Content
Eucalyptus belongs to the myrtle family. Homeland - Australia. I associate this miraculous plant with koala bears that live on this tree and chew its leaves for days.
Many people still know this huge tree from school - a pump that can drain any swamp. With surprise and disbelief, it is perceived as a houseplant. But it turns out that there are still exotic lovers! Eucalyptus is grown as a house plant and is only growing in popularity.
Back in the 18th century, Europeans first saw eucalyptus forests and were shocked that trees with a huge crown did not give shade. This is a very unusual phenomenon for us. The famous French writer Jules Verne described the amazing property of eucalyptus in the novel "Children of Captain Grant".
It turned out that the leaves of the tree turn to the sun with an edge to reduce evaporation. Australia is characterized by dry air and lack of rain. In nature, the eucalyptus tree reaches 150 meters in height. Just imagine - this is about 50 floors of a residential building, it would be great to check out the beauty live.
view "blue"
Eucalyptus absorbs 300 liters of water per day. The tree perfectly drains swamps; it is especially appreciated for its essential oil, which its leaves are rich in: beautiful, bluish, with a characteristic odor.
The most beautiful rainbow eucalyptus. It was as if a great artist had worked with its barrel. The brightest colors flow down the trunks in multi-colored stripes, resembling a rainbow going from the earth itself high into the sky.
Have you ever seen something like this?
Eucalyptus is a miracle tree. Its phytoncides kill pathogenic bacteria and disinfect the air. He is a natural air ionizer and the best helper in the prevention of respiratory diseases. In addition, mosquitoes do not tolerate its smell at all!
Home care
Eucalyptus can be grown at home, its size is much more modest, the plants reach 1 - 2 meters. All the beneficial properties that a large tree possesses are inherent in a small or home eucalyptus.
It can only be grown from seeds. The seeds are quite tiny, they resemble buckwheat only even smaller. Fresh seeds sprout almost perfectly, but the plant is poorly cuttings.
Growing from eucalyptus seeds
It is better to take a plastic pot (elastic), when the plant sprouts, the pot of earth can be easily crushed (as if to soften the earth) and calmly take out the sprout without injuring the root.
At the bottom, be sure to put drainage about a quarter of the pot. We cover it with earth on top. You can use universal, eucalyptus is not whimsical in this regard. We press the earth a little.
I advise you to put 1 - 2 seeds in one medium pot. They need to be pressed into the soil by 0.5 cm. After planting, there is no need to water, but just moisten the top layer of the earth from a spray bottle. It is important that the seeds do not rot.
Now the eucalyptus seeds need to build a greenhouse. You can cover with cling film or put a cut plastic bottle. A plastic bottle is very convenient, because you can always unscrew the lid on it, as if to ventilate or add a little moisture.
Eucalyptus seeds sprout very quickly for about 7 - 10 days. The greenhouse must be placed in a warm place. Eucalyptus seedlings resemble radish seedlings in appearance (a little bit burly shade).
When 1 - 2 true leaves grow on the seedlings, the seedlings dive to a permanent place. After picking, they need to be placed on the window so that there is enough light.
Now a very important point: As soon as our leaves begin to grow, we should not regret pinching our plant. When the eucalyptus reaches 7 cm, we make a mandatory pinching so that the plant does not stretch, otherwise it will stretch out to be thin with a couple of branches on the top.
most often sell lemon eucalyptus seeds
Watering
The most important point in caring for this tree is watering. It is a large water lover, watering is required constant and abundant from spring to autumn, and only moderate in winter. We water only when the top 3 - 4 cm layer of earth has dried up, we immediately remove excess water from the pan.
In no case should the earthen coma be completely dried out, the eucalyptus may die. Does not need spraying of leaves. It is advisable to replant once a year.
Lighting: Likes good lighting. In summer, he feels good on the street, so it is advisable to take him out to the balcony with a constantly open window.
Possible growing problems
1) Overdrying an earthen coma leads to the shedding of leaves (leaves are not restored)
2) cold drafts are contraindicated. Loss of foliage also occurs.
3) Stagnation of water in the soil. You need good drainage, and immediately remove the water from their sump.
4) if the air is dry, spider mites may appear. Leaves turn yellow, there may be a cobweb on the inside of the foliage. In this case, you need to take the garlic (gruel), put it in a small container, and then put it in a pot next to the plant. We cover the whole plant with a polyethylene bag and leave it for a day. Garlic with its phytoncides will help eucalyptus.
Beneficial features
It is an excellent sedative. You can pick a few leaves of eucalyptus, rub it into your palm, lie down on a comfortable couch or sit in a chair, and just relax. This herb calms the nervous system.
Eucalyptus leaves can be brewed and gargled, inhaled for colds. Tincture of leaves can be used to wash wounds for early healing.
The aroma ionizes the air, adds longevity, promotes well-being. A real home doctor.
Grow eucalyptus at home for health and joy!
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Eucalyptus is an evergreen thermophilic plant belonging to the Myrtle family. His homeland is Australia. Today, there are more than 500 varieties of eucalyptus. All of them differ not only in appearance, but also in the way of growth. There are tropical species as well as those suitable for garden and indoor cultivation. In natural conditions, trees can reach a height of 100 m, in indoor crops, the height can be adjusted at your discretion through regular pruning and pinching. In addition, indoor specimens grow very slowly.
Eucalyptus leaves are gray-green in color and egg-shaped. Over time, they become more elongated, leathery and less attractive. The plant has a strong aroma, as it contains a large amount of essential oil. Due to the content of these nutrients, eucalyptus is used for medicinal purposes.
Indoor lemon eucalyptus, which is a small, slow-growing tree, is best suited for growing at home. Its scent is reminiscent of lemon, verbena, lemon balm and thyme at the same time, but even stronger and more pronounced. It is almost impossible to achieve flowering in a potted plant.
Beneficial features
As mentioned earlier, eucalyptus contains an essential oil, the main constituent of which is cineole (eucalyptol).Oil, tinctures and infusions are prepared from the plant, which have bactericidal, antiseptic and antiviral effects.
The phytoncides secreted by eucalyptus help cleanse the air of pathogenic bacteria and microbes. In order to effectively clean the room, it is enough to put one tree in the room.
By rubbing a few eucalyptus leaves in your hands and breathing in the scent, you can prevent colds. It should be borne in mind that chewing the leaves and eating them can cause poisoning.
Eucalyptus essential oil is used for rinsing, inhaling, making lotions and wet tampons. With its help, abscesses, furunculosis, phlegmon, purulent mastitis, infected chronic ulcers are treated. With erosions of the cervix, do eucalyptus douching. A good result is shown by the use of a plant for rinsing with tonsillitis, stomatitis and gingivitis. For the treatment of acute respiratory diseases, tracheitis, bronchitis and laryngitis, eucalyptus-based inhalation is effective.
The plant is also unique in that it is able to scare away annoying insects such as flies and mosquitoes.
Care features
Since eucalyptus has a number of beneficial properties and the ability to treat various diseases, more and more people want to have such a plant at home. However, not everyone knows the peculiarities of growing and caring for him. How difficult is it to grow indoor lemon eucalyptus? Caring for the plant does not cause much trouble. The main thing is to follow certain rules.
Content temperature
In order to ensure good growth and development of eucalyptus, during the period of intensive growth and in the summer months, it is necessary to maintain the temperature in the range of 24 to 26 ° C. If possible, it is advisable to take the plant out into fresh air, since constant air circulation is very important for it. It is important to take into account that drafts negatively affect the eucalyptus. With the onset of cold weather, the temperature of the content is reduced to +16 ° C.
Air humidity and watering
Indoor lemon eucalyptus needs moist air, especially on hot days. However, the plant does not respond well to spraying. For optimal moisture maintenance, it is recommended to place the eucalyptus pot on a pallet with regularly moistened drainage (expanded clay, pebbles or peat).
Watering the eucalyptus during the period of active growth should be abundant. In winter, the amount of water is reduced, and the time between watering is increased. When caring for a plant, do not go to extremes. It should be understood that both drying out of the soil and its excessive moisture are dangerous for him. Excessive watering can lead to root rot with subsequent death of the plant.
Watering the eucalyptus is recommended with settled water at room temperature.
Lighting
Eucalyptus is a light-loving plant that needs bright lighting and direct sunlight. For this reason, the tree is best placed in lighted places, namely on the south, east or southeast side. Placing eucalyptus near northern windows can result in a lack of light for the plant, which negatively affects its normal growth and development. Lamps for growing plants at home will help to compensate for the lack of natural light.
In the warm season, it is recommended to take the eucalyptus out into the fresh air, but here it is important to take into account that it is necessary to accustom the plant to bright light gradually, so as not to provoke a sunburn. In the same way, you should accustom him to active sunlight after a period of autumn-winter dormancy or purchase. In winter, eucalyptus is placed in the most illuminated place.
Top dressing
During the period of intensive growth, namely from spring to autumn, indoor lemon eucalyptus must be fed. For this, mineral and organic fertilizers are optimal. Top dressing is carried out every two to three weeks.In winter, fertilization is stopped.
Pruning and replanting
To restrain the growth of the eucalyptus tree and the appearance of new shoots, the main trunk is cut to the required length. By pruning the plant to a length of 50-100 cm, a lush bush can be formed. The most favorable time for pruning is spring. To get a beautiful and dense crown, pinch young shoots.
Indoor lemon eucalyptus at a young age requires an annual transplant. Adult specimens are transplanted every 3 years. Eucalyptus does not tolerate such a procedure very well, so it is better to transplant it into a more spacious flowerpot by transshipment, which will help to avoid damage to the root soil.
When transplanting a plant over the age of 3 years, the roots are trimmed. A garden var is used to lubricate the sections.
The soil for lemon eucalyptus must be loose enough. The composition of the soil, as a rule, includes sod land, peat, river sand and humus. Be sure to put good drainage at the bottom of the pot.
Reproduction of eucalyptus
You can propagate lemon eucalyptus using seeds. Apical cuttings are also used for this purpose. True, it is not always possible to root them, therefore it is best to grow lemon eucalyptus from seeds that are sold in retail outlets. The seed size is small and is 1-2 mm.
The optimal time for sowing is late winter or early spring. Germination soil should be as loose and porous as possible. A soil mixture consisting of equal amounts of sod land and sand is well suited. Sowing pots should be equipped with drainage holes.
How to plant lemon eucalyptus? The seeds are sown on top of well-moistened soil, and the container with the crops is covered with glass or plastic wrap. An important condition for seed germination is diffused light and a temperature of 20-25 ° C. Moderate soil moisture must be maintained until the first shoots appear. It should be remembered that excess moisture can be detrimental to young shoots. It is best to use a spray bottle for watering. The first shoots of the plant, as a rule, appear after a week. In some cases, seed germination is delayed for a longer period.
After a pair of real petals have appeared, a dive is carried out. Seedlings dive one by one into pots with a diameter of 7 cm.
Diseases and pests
Due to its antiseptic properties, eucalyptus is almost not susceptible to disease. The main problems with eucalyptus arise from improper care and maintenance. So, a mismatch in temperature, lighting and humidity can provoke the appearance of aphids, spider mites and nematodes. Having found pests, it is necessary to change the care and conditions of detention, treat the plant with insecticides.
Possible difficulties
When growing lemon eucalyptus, growers can face certain challenges. The main ones are elongation of shoots, dull color of leaves and a decrease in their size. All this is due to a lack of lighting. To avoid such phenomena, the plant is placed in a place well-lit by the sun, or lamps are used to grow plants at home.
Due to lack of watering, leaf wilting can be observed. Therefore, the owner of the lemon eucalyptus needs to adhere to the care recommendations. Otherwise, the decorative appearance of the tree may suffer. And if the eucalyptus experiences a prolonged drought, it may die altogether.
The root system needs an equally careful attitude. When transplanting a plant into a new pot, a more gentle method should be used - transshipment. This will help the plant adapt more quickly to the new location and resume growth.
Also, due attention should be paid to the intensity of the lighting. Excessive activity of the sun's rays can lead to burns of the leaf blades.
| Lemon eucalyptus from seeds: the first shoots |
I used to think: growing houseplants from seeds is akin to higher mathematics. Until I bought a packet of lemon eucalyptus seeds in the online store. It turned out that even a beginner can grow a tree - or rather, a whole green grove from a "grain". But first things first.
First, I'll tell you about the origin of the seeds. Their supplier is the Gavrish company. The bag looks like this:
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| Lemon eucalyptus seeds |
Its contents are several rather large "grains". Sorry for not making the photo. The seeds are dark in color, but you shouldn't be afraid. Practice has shown: they are quite viable and have germination. Moreover, there is no need to soak them beforehand. They wake up without any stimulants. However, you need to sow them wisely. In no case should they be buried in the ground, but left on the surface. After all, this plant germinates only under the influence of sunlight. It is best to sow any seeds in peat. But even an ordinary universal soil mixture is suitable for eucalyptus. So, believe in yourself? Then let's get started: We take any container and fill it with soil, or put a pre-soaked peat tablet. We moisten the substrate. Best from a spray bottle. If watered with a watering can, the earth can then turn sour. We spread the seeds of the plant on the surface of the soil. As I said, we do not deepen. It is also unnecessary to press them in. After sprinkling with water, they will go a little deeper on their own. Now you can use the spray bottle again. Landing is complete. At the end of all the manipulations, we make a mini-greenhouse - cover the container with plastic wrap (for example, a disposable bag) and put it on the windowsill in a sunny place. Thanks to the polyethylene cover, the future plant is protected from drafts. But from time to time, you still need to moisten the soil with a spray bottle so that it does not dry out. When the first sprout appears, the polyethylene should be removed so that the plant does not suffocate. The ideal temperature for germination of lemon eucalyptus seeds is 20-25 degrees Celsius. In the cold, problems will arise: shoots may not hatch for a long time. If all the necessary conditions are met: the sun plus a high temperature, the sprouts appear quickly. I have cultivated this plant twice. And both times the first green rudiments made their way after 7 days! You can sow the plant even at the end of February. The proximity of the battery will provide it with the heat it needs. But you can start breeding this tree even in April. By the way, the first time I sowed the planting material in the middle of spring. And more plants came up. However, they developed differently: there were clearly strong and weak trees. And two of them dried up during transplantation. The second time germination took place at the end of February. Only three seeds have sprung up.
But the sprouts turned out to be strong, and are the same in size, like twin brothers. This is how they looked before the dive:
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| Lemon eucalyptus sprouts in the phase of 2-3 true leaves |
When the sprouts reached a phase of 2-3 true leaves, and the moon entered the growth phase and a suitable sign of the zodiac, I started picking - planting new plants in flowerpots. However, as I already wrote, the root system of such a tree is very sensitive to injury, especially if the sprouts are still young. Perhaps the first time the plants died, because I was too zealous to get out of the ground. Now I took into account the previous mistakes, and acted very carefully - I used a plastic spoon, literally scooping up the sprouts from the soil. She also planted plants in disposable cups with thin walls so that they could be cut later. Having thus placed the trees for permanent residence in mini-cups, I put them in a sunny place and began to water them regularly. Fortunately, all the sprouts have taken root and are still developing at the same regular rate. My already adult lemon eucalyptus is growing up a cheerful company. By the way, at the same time I sowed Gibson eucalyptus seeds.However, this plant turned out to be more whimsical. There are some nuances, which I will talk about in one of the following posts.
author Volosnova Y., photo
Lemon eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) is a thermophilic perennial plant native to Eastern Australia. In nature, these are large trees, reaching 30 meters. And in room culture, you can adjust the height of the tree as you wish, with the help of regular pruning and pinching.
Hard and bristly leaves on the shoots of lemon eucalyptus are arranged in a spiral. In structure, the leaves are oblong-lanceolate, petiolate, up to 16 cm long and 1-2 cm wide.
This plant is famous for its indescribable smell. The scent of lemon eucalyptus is similar to lemon, verbena, lemon balm and thyme at the same time, but stronger and more expressive.
Australian aborigines scrape and eat the top layer from its leaves. Koalas feed on eucalyptus leaves, and the sluggishness of these animals is attributed to the effects of the essential oils contained in the leaves.
The color of the smooth bark of lemon eucalyptus is from whitish to reddish-brown. The trunk has growths at the base.
White flowers of lemon eucalyptus are dioecious. They are collected in corymbose inflorescences, consisting of separate umbrellas of 3-5 flowers. In nature, eucalyptus flowers are pollinated by bees.
In a pot culture, lemon eucalyptus does not bloom.
Conditions of keeping lemon eucalyptus
Eucalyptus as a species has a very high adaptive capacity. It took root and formed forests in the Mediterranean and the North Caucasus. Perhaps the selection of particularly resistant specimens will lead to the acclimatization of this plant in temperate latitudes.
However, the unpretentiousness and endurance of the eucalyptus make it dangerous for the local flora, which it can squeeze.
Lemon eucalyptus in natural conditions is undemanding to the soil, drought-resistant. This fairly hardy plant can survive even slight frosts.
In regions with cold winters, lemon eucalyptus is grown outdoors as an annual.
When choosing a suitable place for lemon eucalyptus in the house and in the garden, keep in mind that this is a light-loving plant, but it also tolerates partial shade.
Lemon eucalyptus grows well indoors in a bright conservatory, on the east and west windows, near the south-facing windows.
If the shoots of the eucalyptus are stretched out, and the leaves have become smaller and have lost their previous color, then the plant does not have enough light.
A pot with indoor eucalyptus for the summer can be exhibited in the garden.
Placing eucalyptus in the warm season on a balcony or in the open air, you should gradually accustom it to bright light in order to avoid sunburn. If the plant is sharply exposed to the sun after cloudy weather (or after being in a place with diffused light), then it can burn the leaves.
Lemon eucalyptus prefers a warm content during the growth period. From spring to autumn, temperatures in the range of 24… 26 ° C are comfortable for him. Further, the plant begins to prepare for a state of dormancy, therefore, from autumn it is desirable to lower the temperature to 16 ... 17 ° C.
Eucalyptus loves humid air, but does not tolerate spraying. Therefore, it is better to provide the plant with increased air humidity by placing the pot on a pallet with wet expanded clay, pebbles or peat.
Indoors, it is desirable to provide the eucalyptus with fresh air, but drafts should be avoided (especially in winter) - they are very harmful to the plant.
Lemon eucalyptus care
Watering the eucalyptus from spring to autumn is abundant, as the upper layer of the substrate dries up, with soft water at room temperature.
Since autumn, watering gradually decreases and becomes moderate. It is necessary to water the lemon eucalyptus with caution in order to avoid rotting of the roots, but it is also impossible to bring the soil to dryness - the plant can hardly tolerate such extremes. When there is no active growth, it is better to water lemon eucalyptus when the substrate dries out 1-4 cm deep.
From spring to autumn, growing eucalyptus is fed with complex mineral fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.During the dormant period, fertilization of the plant is not carried out.
Lemon eucalyptus in room culture requires annual spring pruning, which inhibits the growth in height and length of growing shoots.
When pruning the main trunk to a height of 50-100 cm, the eucalyptus then releases more and more new shoots, forming a lush bush.
To form a beautiful dense crown, it is recommended to pinch young shoots.
Lemon eucalyptus transplant at a young age is carried out annually. Older specimens are usually replanted after 2-3 years.
The following composition can be used as a substrate for an adult plant: two parts of sod land, one part of humus soil, one part of peat, one part of sand.
Good drainage is required at the bottom of the pot.
When transplanting, the plant should not be buried. It is necessary to compact the soil well in a new container and then water abundantly.
With long-term cultivation of eucalyptus in a container, it may be necessary to prune the roots during transplantation (similar to the bonsai technique). Thus, the woody plant is artificially limited in growth and its root system is adapted to the small volume of the container, since simple pruning of branches may not be sufficient.
Propagation of eucalyptus seeds
Eucalyptus trees reproduce successfully by seed.
Seeds of eucalyptus are medium-sized, about 1-2 mm in size.
Sowing seeds is carried out from February to June.
For information: in some species of eucalyptus, seed germination is light-dependent, therefore they are not embedded in the soil.
Lemon eucalyptus is best sown in the house in February-March or at the very beginning of April.
A substrate is prepared from sod land and sand in equal proportions.
For sowing, pots with drainage holes are used.
Sowing of lemon eucalyptus seeds is carried out in 2-3 seeds per pot, to a depth of no more than 5 mm.
It is better to cover pots with eucalyptus crops on top with cling film so that light moisture remains on the soil surface. If necessary, the soil should be moistened with a sprayer.
At a temperature of 20-25 ° C, lemon eucalyptus shoots can appear in about a week. But keep in mind that sometimes the germination of eucalyptus seeds is delayed up to 3 weeks, and even up to 3 months.
The pick is carried out after the appearance of a pair of true leaves in the plants. Eucalyptus seedlings dive 1 copy into pots with a diameter of 7 cm.The composition of the earthen mixture for young plants: turf - 1 part, humus - 1 tsp, sand - 1 tsp.
Lemon eucalyptus is a favorite houseplant
I bought lemon eucalyptus seeds last summer by accident, knowing nothing about its properties and requirements.
My own rules for growing plants from seeds boil down to a short stick-and-water formula. Therefore, I just sowed 5 eucalyptus seeds from the purchased bag directly into the pot with Kalanchoe, and then I forgot about them ...
About a month later, I found only one small sprout next to the Kalanchoe and planted it separately, in ordinary seedling soil.
This seedling grew rather quickly. And when he had already formed about five real leaves, while watering, I accidentally touched the plant with my hand. And I was amazed by the amazing scent from the leaves, with which no perfume can be compared!
Since then, lemon eucalyptus has become my favorite window plant.
My young eucalyptus was already about 30 cm tall, and then I noticed: the tips of some of its lower leaves began to dry out. Then I cut off a couple of these leaves. And so that their miraculous aroma does not disappear, I began, sitting at the computer, knead small pieces of eucalyptus leaves with my fingers and inhale their smell ...
Then it became clear to me why Australian koalas are so lazy, calm and peaceful 🙂 This is influenced by lemon eucalyptus: it not only soothes, but also refreshes the head, relieving fatigue.
I understood: the healing lemon eucalyptus is a dream plant!
Cutting the leaves didn't hurt my eucalyptus.A twig appeared in place of each cut leaf. But the trunk of the eucalyptus at that time was quite thin and began to bend. I had to support the plant.
By this spring (2011), my young eucalyptus has grown by 70 cm and has become a slender tree with 8 branches.
During the cultivation of lemon eucalyptus, I have already collected enough materials about this plant (in the Russian and English-speaking Internet) and already knew everything about the features and requirements of this plant.
In the spring, I pruned the eucalyptus: I cut off the top with two branches.
But it was a pity to dry these twigs with leaves. I put them in water - in the hope that they will take root. Twigs have been standing in the water for a month; their roots are not yet visible, but all the leaves are fresh and green.
I realized that one eucalyptus in my house is not enough! And I bought another bag with 5 seeds. Four of them ascended within a week; I hope that wonderful plants will grow from these seedlings.
In the meantime, working at the computer, I cut small pieces from the aging leaves of my first eucalyptus with scissors and breathe in their incomparable fragrance with pleasure!
Julia Volosnova (Moscow)
"Floriculture: Pleasure and Benefit"
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