Eucalyptus TORQUATA

Eucalyptus TORQUATA - Coral gum, Coolgardie gum, Eucalyptus torquata.

Eucalyptus is a tall tree in the family Myrtaceae. The trunk is straight, with a diameter of up to two meters (6.6 ft). The bark is smooth, light gray, sometimes of other colors; the outer layer peels off and hangs on the trunk and branches. The root is powerful, efficiently drawing water from the ground and drying everything around. Leaves are narrow, turned edgewise to the sun, so the tree does not cast much shade. Flowers are situated on a short pedicel in leaf axils. The fruit is a capsule with seeds. It begins to flower in October in the fifth year of life.

Coral gum is a small evergreen tree growing from 4 to 11 meters (13 to 36 ft) in height in its native habitat. Leaves are gray-green, lanceolate in shape, about 12 cm (4.7 in) long. Flowers are very unusual, especially when they have not yet opened - flower buds are orange, barrel-shaped, with horned cap-like opercula that then open, releasing fluffy pink inflorescences characteristic of many Myrtaceae into the light. As with most other plants from Australia, flowers have no scent, but leaves are very aromatic. In nature it flowers from August to December. Its bark is rough to the touch.

Seeds are sown in shallow pans, in boxes, in sod soil - 1 part and sand - 1 part. Sowing is carried out to a depth of no more than 5 mm (0.2 in). In certain species, seed germination is light-dependent, so they are not covered with soil; the pan is covered on top with glass. Particular attention should be paid to watering, as seedlings easily perish from excess moisture. They are often affected by damping off (black leg). Seedlings begin to emerge around the seventh day at a temperature of 18-20 °C (64-68 °F). Upon the appearance of a pair of true leaves, seedlings are pricked out individually into 7-cm (2.8 in) pots. Soil mix composition: sod soil - 1 part, humus - 1 part, sand - 1 part.

Option No. 2: Eucalyptus is sown year-round. Soil for sowing should be light; the day before sowing it is watered generously, seeds are mixed with sand and sown onto a slightly compacted surface. Sowings are covered with sand to 0.5 cm (0.2 in), misted, and covered with non-woven covering material such as spunbond or with glass. Sprouts appear 20-30 days from the moment of sowing. Glass is removed from sowings after the first true leaf appears. For more uniform germination, stratification is recommended for one month at a temperature of +4 °C (39 °F).

Coral gum originates from arid regions of Western Australia, and cold stratification is not required for it - seeds are sown immediately. It is much more important not to overwater the sowing: seedlings of this species are particularly sensitive to damping off, and the substrate surface between waterings must have time to dry slightly.

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The tree needs stable, very bright lighting, and direct sunlight poses no threat to it. Even if placed on an east-facing windowsill, the bush will experience discomfort. A south window, or at least southeast or southwest, suits eucalyptus perfectly. During cold months, supplemental grow lights should be provided for the plant, but at the same time the shrub should be illuminated by direct sunlight daily for approximately 6 hours.

It is necessary to provide the plant with an optimal temperature regime, which is where the main difficulty lies. Such a tree reacts extremely negatively to high air temperatures at any age. Even in summer, cool conditions must be provided - around 18 °C (64 °F). To achieve such temperatures, the room will have to be ventilated often. In winter months, eucalyptus must be moved to a cooler spot (7-15 °C (45-59 °F)). If the room is warmer than 16 °C (61 °F), the plant may simply perish, especially with improper care. For the plant to develop normally, a flow of fresh air must be ensured. Regular room ventilation alone will not be enough. Thus, in summer an open window should be kept in the room or the plant moved into the garden or onto a balcony. A warm draft does not harm eucalyptus, but it must be strictly protected from cold drafts. It is crucial to remember that in home conditions the plant can suffer severely from any mistake. If foliage wilts, new foliage will not grow in its place. Leaves drop easily even from minor care oversights.

In summer, the plant needs generous watering. Some time after the procedure, make sure to pour away water from the drip tray. The soil mix is watered only after its top layer has dried slightly. With the onset of autumn, watering should be reduced, with the surface of the substrate allowed to dry just a bit more. The tree reacts negatively to stagnant water in the soil mix. However, an even greater danger is posed by drying out of the root ball even halfway down the pot. This contributes to drying of upper branches and shedding of foliage. Watering the potting soil with melted snow or rainwater is recommended. Its temperature should be close to room temperature. Indoor eucalyptus feels fine at any ambient humidity. Note that both wiping the leaves and misting them from a sprayer can cause harm. To clean leaf blades from dust, give the plant a gentle shower.

For fertilizing this crop, specialized fertilizers for bonsai or eucalyptus are best suited. If these cannot be found, a universal fertilizer for foliage houseplants with low nitrogen and phosphorus content can be used. Feed the plant year-round: in spring and summer - twice a month, and in autumn and winter - once a month. The dosage recommended by the manufacturer should be cut in half.

Since the plant is slow-growing, it does not require restrictive pruning. To obtain the most spectacular crown, do not prune the plant at all; it should develop on its own. If necessary, you can give the crown a desired shape by resorting to systematic pruning, pinching, shaping, and bare-stemming. Such a plant is suitable for creating topiary, standards, or bonsai. Prune the bush in spring, and pinch back in summer as needed. The tree does not suffer from pruning; it tolerates shortening shoots by 1/2 of their length.

For eucalyptus, a universal soil mix with aerating additives and peat is suitable. To make the substrate looser, mixing it additionally with sphagnum moss, vermiculite, perlite, or coarse sand is recommended. A thick drainage layer is required at the bottom of the pot. Repotting is performed only when strictly necessary, when the root system becomes cramped in the pot. Root tips must show from the holes at the bottom of the container. Repotting is carried out using the potting-on method, keeping the root ball intact. Ornate pots decorated with painting or decoupage are ideal only as room decor. The tree needs a stable container made of natural material. A moderately sized container suits it well. 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 (an inch or so). If the shrub grows too fast, roots are trimmed and container volume is reduced. This curbs crown growth. After repotting, be very careful with the tree. It is not recommended to water the repotted bush for 4-5 days. Resuming watering should be slow and cautious. The substrate is only slightly moistened until signs of full adaptation after repotting are observed.