Check these first
- Feel the soil to see if it is dry or waterlogged.
- Check the location to ensure the plant is getting full sun.
- Inspect the base of the plant for signs of root rot.
Likely causes
Watering issues
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves may feel brittle if dry or limp if overwatered before they fall off. Check if the top 2 inches of soil are completely dry or soggy.
What to do: Adjust your schedule to water every 7 to 14 days. Ensure the pot has drainage holes so excess water can escape freely.
Insufficient light
PossibleHow to tell: The plant looks stretched out or thin, and leaves drop from the lower branches first. This happens when the tree does not get enough direct sun.
What to do: Move your plant to a spot that receives full, direct sun for at least 6 to 8 hours a day. If you are growing it indoors, place it directly in a south facing window.
Find out what's wrong with your cider gum
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
A few leaves dropping after you move the plant to a new spot is normal as it adjusts. You should worry if the leaf drop is rapid and affects the entire canopy.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering schedule and ensure the plant receives plenty of direct sunlight daily.
Cider gum: leaf drop? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your cider gum and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Will my plant grow new leaves where they fell off?
- Eucalyptus gunnii does not always regrow leaves on old, bare woody stems. It is better to focus on keeping the remaining foliage healthy.
- Can I keep this plant indoors?
- It is very difficult to keep this tree happy indoors because it requires intense direct sun and high airflow. It will almost always perform better outdoors in a sunny spot.
More problems with Cider gum
- Why is my Cider gum wilting and showing root rot?
- What are these spots on my Cider gum leaves?
- Why is my Cider gum growing so leggy?
- Why are my Eucalyptus gunnii leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my Eucalyptus gunnii leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my Eucalyptus gunnii drooping?
- Are there bugs on my Eucalyptus gunnii?
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.
