The Australian Umbrella Tree is a native plant from the eucalyptus family that thrives in humid and hot environments. It’s also known as the Octopus or stringy bark tree, because of its peculiar appearance. If you’re interested in growing one of these intriguing plants at home, then keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Australian Umbrella Tree care and maintenance.

How to Grow an Australian Umbrella Tree

The Australian Umbrella Tree thrives in full sun locations with average to warm temperatures. It requires an average to good water supply during the summer growing season. You can provide your Tree with a growing medium such as potting soil, coco peat, or a mixture of both.

The soil should be light but well-drained, with plenty of drainage holes. You can fertilize your Australian Umbrella Tree from time to time with a controlled-release fertilizer. This will ensure that the plant gets all the nutrients it needs to thrive.

Water your Australian Umbrella Tree

The most ideal way to water an Australian Umbrella Tree is by using a drip irrigation system. You can also use a so-called “wicking” system, where the water is drawn upwards by the leaves of the plant.

For the first six to eight weeks, water your Australian Umbrella Tree only once a week. After this time, you can water your plant every day if the soil in the pot is dry. Make sure you only water the soil, not the leaves of the plant. If you water the leaves, they will wilt and turn yellow. This is highly undesirable and can cause the leaves to fall off.

Feed your Australian Umbrella Tree

A container-grown Australian Umbrella Tree does not require any extra fertilizer. You should fertilize your Tree only if it is growing outdoors. The best way to go about this is to use a granular soluble fertilizer mixed with a water-soluble activator.

Apply the fertilizer once a month because excessive fertilization will cause the plant to grow abnormally fast, which is no good because it will mean that the tree is feeble and has weak growth.

Protect from frost and drought

Australian Umbrella Trees when propperly cared for, are hardy. However, frost and drought can kill even the most well-rooted plants. You can protect your Tree from frost by covering the pot with a layer of mulch or blankets. To protect your Tree from excessive heat, you can use a shade cloth, a tree tent, or awnings.

Pruning an Australian Umbrella Tree is an important thing to do. Pruning your Australian Umbrella Tree can promote better air circulation in the pot, help shape the plant, and promote better branch development.

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Summary

The Australian Umbrella Tree is a beautiful plant that thrives in sun-filled locations. The umbrella-shaped leaves of this tree create a canopy that blocks out most direct sunlight which is where the plant gets its memorable name. You can grow an Australian Umbrella Tree in almost any sunny spot where it receives at least six hours of direct sunlight per day throughout the year.

Like with all vegetation, it's important that you water your Australian Umbrella Tree occasionally. It’s also important that you protect it from frost and drought as these things can easily kill the plant. All things considered, the Australian Umbrella Tree is a relatively low-maintenance plant, and by following the advice contained in this article, you should be able to keep your Tree healthy and happy for many years to come.