Eucalyptus

Book of Shadows - Gardening

Written by Madame Aradia

Saturday, 17 October 2009 14:39

The frost is on the ground and outdoor gardening is minimal. While some gardeners enjoy the break provided by the cold winter months, I am one of those who brings some of her garden indoors. One of my favorite indoor plants is the eucalyptus. The eucalyptus (also know as blue gum tree or stringy bark tree) is native to Australia and southern Asia, so naturally, it is a pretty unfussy plant...withstanding dry, poor soil. It is an easy plant to grow in a pot, but is fast growing and doesn’t like to be potbound so be sure to plant it in a large pot. Whenever planting a eucalyptus, avoid knocking the roots around and never cut the roots to loosen them. This plant is extremely sensitive to root damage. The eucalyptus is an natural antiseptic, anti-bacterial, and has “warming properties”....in short, this herb is one of the best treatments for colds, flus, pneumonia (and other chest congestion), sore throats, arthritis, etc, etc. It can be used as an inhaler or rubbed on the skin. You could even make a tincture or tea for relieving an ailment. When grown indoors, the eucalyptus cleanses and freshens the air. It is, of course, a healing and protection herb. You could hang eucalyptus over your bed while you are ill to help speed recovery or place the seed pods under your pillow.