Room lemon eucalyptus: description, peculiarities of growing at home

Eucalyptus is an evergreen thermophilic plant belonging to the Myrtov 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 they grow. There are both tropical species, and those that are suitable for growing in the garden and indoors. In natural conditions, trees can reach a height of 100 m, in the same crops, the height can be adjusted at their own discretion due to regular pruning and pinching. In addition, room copies 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, because it contains a large amount of essential oil. Due to the content of these nutrients, eucalyptus is used for medicinal purposes.

For growing at home, it is best to use a room lemon eucalyptus, which is a small slow growing tree. Its smell at the same time resembles a lemon, verbena, melissa and thyme, but even stronger and more pronounced. It is practically impossible to achieve the flowering of plants in pots.

Beneficial features

As mentioned earlier, eucalyptus contains an essential oil, the main constituent of which is cineole (eucalyptol). From the plant, oil, tinctures and infusions are prepared, which have bactericidal, antiseptic and antiviral effects.

The phytoncides released by eucalyptus help purify the air of pathogens and microbes. In order to effectively clean the room, it is enough to put a single tree in the room.

Rasterev in the hands of several eucalyptus leaves and breathing in the aroma, you can prevent colds. It should be taken into account that chewing leaves and eating them can cause poisoning.

Eucalyptus essential oil is used for rinses, inhalations, preparation of lotions and moist tampons. With its help, treat abscesses, furunculosis, phlegmon, purulent mastitis, infected chronic ulcers. With erosions of the cervix, eucalyptus syringing is done. A good result shows the use of plants for rinsing with tonsillitis, stomatitis and gingivitis. To treat acute respiratory infections, tracheitis, bronchitis and laryngitis, eucalyptus-based inhalations are effective.

The uniqueness of the plant also lies in the fact that it can repel such importunate insects as flies and mosquitoes.

Features of care

Since eucalyptus has a number of useful properties and the ability to treat various diseases, more people want to have such a plant at home. However, not everyone knows the peculiarities of growing and caring for it. How difficult is it to grow a lemon room eucalyptus? Care 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 a period of intensive growth and in the summer months it is necessary to maintain a temperature in the range of 24 to 26 ° C. If possible, it is advisable to take the plant out to fresh air, since it is very important for it to have constant air circulation. It is important to consider that drafts have a negative effect on eucalyptus. With the onset of cold weather, the temperature of the content is reduced to +16 ° C.

Humidity and watering

Room lemon eucalyptus needs moist air, especially on hot days. Nevertheless, the plant reacts badly to spraying. For optimum moisture maintenance, it is recommended to put a pot of eucalyptus on a pallet with regularly moistened drainage (expanded clay, pebbles or peat).

Watering eucalyptus in a 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 for him the drying of the soil and its excessive moistening are dangerous. Excessive watering can lead to rotting of the roots with the subsequent death of the plant.

To water eucalyptus is recommended by constant water of room temperature.

Lighting

Eucalyptus is a photophilous plant that needs bright light and direct sunlight. For this reason, the tree is best placed in illuminated places, namely on the southern, eastern or southeastern side. Placement of eucalyptus in northern windows can lead to the fact that the plant will experience a lack of light, which will negatively affect its normal growth and development. To compensate for the shortage of natural light, lamps for growing plants at home will help.

In the warm season, eucalyptus is recommended to be taken to fresh air, but it is important to consider that it is necessary to gradually accustom the plant to bright light so as not to provoke a sunburn. Similarly, you should accustom it to active sunlight after a period of autumn-winter dormancy or purchase. In winter, eucalyptus is placed in the most lit place.

Top dressing

In the period of intensive growth, namely, from spring to autumn, room lemon eucalyptus must be fed. For this purpose, mineral and organic fertilizers are optimal. Top dressing is carried out every two to three weeks. In winter, fertilizer application is stopped.

Crop and transplant

To contain the growth of the eucalyptus tree and the appearance of new shoots, the main trunk is cut to the required length. Cropping the plant at 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 pinch.

Room 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, therefore it is better to transplant it into a more spacious vase by transshipment, which will help to avoid damage to the root soil.

When transplanting plants older than 3 years old pruning roots. To lubricate the sections use garden var.

The soil for lemon eucalyptus must be fairly loose. The composition of the soil, as a rule, includes sod land, peat, river sand and humus. At the bottom of the pot, you must put good drainage.

Reproduction of eucalyptus

You can multiply the lemon eucalyptus with the help of seeds. Also, apical cuttings are used for this purpose. However, it is not always possible to root them, so it is best to grow lemon eucalyptus from seeds, which are sold at retail outlets. The size of the seeds is small and is 1-2 mm.

The optimal time for sowing is the end of winter or the beginning of spring. Soil for germination should be as loose and porous as possible. Well suited soil mixture, consisting of an equal amount of turf and sand. Pots for sowing should be provided with drainage holes.

How to plant lemon eucalyptus? Seeds are sown over well-moistened soil, and the container with crops is covered with glass or polyethylene film. An important condition for germination of seeds is diffuse light and a temperature of 20-25 ° C. Before the emergence of the first shoots, moderate soil moisture should be maintained. It should be remembered that excess moisture can be detrimental to young shoots. For irrigation it is best to use a spray gun. The first shoots of the plant, as a rule, appear after a week. In some cases, the germination of seeds is prolonged for a longer period.

After the pair of real petals appeared, they dive. Seedlings dive one copy in 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 are due to improper care and maintenance. So, the mismatch of temperature, lighting and humidity can provoke the appearance of aphids, spider mites and nematodes. Having discovered pests, it is necessary to change the care and maintenance conditions, treat the plant with insecticides.

Possible difficulties

With the cultivation of lemon eucalyptus, the florists may face certain problems. The main ones are stretching of shoots, dim color of leaves and reduction of their sizes. All this is due to lack of lighting. In order to avoid such phenomena, the plant is placed in a well-lit place in the sun or using lamps for growing plants at home.

Due to lack of watering, leaf wilting can be observed. Therefore, the owner of lemon eucalyptus must follow the recommendations for care. Otherwise, the decorative appearance of the tree may suffer. And if the eucalyptus will experience a prolonged drought, it may completely die.

Equally important is the root system. Transplanting the plant in a new pot, you should use a more gentle method - transshipment. This will help the plant to adapt quickly to a new place and resume growth.

Also, due attention should be paid to the intensity of lighting. Excessive activity of sunlight can lead to burn of leaf blades.