Flowering Gum Problem
 

A friend in Brisbane was given a Eucalyptus Summer Beauty (hybrid of
Eucalyptus ficifolia & ptychocarpa) which is a grafted flowering
Eucalyptus. It is in a 6 inch pot and about 3 foot tall with about 20
developing flowers. She has only had it for a couple of weeks and it is
still in the original pot but all the leaves have changed from the
original dark green to a very pale silvery grey green. There are a few
leaves left with patches of the original dark green colour and these
leaves show a distinct edge to the colour change as if it is
disease/insect damage. My guess is it has been overwatered.

Does anyone know what may be causing the leaf colour change? Is this
terminal?

--
Graham Corbin
(Remove nospam. from my email to reply)

Flowering Gum Problem
 

"Graham Corbin" wrote in message
. net...
A friend in Brisbane was given a Eucalyptus Summer Beauty (hybrid of
Eucalyptus ficifolia & ptychocarpa) which is a grafted flowering
Eucalyptus. It is in a 6 inch pot and about 3 foot tall with about 20
developing flowers. She has only had it for a couple of weeks and it is
still in the original pot but all the leaves have changed from the
original dark green to a very pale silvery grey green. There are a few
leaves left with patches of the original dark green colour and these
leaves show a distinct edge to the colour change as if it is
disease/insect damage. My guess is it has been overwatered.

Does anyone know what may be causing the leaf colour change? Is this
terminal?

I don't suspect so as the glaucous colour is also quite normal. It could be
any number of things causing it, but possibly just a shift from nursery
conditions.
BUT being WA/ NT plants they do not like wet feet. The developers of the
"Summer X" hybrids (they're calling the eucs but they're in the Corymbia
grouping now I think) have tried to get around the wet feet problem by
grafting onto a Qld species (C. maculata maybe??) which tolerates wet
soils a little better, but they still should be planted in a freely draining
position in the garden.
I wouldn't leave it in the pot for too long. .... if its draining well thats
OK as it will need regular watering in such a small pot .. but don't stand
the pot in a saucer!
Amanda