Eucalyptus is an evergreen heat-loving plant belonging to the Myrtle family. Its 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 both tropical species and those suitable for garden and indoor cultivation. Under natural conditions, trees can reach a height of 100 m, but 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 grey-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.
For growing at homeindoor lemon eucalyptus, which is a small, slow growing tree, works best. Its smell is simultaneously reminiscent of lemon, verbena, lemon balm and thyme, but even stronger and more pronounced. It is almost impossible to achieve flowering of a plant in pots.
Useful properties
As mentioned earlier, eucalyptus contains essential oil, the main component of which is cineole (eucalyptol). Oil, tinctures and infusions are prepared from the plant, which have a bactericidal, antiseptic and antiviral effect.
Phytoncides secreted by eucalyptus help purify the air from pathogenic bacteria and microbes. In order to effectively clean the room, it is enough to put one tree in the room.
Brushing a few eucalyptus leaves in your hands and inhaling the aroma, you can prevent colds. It should be taken into account that chewing the leaves and eating them can cause poisoning.
Essential oil of eucalyptus is used for rinsing, inhalation, preparation of lotions and wet swabs. With its help, abscesses, furunculosis, phlegmon, purulent mastitis, infected chronic ulcers are treated. With erosion of the cervix, eucalyptus douching is done. A good result is shown by the use of the plant for rinsing with tonsillitis, stomatitis and gingivitis. For the treatment of acute respiratory diseases, tracheitis, bronchitis and laryngitis, inhalations based on eucalyptus are effective.
The uniqueness of the plant also liesin that it can repel annoying insects such as flies and mosquitoes.
Features of care
Because eucalyptus has a number of useful properties and the ability to treat various diseases, more and more people want to have such a plant in their homes. However, not everyone knows the features of growing and caring for it. 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.
Containment temperature
In order for eucalyptus trees to grow and develop well, temperatures must be maintained between 24 and 26 °C during the period of intensive growth and during the summer months. If possible, it is desirable to take the plant to fresh air, since constant air circulation is very important for it. It is important to bear in mind that drafts adversely affect 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 tray with regularly moistened drainage (expanded clay, pebbles or peat).
Watering eucalyptus during the period of active growth should be plentiful. In winter, the amount of water is reduced, and the time between watering is increased. When caring for a plantdo 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 and subsequent death of the plant.
It is recommended to water eucalyptus with settled water at room temperature.
Lighting
Eucalyptus is a photophilous plant that needs bright light 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 cause the plant to experience a lack of light, which will negatively affect its normal growth and development. Lamps for growing plants at home will help compensate for the lack of natural light.
In the warm season, eucalyptus is recommended to be taken out to fresh air, but it is important to consider that the plant should be accustomed to bright light gradually so as not to provoke 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.
Feeding
During the period of intensive growth, namely from spring to autumn, indoor lemon eucalyptus must be fed. For this, mineral and organic fertilizers are optimally suited. Top dressing is carried out at intervals of once every two to three weeks. In winter, fertilization is stopped.
Pruning and transplanting
Forto curb the growth of the eucalyptus tree and the appearance of new shoots, the main trunk is cut to the required length. By cutting the plant to a length of 50-100 cm, you can form a lush bush. The most favorable time for pruning is spring. To get a beautiful and dense crown, young shoots are pinched.
Indoor lemon eucalyptus at a young age requires an annual transplant. Adult specimens are transplanted every 3 years. Eucalyptus does not tolerate this procedure very well, so it is better to transplant it into a larger flowerpot by transshipment, which will help avoid damage to the root soil.
When transplanting a plant over 3 years old, the roots are pruned. To lubricate the cuts use garden var.
The soil for lemon eucalyptus should be loose enough. The composition of the soil, as a rule, includes soddy soil, peat, river sand and humus. Be sure to put good drainage at the bottom of the pot.
Propagation 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, so it is best to grow lemon eucalyptus from seeds that are sold at retail outlets. The size of the seeds is small and is 1-2 mm.
The best time for sowing is late winter or early spring. The soil for germination should be as loose and porous as possible. A soil mixture consisting of an equal amount of soddy soil and sand is well suited. Pots for sowing must be supplieddrainage holes.
How to plant lemon eucalyptus? Seeds are sown on top of well-moistened soil, and the container with crops is covered with glass or plastic wrap. An important condition for seed germination is diffused light and a temperature of 20-25 °C. Until the first shoots appear, it is necessary to maintain moderate soil moisture. It should be remembered that excess moisture can adversely affect young sprouts. For watering, it is best to use a spray bottle. 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 couple 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
Thanks to its antiseptic properties, eucalyptus is almost immune 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, flower growers may encounter certain problems. The main ones are the stretching of the shoots, the dull color of the leaves and the reduction in their size. All this is due to lack of lighting. To avoid such phenomena, the plant is placed in a place well-lit by the sun or lamps are used for growing.plants at home.
Due to lack of watering, wilting of leaves may occur. Therefore, the owner of lemon eucalyptus should adhere to the recommendations for care. 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 no less careful attitude. When transplanting a plant into a new pot, a more gentle method should be used - transshipment. This will help the plant to quickly adapt to a new place and resume growth.
Also, due attention should be paid to the intensity of lighting. Excessive activity of the sun's rays can cause leaf burns.
