White spurge - description and care of the house
Content:
White-veined spurge is an inhabitant of the subtropics. Madagascar is considered its natural habitat. However, everyone can breed their own jungle - the flower takes root well at home. In this case, it is worthwhile to study in advance how to properly care for him.
What does the euphorbia look like, which family does it belong to?
Euphorbia belongs to the Euphorbia family. There are other names for this plant - monkey palm and euphorbia.
In addition to this variety, there are about 2,000 more varieties in the family, which differ in size and appearance. A common characteristic is the presence of milky sap, which can be seen at the site of the fracture of the leaves and trunk. This milky white liquid contains poisonous substances that cause burns.
White-veined spurge
The stalk of young milkweed is soft and fleshy, but over time it begins to grow stiff. It is worth emphasizing another feature: at the base, the thickness of the trunk is less than at the top. Moreover, it is all covered with ribs. Leaves appear all over the trunk, but gradually the lower ones fall off. This gives the flower a visual resemblance to palm trees.
Common varieties
Many varieties of the Euphorbia family are in high demand among flower growers. In this list: Foxtail (or euphorbia Akalifa), head of a jellyfish, euphorbia Mila, multiflorous, and also tirucalli.
Healing properties
Despite the presence of toxic substances, white vein is often used as a folk remedy for swelling, paralysis, various pathologies of the stomach and intestines. Self-treatment with this plant is strongly discouraged. First you need to consult your doctor. He will give recommendations taking into account the balance of harm and benefit.
About the history of appearance
According to legend, Euphorbia got its name (euphorbia) from the name of Dr. Euphorba. This man served as a medicine man for the Numedian ruler Yubu II. For the treatment of many diseases, he used euphorbia.
Features of caring for a flower at home
In general, such a variety of Euphorbia does not require special care, but it is worthwhile to study the irrigation and feeding scheme in advance. In this case, the flower will always delight with abundant greenery.
Temperature
Euphorbia is a thermophilic plant. It grows best at temperatures between 18-25 ℃ above zero. However, short-term temperature drops to +15 ℃ will not bring much harm to the flower. In the absence of heat (at 12-14 ℃), the plant begins a dormant period.
Lighting
This variety of milkweed loves light, which is why experienced flower growers in the summer months are advised to take the flowerpot out to the balcony or veranda. In the afternoon, sunbathing should be avoided, as this can cause leaf burns.
A pot with a tree can be placed on the windowsill, but if the windows face the north side, then additional light from an artificial source will be required.
Lighting for milkweed
Watering
Euphorbia white-veined needs abundant regular watering. It is especially important to monitor humidity during the hot summer months. At the same time, a number of conditions are observed:
- The earth ball should not dry out completely, as this will negatively affect the state of the root system.
- The watering frequency is determined taking into account the temperature and humidity of the air. The indicators will be individual. The main thing is that before the next watering, the top layer of the soil has time to dry out a little.
- Soft water is used at room temperature.
- After watering, all moisture from the pan must be removed. If this is not done, the roots will begin to rot.
Spraying
The white vein does not need to be sprayed, as this affects the humidity. You can remove dust from sheet plates with a soft brush or dry sponge.
Humidity
This plant tolerates dry indoor air well - the optimum humidity is 40-50%. It is not recommended to strongly exceed these indicators.
Priming
The acidity of the soil should be close to neutral. For planting, you can purchase a special soil that is suitable for succulents.
You can also prepare the ground yourself. This will require several components in equal parts: calcined sand, small pebbles for drainage, peat and turf soil.
Top dressing
During the period of active growth (from the beginning or mid-March), the spurge needs regular feeding. Nutrient formulations formulated for cacti and succulents are well suited for this purpose.
Features of winter care during the rest period
In the autumn-winter time (from October to April), the flower has a dormant period. During these months, special care for the house palm is not required - it is enough to reduce watering and refuse feeding.
When and how it blooms
With good care, the plant blooms regularly. Milkweed flowers of this variety do not have great decorative value. Later, in place of the flowers, boxes with seeds are formed, which are used for propagation of a domestic palm tree.
Types of flowers
The flowers of the plant are located on a thick trunk closer to the top. Very close to them are leaf petioles. Flowers are small, their number is always limited.
Blooming Euphorbia
Flower shapes
The flowers of this milkweed differ in shape from those of most ornamental plants. So, a stipule with hard scales is attached to the trunk. In the center there are small white flowers resembling threads from a distance.
Flowering period
The plant blooms most often in the summer, however, flowers may appear in the fall.
Pruning
Experienced florists name several cases when the white-streaked euphorbia flower needs pruning:
- If the milkweed bush is too tall and you need to slow down growth.
- If the shoot (or several shoots) is deformed and it is necessary to correct their shape.
- If the flower consists of one trunk and branching needs to be activated.
Spring or summer is best for pruning. It is important to use a sharp knife that has been pretreated with alcohol. The milky juice that appears on a fresh cut is removed with water. To prevent decay, this place is treated with coal.
How euphorbia multiplies
There are two ways to plant a new plant:
- by cuttings - in this case, you need to cut off the sprout from an adult flower;
- planting seeds.
Germinating seeds
The seeds can be purchased at specialized flower shops. Another way to collect seeds from milkweed in place of flowers. Before planting, they need to be placed in a humid environment for a while.
The next step is planting in moist, pre-prepared soil. To do this, make a small depression in the ground a few centimeters and place a seed in it.
Immediately after planting, the ground is covered with foil until green shoots appear. Periodically, the film is lifted, sprayed and aired on the ground. In 10-12 days, the seedlings will begin to sprout.
Rooting cuttings
If it is decided to propagate the spurge by cuttings, then this work should be done at the beginning of summer:
- A suitable scion is selected. It should be a strong shoot with a length of at least 12-15 cm.
- All the juice that appears on the cut is washed off with water.
- The sections are treated with charcoal. The separated shoot is left for 1-2 days.
- The prepared stalk is placed in the ground and the soil is lightly tamped. It is better to install a plastic cap on top and place the pot in a well-lit, warm place.
Transfer
If necessary, the plant can be replanted every year. In this case, it is imperative to check the state of the roots. If they have grown a lot, then the new pot should be slightly larger than the previous one.
Possible growing problems and diseases
White-veined euphorbia grows and multiplies well when taken care of at home. However, there are some diseases and pests that worsen the condition of the plant and can lead to its death.
Drops buds and leaves
Some growers are wondering why the leaves began to fall off. This fact may indicate insufficient lighting. There are two ways to remedy the situation. The pot is moved closer to the window. If this is not possible, it is worth using a lamp.
Leaves turn pale
A faint shade of leaves and the appearance of pale spots on the leaf plate may indicate a violation of the watering regime or inappropriate lighting.
The tips of the leaves dry
When dry ends appear, you should pay attention to the temperature regime. Perhaps the flower is exposed to hypothermia or is standing in drafts.
The lower leaves fall
Often the lower leaves of milkweed begin to turn yellow and fall off if the roots rot. To check this, the flower is taken out of the pot and the roots are examined. If necessary, the root system is washed and damaged parts are removed.
Aphids on milkweed
Pests
Among the most common pests of milkweed are:
- whitefly;
- spider mite;
- mealybug;
- aphids.
You can get rid of them with the help of insecticides.
When choosing a place to install a flowerpot with milkweed, take into account the recommendations of experienced florists. It is not recommended to keep this flower in the bedroom. It is believed that it forms negative energy. It is best to place a home palm tree in the hall, kitchen. In this case, he will bring prosperity and stability to the house.
