The best way to overwintering your Eucalyptus
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Overwintering Eucalyptus
It can definitely be a bit tricky to get your eucalyptus to survive the winter in climates where it can't grow outside. There are, however, some tips and steps you can follow to give your plant the best possible conditions.
If the temperature doesn't get below freezing
If you live in a spot where the temperature doesn't get below freezing during winter you can keep your Eucalyptus outdoors during the colder months as well. If so just make sure that it has excellent drainage, that it gets the amount of light it needs and that the soil is kept on the dry side throughout.
If the temperature does get below freezing
Check the soil Before moving your plant from where it has been during spring / summer, make sure the soil is dry to avoid mold growth.
Check for pests When your plant is moved to a new location and proceeds into the winter months, it might get a bit weak. Its normal resilience against pests is therefore lower. Make sure to check that your plant is healthy and free of pests before moving it to its winter location.
Lower the temperature Place your plant in a cool room. For example, a garage, shed, basement, attic, summerhouse or a cool stairway if you are living in an apartment. Recommended temperature for this plant:
Add extra grow light Pick a full-spectrum light bulb and place it 20-30 cm / 8-12 inches above the plant to prevent leaf burn. Keep the light on for 12-16 hours / day.
Reduce watering Cutting back on watering during winter is key to helping your Eucalyptus to survive. The amount of water it will need will depend on the amount of light it will get and what temperature it's placed in. But in general: it's better to water it a bit too little during winter than a bit too much. However drooping leaves might be a sign that there's something going on with watering: either too much or too little, if so check the soil and adjust the amount accordingly.
Keep an eye on it Keep checking your Eucalyptus from time to time to be able to stop any infestations at an early stage. It's also important to know that it isn't normal for Eucalyptus to drop their leaves during winter, so if yours start shedding: something is going on! The most common causes are too much or too little water, too little light and too high temperatures. So, check the soil and the roots and make sure that everything is okay regarding the amount of light and temperature conditions.
It can be a bit tricky for Eucalyptus to survive for a long time in climates where it naturally doesn't grow - proper care can increase the chances but don't blame yourself if it doesn't survive. — Planta tip
