White-eared Euphorbia is a striking representative of the succulents family, which is increasingly grown by domestic flower growers. And this is not surprising, because this attractive plant looks like a palm tree. In addition, he has an unpretentious nature, so the novice florist will also cope with the cultivation of an exotic flower.
Plant description
Whitewood spurge belongs to succulents, in the natural environment it can be found in the subtropics of Africa and America. But the birthplace of the flower is Madagascar.
In appearance, the culture resembles a miniature palm tree. She has a dense, fleshy stalk that thickens toward the apex. The flower reaches a height of 1.5 meters, but two-meter specimens are also found.
On the trunk there are scaly ribs, due to which the plant is often confused with a cactus. The top of the stem is sometimes branched.
Large, shiny leaves of the culture are painted in a saturated emerald color. They are collected in a socket located on top of the trunk. As they grow, the lower plates disappear, which enhances the similarity of the culture with a palm tree. In place of fallen leaves, whitish marks remain.
Milkweed flowering period begins with the advent of spring and ends in mid-August. At this time, white, small buds appear in the axils of the leaves. White-milked milkweed flowers do not add decorativeness to the plant. But after them, a seed box is formed on the culture, which bursts when ripe. And the milkweed grains fly out with such force that they fall into neighboring pots.
Planting a plant
For white-milked milkweed, choose wide, flat pots, because the roots of the plant grow rapidly. As for the soil, then store soil is suitable for succulents or cacti. But you can prepare the substrate yourself. To do this, mix in equal parts:
- river sand;
- sheet earth;
- peat.
In addition, it is advisable to add a pinch of charcoal to the soil, which feeds the young plant.
Do not forget to disinfect the substrate before planting. To do this, fill the soil with a small amount of boiling water and place the mass in a layer of 5 cm on a baking sheet. Anneal the soil for 30 minutes at a temperature of 70–90 ° C. You can also disinfect the substrate in a steam bath.
The plant does not tolerate stagnation of moisture at the roots. Therefore, it is worth taking care of good drainage. For these purposes, lay a layer of expanded clay or broken brick on the bottom of the pot.
Growing rules
A beginner grower can also provide good care for milk-milked white-breasted at home. This plant is unpretentious in nature, and care for it consists of the following procedures:
- watering;
- top dressing;
- pruning
- transfer.
In addition, in order for the plant to take root, provide it with a comfortable temperature regime and proper lighting. But while caring for the crop, remember that euphorbia is extremely toxic, and its juice causes severe burns and irritation. Therefore, work with a gloved crop. Also, keep the plant away from pets and children.
Watering
Proper water management is a basic principle of care. At home, the white-eared euphorbia (flower photos provided in the article) is unpretentious. But when watering, consider that the plant is succulent. And this means that the flower can retain moisture in the stem and leaves. And he does not tolerate excess watering. After all, excess moisture leads to rotting of the roots.
In the summer, water the land 2 times a week. On hot days, it is allowed to moisten the soil after 2-3 days. But in winter, watering a flower should be rare. Moisturize the soil once a month to make the flower feel great.
Air humidity
This plant calmly tolerates neighborhood with heaters or central heating batteries. But do not put the flower pot close to heat sources. Otherwise, the soil will dry out.
In the spring, it is recommended to arrange a flower with "air" procedures. To do this, take the pot to the balcony for 1-2 hours. Due to the influx of air, the juice of the plant will accelerate throughout the stem, which will positively affect the growth of the crop.
Lighting
Euphorbia alba is a photophilous plant. And for him, the eastern or western window would be an ideal place, because the succulent “adores” partial shade. But putting the plant in direct sunlight is not recommended. Otherwise, burns will appear on the delicate leaves.
If you keep the pot near the south window, then cover it at noon from scorching rays at noon. Then the plant will not "wither" from the lack of ultraviolet radiation.
In addition, it is recommended to constantly rotate the pot in different directions to the light source. Then the succulent will develop evenly.
Top dressing
White-eared Euphorbia, the photo of which is presented below, responds well to special fertilizers for cacti. Feed the flower since March. At this time, fertilizers should be applied in small doses, but 2-3 times a month.
From April to September, feed the flower once every 30 days. Succulents do not need fertilizers during dormancy.
Pruning
If you ensure proper care for milk-milked white-breasted, the photo of which is presented above, then the culture will grow rapidly, and under the weight of heavy leaves a weak stem can break off. To prevent this, pruning is recommended annually. To do this, shorten the shoots by 14-15 cm after the plant fades and hibernates.
In addition, if the tip is too branched, then it should be truncated. For the procedure, use a sharpened knife or secateurs, because the scissors are unlikely to cope with the task. Trim the top 3-4 cm and do not forget to treat the cut sites with crushed activated carbon. Do not discard the resulting cuttings, because new plants will grow from them. You will learn how to do this in the next section.
Euphorbia alba: propagation by cuttings
A similar method of growing new flowers gives excellent results. It is worth starting cuttings in late spring - early summer. During this period, an intensive growth of lateral shoots occurs. And from these branches viable cuttings are obtained.
How to propagate euphorbia white-veined processes:
- Sharpen the knife and treat it with a disinfectant solution.
- Gently cut the side shoots as close to the trunk as possible.
- Put the resulting branches in warm water for a day. During this time, milky juice drains from them.
- Treat the slices with activated carbon powder, and leave the cuttings for 2 days to dry the cut.
- Mix peat and sand in equal parts and plant cuttings in this mixture.
- Put a pot of plants in a warm place.
The first month it is advisable not to disturb the plants. And only then provide the seedlings with the usual care.
Reproduction of white-milk milkweed
The easiest way is to grow succulent in a seed way, and a beginner grower will also cope with this procedure. Sowing should begin in early March, but first, scarify the material, that is, violate the integrity of the shell of the grains. To do this, grind the seeds with sand. Plant plants this way:
- Loosen and slightly moisten the soil.
- Lay out the seeds and cover with a layer of earth 4-5 mm thick.
- Cover the crops with foil and transfer the greenhouse to a cool place for 12-14 days. Do not forget to periodically spray the soil from the spray gun to prevent the soil from drying out.
- After the due date, transfer the greenhouse to the windowsill.
- The first shoots break through, as a rule, 3 weeks after planting. From now on, periodically ventilate the greenhouse.
- When the sprouts are strong, dive them, and then plant them in separate pots.
White-veined euphorbia perfectly survives, so experienced gardeners propagate it by self-seeding. When after flowering boxes appear on the succulents, place containers filled with soil mixture near them. Seeds that have fallen into the soil will be given by seedlings, which over time will be transplanted into other pots.
Care for such seedlings is the same as with the sowing method. But for plants obtained by self-sowing, at first provide gentle light and temperature conditions.
Transfer
Euphorbia is fast growing, so it is recommended to transplant it into a larger pot. For young plants, carry out this procedure annually. Transplant adult crops every three years. Please note that you should start this event in the spring. Then the plant will take root in a new place faster.
How to transplant:
- Put a small layer of drainage on the bottom of the pot.
- Mix peat, sand and sheet soil in equal parts, pour a little of this mixture on the drain.
- Set the euphorbia to the ground and cover the roots with the remaining soil.
- Moisten and lightly compact the soil.
- If the stem is thick and unstable, support it with large pebbles.
The first 2-3 months, it is advisable not to touch the succulent and let it adapt. In addition, it is recommended to protect the plant from drafts and bright sunlight. It is advisable to keep the room temperature at 16–18 ° C. When the flower adapts, give it the usual care.
Disease
Euphorbia alba is endowed with strong immunity. But improper care and other factors affect his health, and a pet can get sick. For example, if the soil is too moistened or the pot is kept in a cold room, then the risk of various rotting increases. Most often, flower growers are faced with such diseases:
- Gray rot. This disease can be recognized by the gray-olive plaque that appears on the stem of the flower. If you notice such marks, then immediately proceed with treatment. First of all, remove the damaged areas. If this does not help, treat the plant with a fungicide, such as Fundazole.
- Late blight. This disease affects the roots of the culture. For treatment, remove the damaged areas, and treat the remaining processes with fungicides such as Ordan or Vitaros. In addition, it is recommended to treat the pot with alcohol and transplant the flower into new soil.
- Spotting. This disease often occurs due to waterlogging of the soil. For treatment, spray the ground part of the culture with copper sulphate, Vectra or Alirin-B. But before that, do not forget to cut the affected stems and leaves.
It is much easier to prevent diseases than to fight them. Therefore, periodically treat the culture with solutions for prevention. And also ensure proper care for milkwort milk milk at home. And then no disease is terrible for your pet.
Pests
Some insects love to settle in the succulent leaves and roots of milkweed. And in a short time, such parasites can destroy the culture. As a rule, gardeners are faced with such pests:
- Spider mite. It is difficult to notice these insects with the naked eye, but they can be recognized by fading foliage and yellow spots. At the first sign of damage, rinse the plant under a warm shower with a soap solution. After that, spray the flower with Fitoverm or Vertimek. Repeat this procedure three times at 10-day intervals.
- Mealybug. This pest leaves behind a white coating. To get rid of the parasite, treat the surface of the culture with a swab dipped in alcohol. Next, replace the topsoil and spray the flower with Actara or Intavir. Repeat these activities 4 times every 7-10 days.
- Shield. The pest can be recognized by the brown “sticky” spots that the parasites leave behind. "Aktara" will help to remove insects. Moreover, it is recommended to process not only the "green mass" of the flower, but also the soil. For one procedure, getting rid of the scale shield does not work. Therefore, you will have to carry out 4 treatments at intervals of a week.
Now you know everything about how to provide good home care for white milk milk milk. And if you stick to these tips, then your exotic “palm” will delight you with its attractive appearance for a long time.