The small tree requires steady, very bright illumination, and direct sunlight poses no threat to it. Even if placed on an east-facing windowsill, the bush will feel discomfort. A south-facing window is ideal for eucalyptus, or at least a southeast- or southwest-facing one. In the cold season, the plant needs supplemental lighting, but along with that the bush must be illuminated by direct sunlight for approximately 6 hours each day.
An optimal temperature regimen must be provided for the plant, which is the main difficulty. Such a small tree reacts extremely negatively to high air temperatures at any age. Even in summer it needs cool conditions - around 18 °C (64 °F). To maintain such a temperature regimen, the room will have to be ventilated frequently. In winter months, eucalyptus must be moved to a cooler place (7-15 °C / 45-59 °F). If the room is warmer than 16 °C (61 °F), the plant may simply die, especially if improperly cared for. For the plant to develop normally, a steady supply of outdoor air must be ensured. Regular room ventilation alone will not be enough indoors. Thus, in summer a window in the room should be kept constantly ajar, or the plant can be moved to the garden or balcony. A warm draft does not harm eucalyptus, but it must be protected from cold drafts. It is important to remember that under home conditions the plant can suffer severely from any mistake. If the foliage wilts, new leaves will not grow in its place. Leaves drop easily even from minor lapses in care.
In summer, the plant needs generous watering. Some time after watering, be sure to pour out water from the drip tray. The potting mix is moistened only after its top layer has dried slightly. With the arrival of autumn, watering should be reduced, with the substrate surface allowed to dry out only slightly more. The tree responds negatively to stagnant water in the soil mix. However, an even greater danger is drying out the root ball even halfway down the pot. This causes upper branches to wither and leaves to drop. Moistening the soil mix in the pot is recommended with meltwater or rainwater. Its temperature should be close to room temperature. Indoor eucalyptus tolerates any air humidity well. Note that wiping the foliage or spraying it from a mister can cause harm. To clean dust from the leaf blades, give the plant a shower.
For feeding such a crop, specialized fertilizers for bonsai or eucalyptus are best suited. If these cannot be found, a universal fertilizer for foliage ornamentals with low nitrogen and phosphorus content can be used. The plant is fed year-round: in the spring-summer period - twice a month, and in the autumn-winter period - once a month. The dosage recommended by the manufacturer should be reduced by half.
Since the plant is slow-growing in pots, it does not require restraining pruning. To obtain the most striking crown, the plant is not pruned at all; it should develop on its own. If necessary, you can give the crown any desired shape by resorting to systematic pruning, pinching, shaping, and exposing the trunk. Such a plant is suitable for creating a topiary, standard, or bonsai. The bush is pruned in spring, and pinching is carried out in summer as needed. The tree does not suffer from pruning; it tolerates shortening shoots by half their length.
A universal potting mix with loosening additives and peat is suitable for eucalyptus. To make the substrate looser, it is recommended to additionally mix it with sphagnum moss, vermiculite, perlite, or coarse sand. A thick drainage layer must be placed at the bottom of the pot. Repotting is carried out only in case of extreme necessity, when the root system becomes cramped in the pot. By then, roots should appear through the holes at the bottom of the container. Repotting is done by transfer, keeping the root ball intact. Fancy pots decorated with painting or decoupage are ideal only as room ornaments. The tree, however, needs a stable pot made of natural material. A modest-sized container is ideal. When repotting, the new container should be only 10-20 mm (0.4-0.8 in) wider across than the old one. When planting a young bush, the volume of the container should exceed the size of the root ball by only a few centimeters. If the bush grows very quickly, roots can be pruned and the container volume reduced. This holds back crown growth. After repotting, be very careful with the tree. It is not recommended to water a repotted bush for 4-5 days. Resuming watering should be slow and cautious. The substrate is moistened only slightly until signs of complete adaptation after repotting appear.