Suddenly the leaves on the eucalyptus begin to dry up. As soon as the first signs are there, you should react, because they are often care mistakes that are easy to fix.

In a nutshell

  • if the location is not bright enough, the leaves will die off
  • Plants require a constant supply of water
  • The substrate must be loose and permeable, otherwise waterlogging will form
  • an undersupply of nutrients also leads to withered leaves
  • Root pests can be a cause of fallen foliage

location

The eucalyptus is originally native to Australia and some of the surrounding islands. As a fast-growing tree, it is also cultivated in other subtropical regions. One of the reasons why eucalyptus leaves turn brown and dry up is because they don't have a suitable location here. The eucalyptus needs bright and sunny places, although it appreciates shade at midday, as this reduces evaporation through the leaves.
Especially in winter, an unsuitable location can be problematic for the eucalyptus. It is normal for cultivars that have limited frost resistance and are overwintered outdoors to lose their foliage. This prevents the plants from frost damage.
For a variety that is to be overwintered indoors, the location should meet the following requirements:

Without a sunny location, eucalyptus leaves will begin to wither.
  • sunny (south-facing window or conservatory)
  • constant approx. 10°C
  • not too high humidity

Especially if the plants do not have enough light in winter, the leaves start to turn yellow and eventually dry up. If you cannot provide the plants with a location that is bright enough, you can prevent dried leaves by using a plant lamp. You can use your own lamp for smaller plants, larger plants can also be supplied with the room light and a daylight lamp.

water supply

The eucalyptus loses a lot of moisture through the leaves. This can even be smelled in strong sunlight, because essential oil also escapes through the leaves. The plants are able to store water in their roots, but if the drought persists, eucalyptus switches to an emergency program in which the leaves first fall off and later whole branches dry up. To ensure that the eucalyptus leaves are not damaged by prolonged drought, you should water the plants constantly. Do not water too much at once, but distribute the watering over several days during the week.
Watering tips:

  • water regularly
  • Substrate may dry in between
  • Switch watering to two-week intervals in the winter quarters

It is important when watering that no waterlogging forms. As a result, the roots die off, which means that not only the eucalyptus leaves die off, but usually the entire tree can no longer be saved. Potted plants in particular are at risk from waterlogging, which is why the bottom layer should always be drainage.

substrate

The wrong substrate can cause problems for the trees both in pot culture and outdoors. The composition and nutrient content of the soil can cause foliage to die back. This can be seen that not only does the foliage fall off, but that the plant generally has a rather stunted growth.
Put together a suitable substrate yourself:

  • 2 parts potting soil
  • 1 part compost
  • 2 parts expanded clay

Eucalyptus is a fast-growing plant and has a correspondingly high nutrient requirement. However, the roots need a loose and permeable soil so that no waterlogging forms. Even when planting outdoors, you should therefore incorporate expanded clay into the soil.

Notice: Expanded clay also has the advantage that it can absorb water and slowly release moisture back into the environment. This allows you to provide the trees with a more even water supply.

fertilization

The eucalyptus leaves also begin to dry out if the plants do not have enough nutrients available. This is usually the case when the substrate has not been fertilized for a long time. However, this problem is easy to solve, because liquid fertilizer quickly helps the eucalyptus. In principle, any liquid fertilizer is suitable. You can also use homemade fertilizer such as nettle manure.
Fertilize the eucalyptus at least once a week during the season. In rainy periods, you can also work a long-term fertilizer into the soil instead of a liquid fertilizer, which dissolves when it rains.

Notice: In winter it is sufficient if you fertilize the trees moderately every three to four weeks at most.

root problems

Problems with the roots can cause the foliage to wither. A common cause of dead leaves is pots that are too narrow. As a result, no new roots can form. In the long term, this means that the plants cannot absorb enough water and nutrients, causing the leaves to dry out. If the pot is too small for the eucalyptus, this is easy to recognize because the roots are already beginning to grow out of the substrate above. Then at the latest it is time for a new pot.
While most causes of dead foliage are due to poor care, there is one exception. Plants in pots as well as outdoors can be attacked by root pests. In the pot, there are often grubs that also eat the roots of the eucalyptus due to the scarce food supply. In the field, it is often voles that eat away at the roots, in addition to grubs. To prevent the eucalyptus leaves from drying up due to damaged roots, you should take extensive preventive measures. The eucalyptus is very sensitive to chemical pesticides, so you should primarily prevent it with mechanical means or you can use herbal aids.
Tips against root pests:

  • Plant outdoors only with a vole grid
  • Change the substrate of potted plants regularly
  • Reduce light sources in the garden that attract bugs
  • cover the substrate of potted plants with an insect protection net during the oviposition period

frequently asked Questions

Can dried leaves be used?

If the eucalyptus leaves have dried up due to insufficient watering, you can use the dried branches for tea, for example.

Can compost be used outdoors as a long-term fertilizer?

Yes, compost is suitable for both outdoor and potted plants. However, you should use very rich and high-quality compost as fertilizer for the eucalyptus.

Should dead leaves and twigs be removed?

Yes, you should remove dried parts of plants both in the winter quarters and outdoors. This will prevent other pests from settling in or rotting bacteria or mold from infecting the plants.

Category:

Garden plants