Overwintering Eucalyptus
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: Robert Brewer
Posted on: November 13, 2001

I have a Eucalyptus globulus that I purchased from your company as a baby. I am trying to overwinter it in our house. The new growth is drying out severely. What are the tricks to overwinter this plant? I am misting it twice a week already. HELP!

Misting twice a week is not nearly enough. The atmosphere in the house once the heating system comes on is very dry and most plants did not grow an adequate root system for dry conditions in the moist summer. Set the plant on a tray of water and lift the pot just above the surface of the water with inverted pots, etc so that the plant is over water but not in it. Also make sure you do not let the soil dry out. If you want to mist the plant, do so at least two to three times a day.

Eucalyptus also don’t like root disturbance, so when the time to repot comes around, make sure that you disturb the root ball as little as possible by shifting it soil and all into a larger pot and filling in with fresh soil around the old root ball. If you had disturbed the roots on moving it indoors, that might explain your problem. In that case, you might even have to put the plant pot and all into a plastic bag and keeping it there until lots of healthy new top growth is taking place. Make sure the bagged plant is in a bright spot out of direct sun. Direct sun could cook it.

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