These evergreen trees are prized for their blue-green leaves and typically peeling, coloured bark. There are many species, most thriving in a sheltered, sunny location. They can be vigorous and grow into tall, beautiful trees, or they can be trimmed to stay more compact.
Eucalyptus makes a great addition to gardens and indoor spaces when cared for properly. An important part of eucalyptus care is knowing when to repot the plants Repotting at the right time keeps your eucalyptus healthy and maintains a manageable size.
How Often to Repot Eucalyptus
Most eucalyptus plants require repotting once per year, in the spring. Some fast-growing varieties may need repotting twice per year to keep up with their growth rate.
Signs it’s time to repot your eucalyptus include
- Roots growing out of the drainage holes
- The plant becoming top-heavy or tipping over
- Poor growth and small, stunted leaves
- Soil drying out very quickly after watering
Eucalyptus has sensitive roots that don’t like being disturbed, so avoid frequent repotting. But it’s important to repot at least yearly or when clearly rootbound.
Frequency of entities:
Repot: 5
Repotting: 2
Spring: 1
Fast-growing: 1
Drainage holes: 1
Top-heavy: 1
Poor growth: 1
Stunted leaves: 1
Rootbound: 1
Sensitive roots: 1
When to Repot Eucalyptus
The best time for repotting eucalyptus is in early to mid-spring. Repotting in spring gives the plant time to recover from the disturbance before summer heat arrives. It also allows new root growth to establish going into the active growth period.
Avoid repotting eucalyptus in fall or winter when plants are dormant. Repotting in summer can stress plants when hot weather is at its peak.
If your plant is extremely rootbound or showing signs of decline, repot right away regardless of season. It’s better to repot immediately than to allow the plant to weaken further.
How to Repot a Eucalyptus Plant
Follow these steps for repotting your eucalyptus:
- Choose a pot one or two sizes larger than the current container. Make sure it has drainage holes.
- Fill the new pot about 1/3 full with a well-draining potting mix amended with sand or perlite.
- Water the plant well the day before repotting. This makes removal easier.
- Carefully remove the plant from its old pot. Handle the stems gently and limit root disturbance.
- Loosen any circling roots with your fingers or a chopstick. Prune any diseased roots.
- Place the root ball in the new pot. Fill around it with more amended potting mix.
- Water thoroughly after repotting and let excess drain completely.
- Keep the plant sheltered for 1-2 weeks while it recovers.
Frequency of entities:
Spring: 2
Summer: 1
Fall: 1
Winter: 1
Drainage holes: 1
Well-draining: 1
Root disturbance: 1
Circling roots: 1
Diseased roots: 1
Recover: 1
Sheltered: 1
Potting Mix for Eucalyptus
The ideal potting mix for eucalyptus:
-
Allows good drainage but retains some moisture. Eucalyptus doesn’t like soggy or waterlogged soil.
-
Is slightly acidic with a pH between 5.5-6.5.
-
Contains organic matter like peat moss to support healthy root growth and nutrient absorption.
-
Has perlite, pumice, coarse sand or other aggregate added to improve drainage. Aim for 20-30% of the total volume.
-
Is light and fluffy when dry but heavier when wet. It should clump together easily.
You can make your own mix or use a quality commercial organic potting soil amended with extra perlite or builder’s sand. Don’t use heavy garden soil, as this compacts over time.
Frequency of entities:
Good drainage: 1
Soggy: 1
Waterlogged: 1
Peat moss: 1
Perlite: 1
Pumice: 1
Coarse sand: 1
Aggregate: 1
Commercial organic potting soil: 1
Builder’s sand: 1
Garden soil: 1
Compacts: 1
Caring for Eucalyptus After Repotting
Follow these tips while your eucalyptus recovers from repotting:
-
Keep the plant sheltered and avoid direct sun for 1-2 weeks.
-
Water sparingly at first, then resume normal watering once established.
-
Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Don’t over-fertilize.
-
Monitor for signs of transplant shock like leaf drop or poor growth.
-
Be patient! Repotting is stressful. It may take 4-6 weeks for the plant to fully settle in.
Proper aftercare ensures your eucalyptus regains its vigor after repotting. Avoid pruning or propagating cuttings until the plant has fully recovered.
With annual repotting and attentive care, your eucalyptus will stay healthy and grow beautifully indoors or in the garden for years to come.
Frequency of entities:
Transplant shock: 1
Leaf drop: 1
Poor growth: 1
Settle in: 1
Recovered: 1
Vigor: 1
Propagating: 1
Attentive care: 1
All you need to know Before you get started
They are evergreen trees or shrubs, mainly from Australia. There are many species, of various sizes, to suit most situations. They usually form elegant specimens that work well as focal points. The leaves are generally blue-green or silvery, with a menthol-like fragrance. Young leaves often look like discs, while adult leaves are more likely to be long and pointy. Coppicing can keep plants producing juvenile foliage, which is popular for flower arrangements. Eucalyptus bark can be highly ornamental, in shades of grey, brown, green, pink and white. It peels off in patches or strips to reveal new colors underneath in some species, making a mosaic of different colors. The flowers are small petal-less pompoms of white or cream stamens (occasionally yellow, pink or red). They are rich in nectar, attracting bees and other pollinators. They appear at various times of year, depending on the species.
Choosing the right eucalyptus
Eucalyptus make striking specimen trees with year-round appeal – eye-catching bark and evergreen, grey-blue leaves. They generally have a light canopy that doesnt cast deep shade, despite being evergreen. Some can get very tall, which is great for large or medium-sized gardens. Others grow into shrubs or small trees, which is better for smaller gardens or even pots. Eucalyptus can grow rapidly, especially in the initial years – typically 1m (3⅓ft) or more annually. Still, they can be pruned to keep them compact. Always check the eventual height before buying, to ensure the plant wont outgrow its space. To explore the range of species, go to RHS Plants. Search for eucalyptus to browse the photos and plant descriptions, and find out where to buy them.
Eucalyptus “True Blue” care guide
FAQ
Do eucalyptus like to be root bound?
What kind of soil does eucalyptus need?
Can you keep eucalyptus as a houseplant?
How often should you repot a eucalyptus tree?
An established eucalyptus tree can withstand heavy pruning. Repot a eucalyptus plant every two or three years. To encourage more growth, transfer the eucalyptus plant to a pot one or two sizes larger than its current one. If you want to maintain its growth size, remove the eucalyptus plant from its pot and change the potting mix to refresh it.
Do eucalyptus plants need repotting?
Since potted eucalyptus plants grow fairly quickly, they often need a bit of pruning and repotting. You can nip the ends off of your plant if it’s getting too unruly, or you can add a stake in and help it grow up while it’s still small (otherwise it will grow out and take over a lot of surface area).
How do you repot a eucalyptus tree?
To repot, gently remove the tree from its current container and loosen the roots. Then, place the tree in a new container with fresh potting mix and water thoroughly. When growing eucalyptus in pots, it’s important to ensure the tree is not too dry or too wet.
Can Eucalyptus grow in a pot?
Even after you transplant the eucalyptus plant into a larger pot. This isn’t good for the plant’s new growth. In fact, this pot-bound root growth can lead to the eventual downfall of your plant as it continues to get larger. The root system won’t be able to support the plant and provide the best new growth.