in the room. You can take advantage of the properties of essential oil by rubbing a couple of leaves in your hand and inhaling their aroma. But you cannot eat them - this will lead not to healing, but to poisoning.
Eucalyptus grows slowly. In its natural environment, its growth reaches 100 meters. The home variety is many times more compact. In addition, it is able to change the appearance of the leaves as it matures. Fresh foliage is soft and has a strong aroma. Over time, the leaf thickens, stretches and smells much less. In addition to the attractive crown, eucalyptus can surprise with flowering. Its small flowers, one at a time in the bosom, later turn into fruit-boxes.
Two varieties are best suited for indoor growing: Gunn Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus gunnii) and Lemon (Eucalyptus citriodora). Often ready-made seedlings are purchased in stores, but such a tree can also be grown from seeds. Despite their small size, they have a fairly high germination rate.
Caring for indoor eucalyptus at home
Location and lighting
Indoor eucalyptus loves bright places. He will be satisfied with the east or south window, where there will be enough sunlight. In other places, additional lighting will be required.
Temperature
The plant prefers a moderate temperature regime to heat. In summer and autumn, + 16 + 18 degrees or slightly higher will be optimal, and up to +15 in winter. Air circulation is important, but drafts should be avoided.
Watering
From spring to autumn, a tree, especially a young one, is watered abundantly, in winter - less. To do this, use water at room temperature. Extremes such as overdrying or overflowing can cause the tops of the shoots to dry out. Eucalyptus does not like spraying, but the pot with it can be put on a pallet with wet expanded clay.
Fertilization
Eucalyptus is suitable as a universal mineral or organic fertilizer for indoor plants. From spring to autumn, it is used twice a month, and in winter they take a break.
Transplant features
Growing young seedlings need annual replanting. Adults can change the capacity 2-3 times less often. As a soil, take 2 parts of turf and one part of leafy earth, sand and peat. Do not try to plant the plant in a large pot right away. This will negatively affect its root system. If the roots of an adult specimen have become too long, they are pruned a little, sealing the sections with garden pitch.
In the spring, the tree can be cut to the desired height.To form a denser crown, pinch new shoots.
Reproduction of indoor eucalyptus
Growing indoor eucalyptus from seeds has its own characteristics. They start it in early spring. It is best to choose a clay container with drainage holes for sowing. It is filled with soil that is half sand. Seeds are sown on a sufficiently damp surface. The optimum temperature for germination is 18 degrees. The first 4 days do not water the ground. They begin to do this closer to the appearance of the first shoots, which can hatch after a week or a little earlier. They need to be watered very carefully: excess moisture will only harm. It is best to use a spray bottle.
When the size of the seedlings reaches 3 cm and leaves appear, they are carefully dissected out into individual pots. Moderately high containers with a diameter of 7-10 cm are suitable. As with sowing, the plants are not watered for the first few days after transplanting. Then they do it regularly, but in moderation. After a few weeks, the grown eucalyptus trees can be planted in a permanent place.
Another method of reproduction is by rooting apical cuttings. But they rarely take root, so the method is not so popular.
Diseases and pests
The insufficiently spectacular appearance of the tree - too long branches, dull color of the leaves - may be associated with a lack of lighting. Withered foliage indicates rare watering.
Eucalyptus is very resistant to diseases of indoor plants, moreover, it is able to scare off some insects. Flies and mosquitoes will not fly in the room where such a tree stands. However, shield aphids or spider mites can harm them. To combat them, specialized drugs are purchased.
