While it may seem daunting to start eucalyptus from seed, with the right information and a little patience, anyone can successfully grow this beautiful plant. In this blog, we’ll walk through the steps to start eucalyptus seeds and how to nurture them into thriving transplants.
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Why You Should Grow Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus has a lovely aroma and elegant foliage. It is widely known for being an excellent cut flower and it is great dried for use in flower arrangements. In addition, eucalyptus is also known for it’s medicinal benefits. If you are growing with limited space, Eucalyptus makes an excellent plant to grow in containers.
quick Facts about Eucalyptus
- Days to Maturity: 120-150 days
- Life Cycle: Tender Perennial (hardiness zones 9-11)
- Days to Germination: 14-21 days
- Ideal Temperature for Germination: 65-75°F (18-24°C)
- Light Preference: Sun
- Spacing: 12-24”
- Start seeds 10-12 weeks before transplanting out
- Cover seeds?: Lightly
- Soil requirements: Well-drained fertile soil
Steps to Starting Eucalyptus Seeds
- Gather your materials
- Prepare your trays/pots and soil
- Sow seeds
- Put seed trays in optimal conditions
- Water and fertilize
- Be patient
- Up-pot seedlings
- Harden off and transplant outdoors
1. Gather Your Materials
Before you begin, you should gather and prepare all the necessary materials:
- Eucalyptus seeds
- Seed-starting trays (I like 72 cell trays) or small pots
- Seed starting mix
- Masking tape or another form of plant markers
- Sharpie Extreme
- Toothpick, if applicable
- Vermiculite, if applicable
- Hose with mister tip or spray bottle
- Humidity dome or plastic wrap
- Heat mats, if applicable
- Grow lights or a sunny windowsill (preferably south facing)
- Warm, draft-free location
2. Prepare your trays/pots and soil
Fill the seed-starting trays or pots with a well-draining seed starting mix (we like Vermont Compost). Eucalyptus seeds require good aeration and moisture retention for successful germination. Ensure that the soil is moist but not waterlogged.
3. Sow the Seeds
Place 1-2 eucalyptus seeds on the surface of the soil in each cell or pot. Eucalyptus seeds are small. You can dip the tip of a toothpick in water and use it to “grab” the seeds and carefully place them into the soil. After you have seeded all of the seeds, gently press them into the soil, but do not bury them too deep because eucalyptus seeds require light to germinate. Alternatively, you can lightly cover seeds with vermiculite. Lastly, cover the trays or pots with a humidity dome or clear plastic wrap.
4. place seed trays in location that provides Optimal Conditions
Place the trays or pots in a warm, bright location. Eucalyptus seeds require temperatures of around 65-75°F (18-24°C) and access to light for germination. If your home is cooler than the ideal temperature, consider using a heat mat to maintain the desired temperature of the soil. Eucalyptus seedlings require plenty of bright, indirect light to germinate and thrive. If you’re growing them indoors, place them near a sunny windowsill (preferably a south facing window) or use grow lights to ensure they receive sufficient light.
5. Water regularly and fertilize, as needed
When watering seedlings, ensure that the soil remains consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water the seeds gently using a misting watering tip or spray bottle to avoid disturbing them. Additionally, covering the trays or pots with transparent plastic wrap or a humidity dome will help retain moisture. As the seedlings grow, you may want to start fertilizing them with a balanced liquid fertilizer. We like Neptune’s Harvest.
6. Be Patient
Germination time can vary depending on the eucalyptus species, but it typically takes around 14-21 days. Be patient and continue to monitor the trays or pots to make sure they are moist, but not too wet. Keep an eye out any signs of growth. Once most of the seeds have germinated, you can remove the humidity dome.
7. Up-pot Seedlings
Once the seedlings have developed several sets of true leaves and are sturdy enough to handle, transplant them into larger pots filled with well-draining potting mix.
8. Harden Off and Plant Outdoors
Before transplanting eucalyptus seedlings outdoors, gradually acclimate them to outdoor conditions by exposing them to increasing amounts of sunlight and outdoor temperatures over the course of a seven to 10 days.If you want more information on hardening off, read here. Once hardened off, plant them in a sunny location in your garden.
conclusion
By following these steps, you can successfully start eucalyptus seeds and enjoy the beauty and benefits of these remarkable plants in your own garden. Whether you’re drawn to their aromatic leaves, striking appearance, or medicinal properties, growing eucalyptus from seed is a rewarding experience.
More Gardening Content:
- How to Take a Seed Inventory
- How to Organize Your Seeds
- How to Start Seeds Indoors Without Grow Lights
- How to Start Sees Indoors Using Grow Lights
- The Best Seed Starting Supplies
SOme of our favorite places to order seeds:
Some of oUr Favorite Gardening Books:
- The First-Time Gardener: Growing Vegetables: All the know-how and encouragement you need to grow – and fall in love with! – your brand new food garden by Jessica Sowards
- The New Organic Grower, 3rd Edition: A Master’s Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener by Eliot Coleman
- The Tiny But Mighty Farm: Cultivating High Yields, Community, and Self-Sufficiency from a Home Farm – Start growing food today – Meet the best … yourself, your family, and your neighbors by Jill Ragan
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