Types of Eucalyptus to Grow Indoors

There are some eucalyptus varieties suitable to be grown as houseplants, at least for their first few years until they get too big. Some of them are mallee eucalyptus, which describes the growth habit of small and multi-branched eucalyptus species.

• E. pulverulenta ‘Baby Blue’ has silvery-blue foliage. The coin-shaped leaves and stems are strongly scented. The leaves have a white wax coating that extends their vase life. It grows to a height of 25 feet.
• E. gunnii ‘Silver Drop’ has silvery scalloped foliage with a strong fragrance. The plant grows 40 feet tall and 30 wide, but it can be grown as an annual that will reach about 18 to 42 inches in one growing season. 
• E. citriodora (Corymbia citriodora), commonly known as the lemon-scented gum or lemon bush has leaves with a lemon or citrus fragrance. It grows 6 to 10 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide but remains much smaller in a container.
• E. cinerea, the silver dollar tree is one of the most popular eucalyptus sold as a houseplant. It has stiff, round leaves about 1 inch in diameter that resemble silvery coins; they are attached directly to the branches. 

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How to Care for Eucalyptus Indoors 

Here are the main care requirements for growing eucalyptus indoors:

• Place it in a location with maximum bright light exposure.
• Use a well-draining soil and keep it moist.
• Fertilize monthly from spring to fall.
• Prune to keep the size of the tree in check.

Light

Eucalyptus needs a lot of light. Choose a place in your home that gets the brightest and longest sunlight, six hours at least, ideally ten. A south-facing window is ideal. 

Soil

Use a well-draining potting mix that contains a good amount of perlite or peat moss to ensure drainage. Make sure the entire root system is well covered with potting mix. 

Watering

Eucalyptus needs watering when the soil surface feels dry to the touch. Water the plant thoroughly and slowly until water runs out of the drainage holes of the pot. Empty the saucer and discard the runoff. Wait until the soil surface feels dry to the touch before watering again. 

Fertilizing

Fertilize container-grown eucalyptus with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer once a month during the growing season from spring to fall. 

Humidity

The average humidity in most homes (between 30 and 50%) is fine for eucalyptus. There is no need to mist the plant. 

Pruning

To keep the plant at a manageable size, you might have to prune your eucalyptus. Do this in late winter or early spring before the active growing season restarts. The pruning technique depends on the type. The pruning of single-trunk trees aims to maintain a central leading branch that grows upwards above all other branches, which are clipped as needed. Multi-stemmed eucalyptus is pruned to limit the number of new stems arising from the base.

How to Propagate Eucalyptus

To propagate eucalyptus from cuttings, you need a tree that is fairly young, not older than a year because mature stems are difficult to root. Because eucalyptus does not tolerate having their roots disturbed, so use a large pot (at least 8 inches in diameter) and fill it with several cuttings, not all will root. 

1. In late summer, take a few cuttings about 5 inches long with four to eight leaves. Cut just above a leaf node.
2. Remove the leaves on the lower half of the cutting. 
3. Dip the cut end in a rooting hormone. Deeply insert the cuttings in a pot filled with moist potting mix to almost the point where the leaves are. 
4. Place the pot in a location with bright, indirect light at about 70°F. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.
5. Roots should form in about a month. If several cuttings root, only leave the strongest and gently pull out and remove the others. Start fertilizing the plant as described under Fertilizer above.

Common Problems

 Browning Leaves

There are several potential causes for the leaves on your eucalyptus turning brown. It could be lack of moisture, which is likely the issue if the leaves are curled, have dried brown edges, and eventually drop. In that case, give the plant more water, making sure water reaches all areas of the container.

Sudden strong sun exposure also leads to brown leaves. Although eucalyptus thrives in sun-filled locations, it needs to be adapted gradually, such as when you move the plant outdoors for the summer.

Brown leaves may also be a sign of fungal diseases. Treatment consists in removal of the affected plant parts if there are just a few, or spraying the plant with a fungicide labeled for use on houseplants. 

Yellowing Leaves

If the lower leaves of your eucalyptus turn yellow, it could be that you are overwatering the tree a natural aging process in evergreens where the mature leaves turn yellow and drop. If you see leaves turn yellow in quick succession, it is most likely over-watering.  The leaves turn yellow because the soil is so saturated with water that the roots do not get enough oxygen, which in turn leads to leaf discoloration. 

Leaf Loss

It is possible for eucalyptus to drop its leaves without any signs of other issues such as brown leaves due to lack of water or disease. This usually happens due to a lack of light and the only remedy is relocate the plant to a brighter location. If you are moving it from an underlit to a sun-drenched spot, make sure to do this gradually, starting with a few hours in the morning when the sun is less strong.

Transplant Shock

After you have transplanted your eucalyptus, it might suffer from transplant shock, which manifests itself as similar to under-watering, usually wilting, yellowing or crispy leaves. To avoid transplant shock, give the plant a good deep soaking and handle the roots gently. 

How to Dry Eucalyptus Leaves 

Dried eucalyptus leaves have many uses as an air freshener, in aroma therapy, and more. To dry eucalyptus leaves harvest them when they have matured later in the growing season. Harvest only the leaves or the entire stems. Here is how it’s done:

Leaves 

1. Snip the leaves off the stems or cut stems with the leaves using sharp pruners. 
2. Place the leaves in a large paper grocery bag. Fold it shut and place it in a warm, sunny location. Shake the bag once a day.
3. Alternatively, air dry the leaves on paper towels or a drying screen in a cool spot out of direct sunlight. 
4. Wait until the leaves are leathery and crispy, and then store them in glass jars with tightly sealed lids.

Stems

1.  Cut the stems off the plant using sharp pruners
2. Place stems in a basket and simply let the stems and leaves air dry.
3. Alternatively, hang the stems upside down to dry, which causes them to dry very straight, which is nice for decorations. With either method, keep the stems out of the sun.