The so-called South Sea myrtle (Leptospermum scoparium) originally comes from Australia and New Zealand. There, the pretty flowering shrub, which is native to mild climate zones, can reach heights of up to 4 m outdoors.

The South Sea myrtle tolerates only a little frost

During cool night frosts, the South Sea myrtle doesn't stand a chance outdoors

For a short time, the South Sea myrtle can withstand temperatures down to about minus 5 degrees Celsius, and when the outside temperatures are even cooler, it becomes definitely dangerous for the delicate shrub. In Central Europe, this exotic plant is typically only cultivated outdoors as a container plant during the summer. If it then becomes very cold in autumn, the South Sea myrtle should be brought to a protected winter quarters in good time. If a South Sea myrtle is to be repotted, the time before the new shoots in February and March is ideal for this. Note that the South Sea myrtle has similar preferences to many Mediterranean plants when it overwinters and should not be overwintered too warm.

Find a winter quarters with optimal conditions for the South Sea myrtle

The South Sea myrtle is an evergreen plant, so a winter quarter that is as bright as possible is required in any case. However, since growth is only on the back burner at this time of year, fertilizer and watering can be reduced accordingly. Overall, the following conditions should prevail in an optimal winter quarters for the room myrtle:

  • bright but not too much direct sun (in winter)
  • sufficiently moist without waterlogging at the roots
  • Temperatures between 0 and 10 degrees Celsius

The heated conservatory is usually too warm as a winter quarters for a South Sea myrtle, but cold houses or frost-free garages with sufficient incidence of daylight are ideal.

Not only the winter cold can be a problem

Plants that died over the winter are often classified as "frozen", although sometimes completely different factors were decisive for the death of the plant. Similar to bamboo or the popular heather, it is not so rare that a South Sea myrtle does not freeze to death, but rather dries up. Therefore, always pay careful attention to the correct moisture content in the pot of the South Sea myrtle. As a reward for this, the magnificent bloom of the South Sea myrtle beckons you from February or March, which can last into June.

tips

A mixture of rhododendron earth and quartz sand (€15.85) is the ideal substrate for setting the correct water balance in the South Sea myrtle pot as easily as possible. This plant should also be watered with water that is as low in lime as possible (e.g. rainwater).

Category:

Indoor plants