From childhood, people know that eucalyptus is the largest tree in the world. However, there are more than a dozen varieties of it, and only the royal one differs in such impressive dimensions. The rest have much more modest parameters, although they still cannot be called miniature. Some species are widely represented in greenhouses and botanical gardens - eucalyptus flowers, and any of them, are very attractive and unusual. For amateur gardens, the plant is not very suitable, because it is still tropical and requires the maintenance of specific conditions. However, for indoor crop production, some species are still suitable. And they can often be found in apartments. The reason for the acquisition and growing of the tree is again the eucalyptus flowers, which will decorate and diversify the home garden. True, it is not always possible to achieve such a beauty from a plant, but there are still chances.
Charming flowering
What is a eucalyptus flower? While the bud is ripening, it is covered, like a cap, with woody petals fused into a single whole. Under this cover is a kind of panicle of long and thin stamens. Having matured, the eucalyptus flowers take off the cap and reveal to the world a whole magnificent mane of different shades - pink, yellow, white, fiery red. Actually, because of this unusual flowering, the tree got its name: in Greek, “eu” means “beautiful”, and “calyptos” - “closed”, “closed”.
Origin
The birthplace of all varieties of eucalyptus is either Australia or Tasmania. All plants are similar: the shape of the crown is pyramidal, the leaves are greenish-gray, giving the impression of a slight plaque. Interestingly, foliage changes color and shape as they grow older. Eucalyptus flower, blooming, forms a box with seeds.
Among the species that can be cultivated at home, it is worth mentioning three varieties:
- Eucalyptus Gann (in another Hunni transcription, scientific name Eucalyptus gunnii).
- Lemon eucalyptus (in botany Eucalyptus citriodora).
- Spherical (ball, spherical) eucalyptus, aka Eucalyptus globulus.
The principles of cultivation are approximately the same, although external differences are observed.
Eucalyptus gunnii
This variety comes from Tasmania. In the wild, grows up to thirty meters, at home - no more than one and a half meters. At a young age, the tree has heart-shaped roundish bluish leaves up to four centimeters in length; in the adult - lanceolate, narrow, up to seven centimeters, densely green. Speaking about the eucalyptus flower (photo above), it should be noted that the flower stalk is flattened, and the flower bud is club-shaped. The fruits are not like a box, but like a bell.
Eucalyptus citriodora
His homeland is Australia. There, the tree can grow up to 20 meters; when grown indoors, it usually does not reach a meter and a quarter. Its leaves are longer, up to 15 centimeters, and narrow, with a distinct lemon aroma.
Eucalyptus globulus
At home, it is a tall, highly branched tree. In conditions of indoor cultivation - a relatively low bush, which must be systematically pinched and trimmed. In youth, the leaves are lanceolate, wide, with a wavy beautiful edge. In an adult tree, they bend with a sickle, stretch out and begin to resemble willow leaves. The bark of a spherical eucalyptus rejuvenates annually, exfoliating with flaps, under which a new cover is formed. The fruits that give the eucalyptus flowers of this variety have a spherical shape and ripen for a very long time - up to two years.
Light and temperature
No tropical eucalyptus species require special tropical conditions. In the summer, 24 degrees during the day and 18 degrees at night are enough for him. In winter - about 15. It is perfectly acceptable to move the pots to a glazed balcony. As for light, the plant loves direct rays. Western and southeastern windows will suit him perfectly.
Watering and feeding
From spring to autumn, they give enough water. Frequency of watering - as the topsoil dries up, to a depth of a third of the pot. In winter, watering is more rare: after drying of the indicated volume, they wait another half a week. Eucalyptus trees do not need hydration; they do not require spraying.
During the growing season, eucalyptus is fed every two weeks with complex universal fertilizers. In the dormant period (starting in September), feeding is stopped.
Growth Features
It is worth considering that all eucalyptus trees are fast-growing plants. Despite the fact that in indoor conditions their development slows down somewhat, the pace remains impressive. However, at first, the tree has only a very thin, brittle twig. So that she has time to grow stronger and not break under her own weight, when she reaches a third of a meter, the cuttings are tied to a support and pinched to limit growth and stimulate branching.
The rest of the tree does not cause much trouble. And if you manage to get an amazing eucalyptus flower on a grown stalk, your home garden will sparkle with wonderful colors.