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My Eucalyptus Gunnii 'French Bleu'- container grown & only 2years old

loejohnsonloejohnson Posts: 2
in Problem solving
1) Some of the leaves are turning purple & dropping! It otherwise looks healthy but is this normal? How often should I water it? Everynight like my flowering containers or weekly?
2) When can I prune it to encourage bushier shape?

Thank you in advance for your help..

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Whilst they are evergreen, leaves don't last forever and eucalyptus drop the old ones in the summer.
    So long as the tree is not pot bound (they grow VERY fast) and generally in good health I don't think there's anything to worry about.
    Water it when it's needed - if the compost looks dry, water it. Especially in a pot it'll dry out quickly in this weather and may need water every day. It'll need a feed now and then too. I'd use seaweed extract about once a month spring-autumn
    You could post a pic if you'd like us to check it.
    Best time to prune is late winter/early spring

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Cutting them back quite hard in spring also helps them retain their bluey colour, as you're effectively pollarding them. It's the fresh, young foliage which has the best colour. The leaves get greener as they mature. 
    As @Pete.8 says - Eucalyptus, like all evergreens, drop foliage and produce new. 

    You'll probably have to repot it at some point though. I doubt they'd ever be happy long term in a pot as it'll be difficult to keep enough soil in a pot to sustain it, because the  root system will gradually fill it. Make sure it isn't just growing in compost too - it'll need a soil based medium. Anything potted long term needs that  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • loejohnsonloejohnson Posts: 2
    Thank you for your responses, I'm going to give it a good feed of Seaweed Extract, control my watering since I think it may have been over watered & keep a check on it, then prune in the Fall. Thank you so much!
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