Eucalyptus

Myrtle family. Homeland - Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, Indonesia. It is noteworthy that all species, with the exception of Eucalyptus rainbow in the wild, grow in the Southern Hemisphere, but, of course, have spread to many countries with a tropical climate. It is popular for its rapid growth, its ability to drain swampy areas, to be appreciated for its ability to disinfect the air and for its beautiful foliage.

Several species are grown in indoor conditions.

• Eucalyptus globulus is a tall tree in nature with grayish bark and very branched. In indoor conditions, it is a low shrub in need of regular pruning and pinching. Young shoots are tetrahedral, covered, like the leaves, with a waxy coating, gray-gray in color with a bluish tint. The leaves are opposite at a young age, broadly lanceolate, narrowed at the end with a beautiful wavy edge, brushless, and the shoots are thin, light green, woody over time. Old leaves are alternate, stretch strongly in length and curve sickle-like and small petioles appear (leaves become similar to willow leaves).

This species is characterized by annual rejuvenation of the bark, it peels off (in old plants, the bark often hangs in flaps) and a new one grows. Because of this phenomenon, eucalyptus received a popular name - "shameless." The flowers are solitary, axillary. The fruit is a ribbed spherical box, seeds from one to several pieces and they ripen for quite a long time - about 2 years.

• Eucalyptus Gunii is another slow-growing species, a naturally branching tree, and a small shrub at home. In young plants, round-shaped leaves, similar to coins, gray-green or bluish, become lanceolate with age, reach 10-12 cm in length.
• Eucalyptus citriodora - misnomer - a species formerly grown as Eucalyptus citriodora, currently has another name: Corymbia citriodora. This tree, with narrow-lanceolate leaves, is gray-green and light green, covered with small hairs, if rubbed, emit a strong lemon smell. It grows slowly.

The leaves of Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus cinerea ash and Eucalyptus viminalis are valuable raw materials for essential oil.

At home, eucalyptus leaves can be used in the form of an infusion with antiseptic properties, used for inhalation.

Eucalyptus care

Temperature: moderate, in summer eucalyptus prefers 24-26 ° C during the day and about 18 ° C at night. In winter, the temperature is below moderate or cool 12-15 ° C. For summer, pots can be exposed to the open air, on the balcony or in the garden, in a semi-shady place.

Lighting: Eucalyptus needs bright light, some direct sunlight. It grows well on the southeast and west windows. In the summer, shading will be required from 11 to 15 pm. A mosquito net can be used as a shade.

Watering: Plentiful from spring to autumn, watered after the soil dries in the upper third of the pot. Watering is moderate or limited in winter, depending on temperature. After the ground dries in the upper half of the pot, you need to wait another 3-4 days before watering. But at the same time, the earth should not dry completely into dust.

Fertilizer: April to August with complex mineral fertilizer for indoor flowers, every two weeks.

Humidity: Eucalyptus does not require spraying.

Transplant: every 2-3 years in the spring. Soil mixture: 2 parts of turf and 1 part of compost (or leaf) land, 1/2 part of coarse river sand and 1 part of coconut substrate (crumbs or cut fiber). The soil must be very porous so that the roots breathe, and after watering it dries faster. Pinching shoots inhibits their growth and stimulates the appearance of young leaves. Transplantation is carried out only in spring during intensive leaf growth.

Reproduction: seeds and apical cuttings (about 15 cm long with a green stem). Seeds of many eucalyptus species in nature are stratified (stored in cold conditions). Many, but not all, and for some species stratification is desirable, but its absence is not critical. So, lemon eucalyptus, gunni and some other species do not need stratification, but ball eucalyptus should be kept at 4-5 ° C (in the refrigerator) for 3 weeks.

Eucalyptus from seeds

Eucalyptus seeds are widely available - Gavrish and others, ask in flower shops. Moreover, lemon eucalyptus is no longer eucalyptus, but corimbia, but the seeds are still sold under the old name.

Reproduction is not difficult, sown in February-March. It is advisable to use soil heating if you have cold windowsills, if the windows are plastic and do not blow anywhere, just put a plate on the windowsill.

Eucalypts are distinguished by a fast growth rate - in nature, by the end of the first year of life, the height of young plants reaches 1.5-2 m, in 3 years the tree is already 6-8 m high.

At home, the eucalyptus also grows very quickly, but at first it is only a thin twig, about 30 cm long it begins to bend from its own gravity - the shoots are very thin. Therefore, eucalyptus cuttings are tied to a support, and at a height of 15-20 cm they are pinched or cut to stimulate branching.

Young shoots of eucalyptus are quite flexible, but over time they become woody and it is impossible to give them the desired shape, the bark cracks and the branches break. Therefore, traditionally, eucalyptus is formed only by pruning (several times during the growing season).

The challenges of growing eucalyptus

• Eucalyptus does not tolerate both drying of an earthen coma and excessive watering, in this he behaves exactly like his brother myrtle - rots from waterlogging, leaves dry from drying, the plant dies.
• Needs cool wintering and fresh air. But cold drafts are not allowed.
• In low light, the stems stretch, the leaves grind and lose color.
• On a window that is too sunny, burns may appear on the leaves.
With
• age, the eucalyptus loses its decorative attractiveness due to too dry and hot wintering, so at home, as a rule, it does not live long.