Growing Eucalyptus Indoors: A Guide for Beginners!

Growing eucalyptus indoors is easy – even for beginners – choose the right variety, choose a soil mixture, prepare your pot, replant your eucalyptus, water your plants and find a good spot for it.

Provide it with a little TLC and protect it from pests. Also just keep in mind that there are safety factors to remember. With this detailed guide you can understand the exact steps it will take to grow eucalyptus inside!

How to Grow Eucalyptus Indoors in Nine Steps?

To grow eucalyptus indoors in nine steps you should choose the right variety for your purposes, choose a soil mixture and prepare the pot. Replant your eucalyptus once ready and water it. Choose a good spot for it, provide care and protect it. Remember the safety concerns!

1. Choose the Right Variety

Choose a plant first, not seeds; it will grow faster. Eucalyptus trees may grow to heights of 300 feet relatively quickly. As a houseplant, get a smaller species from your local garden center because eucalyptus hates being uprooted after it is planted.

Cider gum, commonly referred to as silver drop, is one of the best types of indoor plants. It will not completely take over your interior area for years as this plant only grows 12 to 18 inches a year. It is an ideal option when considering eucalyptus houseplants.

Silver dollar trees (eucalyptus cinerea), yellow gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon), and exquisite varnished blue gum, baby blue, and eucalyptus globulus, are further varieties to take into account (Eucalyptus varicose).

2. Choose Your Soil Mixture

Eucalyptus plants can grow in a variety of soil combinations. Yet, they thrive best in soil with a pH range of 5 to 6, which is moderate to slightly acidic. If you can’t locate an acidic potting mix to purchase, you can alter a conventional potting soil mix by adding sphagnum peat moss, sulfur, or iron sulfate.

3. Prepare Your Pot

Clean the pot or planter where your eucalyptus plant will be placed thoroughly. It should be filled with a mixture of bleach and water (one part bleach, nine parts water), then left to settle for around ten minutes. Rinse it out thoroughly after washing it with a solution of water and detergent.

Next, cover the bottom with a layer of landscape fabric. This will prevent soil from clogging up the drainage holes. Remember that most potted eucalyptus plants will need pruning over time.

4. Replant Your Eucalyptus

Add soil until it reaches about one-third of the pot’s height. Eucalyptus is transferred from its pot in the garden center into the new pot. Avoid disturbing the roots at all costs.

Around 1 inch should separate the root crown from the pot’s rim. Therefore, adjust the soil level. If at all possible, either have someone else hold the plant for you or hold it yourself as the dirt is being added. By doing this, the possibility of upsetting the roots will be greatly reduced. Using the remaining soil, fill in.

5. Water Your Plant

Water the plant thoroughly or at least until the water drains from the drainage holes. The best possibilities are spring water or rainwater you have gathered, but if neither is available, use room temperature water. Adding extra soil on top if the soil settles too much.

6. Find a Good Spot

Put the pot that has your eucalyptus plant indoors in a spot that receives six to ten hours of direct sunlight every day. A south-facing window is ideal in the winter. Add some grow lights if the room’s lighting is too dim. Growing eucalyptus in bathrooms is an ideal option.

7. Provide TLC

Eucalyptus should be watered once per week, letting the top third of the soil dry out in between applications. In the spring, give the plant a balanced, slow-release liquid or granular fertilizer about once a month. Use only half of the amount specified on the label.

Regularly prune the plant to keep it in good form. Also, you should hard trim it once a year to just above the crown if you prefer a bushy plant to a tree. Coppicing should be done in the summer, well after the last frost and before the following. Use only sterile shears.

8. Protect It From Pests

Insects like mealybugs, scales, aphids, and spider mites can cause harm to gum trees. Moreover, it is susceptible to ailments like powdery mildew, leaf spot, botrytis, and root rot.

Keep an eye out for signs including wilting, leaf drop, distorted eucalyptus leaves, yellowing, and poor growth. Use a horticultural spray designed especially to treat the plant’s disease or pest. Neem oil, for instance, can aid in the eradication of mealybugs, aphids, and spider mites. Making sure you always use clean gardening tools when planting or pruning your eucalyptus is another approach to avoid contracting infections.

9. Factors for Safety

It is important to mention that oral consumption of eucalyptus is hazardous to humans and the majority of pets. Eucalyptus has also been discovered to interact with various medicines, notably those that the liver processes.

Clinical investigations suggest that when applied topically to human skin, eucalyptus oil, and leaves have antifungal and antiseptic qualities. Many commercial items use eucalyptus oil as a component, and those products are safe for human consumption. Nevertheless, using eucalyptus products in this manner is not advised for pregnant or nursing patients.

Eucalyptus oil must never be administered to animals, as with the majority of essential oils. If pets consume eucalyptus, they may have convulsions, confusion, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms.

How to Care for Eucalyptus Growing Indoors?

To care for eucalyptus growing indoors you need to get the watering right, ensure the humidity is at the right level, fertilize and prune correctly. The light requirements will also have an impact on how you organize yourself as well as the temperature.

The right eucalyptus plant care will always be a necessity when it comes to growing any variety. Whether that be indoors or outdoors. Below are some of the best tips for ideal growing conditions to include in your eucalyptus care for healthy growth.

– Watering

Eucalyptus do not appreciate sitting in soggy soil but need constant irrigation. When the top inch of soil on your eucalyptus feels dry to the touch, water it. Avoid soaking the foliage by directly watering the soil with a watering can. Refrain from overwatering to prevent root rot. So, watering eucalyptus shouldn’t be too frequent unless extremely dry.

– Humidity

You might need to raise the humidity levels surrounding your plant because eucalypti love a humid environment. To raise humidity levels, use a humidifier or put a tray of water close to your plant.

– Fertilizer

For eucalypti to continue growing and being healthy, constant feeding is necessary. Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer regularly – every two weeks – to give your eucalyptus plant the necessary nutrients throughout the spring and summer growing seasons.

– Pruning

Eucalypti can be pruned to promote bushier growth and keep them from being too lanky. Prior to the onset of new growth, prune in the spring. Remove any stems, branches, or leaves that are dead or damaged to keep the plant healthy.

– Light

Eucalyptus trees need lots of light to thrive. Place your plant at least six hours of direct sunlight each day in a south-facing window or beneath grow lights.

– Temperature

The ideal temperature for eucalypti is between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep your plant away from warmth like heaters and radiators.

Frequently Asked Questions

– Is Eucalyptus Easy to Grow When Indoors?

Yes, eucalypti can be grown indoors as houseplants with some care. Eucalypti, as was previously said, are reasonably easy to start and develop quickly, although they can be picky. The best option is to choose a smaller kind that thrives indoors.

– Can Eucalyptus Plants Purify the Air Indoors?

Yes, eucalyptus plants purify the air indoors noticeably. Indoor eucalyptus plants help decongest naturally when purifying the air. Moreover, it can be used to clear congestion brought on by colds and allergies and to free up your sinuses. Eucalyptus also has other medicinal properties.

Conclusion

There you have it, a complete guide on how you can start growing your eucalypti indoors. These plants have some of the best benefits in terms of visual appeal and aromatic properties. Keep in mind:

• Only keep eucalyptus inside if you can take care of it responsibly. Ingesting the plant could lead to damage, especially if young children or pets are in the home.
• In order to grow it indoors, choose a suitable variety like eucalyptus gunnii.
• Common pests like aphids and spider mites may harm your plant, so watch out for signs like wilting, yellowing, and damaged leaves.

So, are you ready to help your plants grow indoors?