While many plants are a breeze to grow from cuttings, eucalyptus can be a bit of a stubborn customer with that method. If you’re looking to expand your collection, growing from seed is actually your best bet for success! Follow these simple tips, and you’ll be turning one plant into a whole grove in no time.
Characteristics and Planting
You can easily grab eucalyptus seeds online or harvest them from your own plant. One thing to keep in mind: these guys are “light germinators.” That’s just a fancy gardening term meaning the seeds need light to wake up and grow, along with the usual water and nutrients. You’ll want to remember this when you start planting.
Don’t just toss the seeds straight into the dirt, though. Especially if you’re dealing with a hardy variety, you’ll need to give them a little “wake-up call” first. This process is called stratification. Basically, you’re tricking the seeds into thinking they’ve just made it through a cold winter. Just pop them in the fridge for about a week before you plan to sow them.
Step-by-Step Sowing
- Mix some seed-starting soil with a bit of sand and either coconut coir or peat moss.
- Fill your starter pots with the mixture.
- Water the substrate first so it’s nice and moist.
- Place the seeds right on top of the soil (remember, they need light!).
- Put the pots in a bright spot at room temperature.
Caring for Your Seedlings
Once your seeds are settled in, it’s a waiting game. Keep a close eye on the moisture; you want the soil consistently damp, but never soggy. If they sit in standing water, the seeds might rot or get moldy. Generally, you can expect to see some action in about three to five weeks.
When your little sprouts reach about four inches tall, it’s time to think about transplanting. You’ll need to decide if your eucalyptus is headed for a larger pot or if it’s going straight into the garden. If you’re planting outdoors, just make sure you’ve picked out the perfect sunny spot for it to thrive!
