Last Updated on May 25, 2022 by Marco C.
With more people living indoors, growing plants indoors is becoming more common, with some people wondering how to grow a rainbow eucalyptus tree indoors. Even though all plants prefer the great outdoors to being close indoors, it’s true that you can grow most plants indoors just as well.
In today’s article, we’ll be learning how to grow a rainbow eucalyptus tree indoors and spice your place up a bit!
Can Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees Grow Indoors?
This is a common question, and it’s definitely a rational one, given that in the wild, these trees can reach massive heights of up to 60 feet. How on earth are you supposed to grow a 600-foot tree in your home? Believe it or not, there are actually eucalyptus trees much smaller than their original versions, so you can plant them and grow them in your home.
Most of these trees won’t grow to be taller than 8 feet. So, when you’re choosing your eucalyptus in the gardening store, make sure to buy the variation that won’t grow to be too large. Most shops have informational tabs that will clearly tell you whether you should grow them indoors.
How To Grow Eucalyptus Indoors?
So, once you’ve chosen your eucalyptus tree variation, you can either buy it in the form of seeds or as a started plant. Growing rainbow eucalyptus from seed is difficult, which is why we’d wholeheartedly recommend that you buy the started plant – this way, you’re going to speed up the process of growing and you won’t have to wait for the plant to start.
The most important thing to keep in mind when potting your plant is to buy a very, very big container. Eucalyptus trees have a lot of roots, and if you buy a regular container, the roots will circle and they’ll become so twisted into the pot itself that you won’t be able to take the plant out.
So, to avoid that, buy a huge pot right off the bat. When it comes to soil, large species like the eucalyptus clearly need plenty of soil. Find aerated soil with good drainage – this plant should sit in water. After planting your seed in the soil, water it plentifully and continue to water it frequently.
Your tree will also need fertilizer to grow well, you should add it to the soil on a weekly basis.
Eucalyptus Care
There are a few things to keep in mind when taking care of an eucalyptus indoors.
Lighting
Eucalyptus is a plant used to warm, sunny environments. This is why it needs unfiltered light (that means that the light can’t pass through shades, blinds, and curtains) – at least 6 hours of it daily. If your location can’t provide that, then you’re going to have to simulate light.
Learn more about: 5 Unique Trees That Will Grow Indoors
This is where it gets tricky – different gardeners have different experiences with this. LED lights are usually great for heating up plants and simulating sunlight, but eucalyptus trees are large plants that need large amounts of light. It’s not guaranteed that LED lights will be able to simulate sunlight well enough.
It’s possible that no matter how many LED lights you install – you won’t be able to produce enough light for your plant.
Watering
It’s best to regularly water your plant – especially during the first year – year and a half. This is how long it takes for eucalyptus trees to get established. However, you should watch out for overwatering – just like how they don’t like drought, they don’t like flooding either.
Wait for the soil to lose the moisture on top before you actually water it again – depending on the conditions in your area, this could take anything from three days to a week.
Temperature
Since these trees are used to temperatures as high as 85 degrees Fahrenheit, you’re going to have to keep a high temperature in your home to grow this plant. It shouldn’t drop below 70 degrees.
The other side of the coin is humidity, but you can’t really do anything about that, as high humidity isn’t really healthy for the people living inside the home. Spraying water from a bottle is a great way to make up for the lack of humidity, though!
Pests and Illnesses
Root rot is the biggest danger to eucalyptus plants – this happens when you overwater your plant and let the roots sit in water for too long. Keep a watering schedule to ensure that you don’t kill your plant by accident.
Read more about: A Quick Guide To Growing Maple Trees Indoors
FAQ
How do you care for a eucalyptus plant indoors?
They need plenty of sunlight, which can be hard to take care of if you live in a colder climate. They also need a high temperature, no lower than 70 degrees. Regarding watering, they need plenty of it to keep the soil moist, but don't overwater it.
How fast does a rainbow eucalyptus grow?
In the wild, it can grow for decades before reaching its full size. However, smaller variations that you'll most likely be planting in your home will reach their full size in a few years. It takes about a year for a eucalyptus to establish itself.
Can eucalyptus grow in pots?
Yes, but the pots need to be massive. Find the biggest pot you can find for your eucalyptus plant, as its roots will grow very quickly and they'll entangle with the pot. After that, it's borderline impossible to repot the plant.
To End
Rainbow eucalyptus trees are absolutely massive in the wild, but the variations you can buy in stores and grow them on your own aren’t as nearly as large, rarely exceeding 8 to 10 feet in height. These plants can be a little tricky to care for, especially considering that they need plenty of natural sunlight and a high temperature.
If you can’t provide the lighting, try with LED lights, but there’s no guarantee that it will work. Eucalyptus trees aren’t prone to pests, but they can definitely develop root rot if you overwater them and let them drown.