The eucalyptus (scientific name: eucalyptus) is a popular ornamental plant with an intense aroma. As a tropical plant, care in our region is a bit more complex. Here you will find care tips on how to overwinter eucalyptus in pots.
Table of Contents
Care tips for eucalyptus
In order for your plants to survive the winter , you need to consider a few things. The procedure differs depending on whether the plant should remain in the house or in the garden.
House care tips
Transplanting the eucalyptus from the garden into the house is possible without any problems. If you don’t want to do without a beautiful eucalyptus plant during the winter, you should keep the summer care. Vital and healthy trees can also survive the winter, provided there is sufficient light.
Correct location
A bright location is important so that the plant does not lose its leaves.
ideal temperature
The eucalyptus preferably hibernates in winter at moderate temperatures between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius. Cold or hot temperatures are not recommended.
pruning
Before you move the plants, only cut the tops of the plant. No further pruning should be done during the winter. To do this, separate brown and dried out leaves from the plant. When planting back in the garden in spring, cut back vigorously.
Easy pouring
The plants only need a little water in the pot. Only water when the soil has dried out.
Outdoor Care Instructions
With large eucalyptus plants, it is often not possible to transplant them. You have to overwinter the plants in the bed. After all, three regions of the plants are particularly at risk:
- root
- tribe
- branches
First of all, however, the question arises as to whether wintering of eucalyptus outdoors is even possible. Storage in the house is recommended. Not all plants are suitable for practical reasons. If the eucalyptus is big enough and is no longer suitable for keeping in a pot, it can generally be hibernated outdoors.
protect roots
Foliage and branches allow you to protect the roots of plants by creating a pile.
shield trunk
The wintry sun and frost are a truly bad combination for the Eucalyptus. In the worst case, this leads to trunk cracks.
cover branches
With a transparent garden fleece you increase the protection for the eucalyptus branches. Cover them carefully so that the plant feels comfortable and the winter is successful.
General care tips
In order for the eucalyptus to exist in its old glory in spring, you should take these tips into account.
Avoid lime
Tropical plants and lime – they don’t go together. When watering and fertilizing, you should make sure that the lime content in the water or fertilizer is not too high. Preferably use rainwater to water the plants.
fertile ground
The plants have a high nutrient requirement. So you should create a fertile soil so that the tropical plant is supplied with everything it needs. After wintering, feed the eucalyptus with fertilizer at a normal concentration. With little nitrogen and phosphorus, you can optimally promote plant growth.
improve water permeability
Many types of eucalyptus react negatively to moisture in the substrate. The rainwater or irrigation water cannot drain away properly. So the roots are constantly moist. The waterlogging promotes damage to the eucalyptus. The water permeability can be improved with the right substrate.
Optimize humidity
If the eucalyptus spends its winter in heated rooms, the susceptibility to aphids increases . These in turn provide the ideal conditions for other pests. With a small bowl of water on the heater, you increase the humidity and preventively avoid infestation with pests.
Instructions for wintering
In order for the tropical plant to survive the local winter, you should preferably bring the plant inside the house. Consequently, repotting is required. With the following steps you lay the foundation for the trees to survive the winter.
- Dig up tree with roots
- Slightly cut back the tops of the plant
- remove rotten spots on the roots
- remove brown leaves
- bring new substrate into a pot (sandy-loamy, acidic, many nutrients, high content of humus)
- Water the eucalyptus and choose the ideal location
- proper pruning before spreading outdoors
- slow accustoming to the sun’s rays
