The eucalyptus grows up to 50 meters high in the wild. However, with regular pruning, you can also cultivate the deciduous tree in a pot. In contrast to its height, its roots are only 30 cm deep. A container culture is also visually worthwhile. You can read even more advantages of a eucalyptus as a potted plant in this article.
How do I care for eucalyptus as a potted plant?
Eucalyptus works well as a pot plant, especially the frost-resistant variety Eucalyptus gunii. Choose a bright and warm location, water moderately, fertilize every two weeks and prune the plant regularly to control its growth.
Which variety?
It is estimated that there are around 100 eucalyptus species, the characteristics of which make each specimen special. The Eucalyptus gunii variety has proven particularly useful for pot cultivation. This is a frost-resistant species that grows slowly compared to its counterparts. This property makes the Eucalyptus gunii easy to care for.
Location
In summer, eucalyptus feels most comfortable outdoors. However, you can also keep it as a houseplant or on the balcony. The main thing is to choose a bright and warm location. The deciduous tree punishes too little light by bleaching its shimmering blue leaves.
Tip
Plant your eucalyptus near the terrace. Its aromatic scent repels insects, especially mosquitoes.
Care
Pouring
The eucalyptus comes from the warm climates of Tasmania and Australia. The tree is therefore used to heat. When it comes to watering, less is more. The deciduous tree is more forgiving of drought than waterlogging. Wait until the substrate has dried before watering again.
Fertilize
In the growth phase between spring and autumn, support your eucalyptus with a two-week application of complete fertilizer (€9.00 on Amazon).
Cutting
The most important thing when keeping pots is cutting. Even if you choose the slow-growing eucalyptus gunii, it can quickly exceed the dimensions of the pot if neglected. You can take a radical approach when pruning. Additionally, remove any branches and brown leaves that appear diseased.
