Decorative room Euphorbia

Euphorbia is an indoor flower representing the Euphorbia family of plants. It is becoming increasingly popular in Russia. Its Latin name is Euphorbia. Euphorbia is home to the tropics and subtropics. In the wild, it grows in America (South and Central), Africa, the Canary Islands and in Arabia. In the world there are about 2000 species and subspecies of this shrub. The plant is unpretentious, it does not need much care.Euphorbia can be propagated by cuttings, seeds or dividing the bush.

Euphorbia

General description of the plant

The Latin name for the plant Euphorbia was invented in ancient times. It comes from the name of the Roman physician Eurofob, who studied the healing properties of the plant and actively used them. The shrub represents the Molochaev family.

The species of this flower are very different. They can have leaflets or thorns, the stems are thin and long, faceted, spherical. Some resemble a palm tree in appearance, others look like cacti, others grow like grass.A number of species grow in the open ground: this is the usual weed grass in the country or garden. But at home tropical species are grown, they are more beautiful. These plants have a common feature: each Euphorbia has a poisonous white juice that is secreted by a section of the trunk.

Euphorbia is grown at home relatively recently. At first glance, all its varieties are inconspicuous, many do not even bloom, do not produce seeds and propagate exclusively by cuttings. Easy care has made the plant very popular. Most often in apartments you can find the following species:

• Framed;
• Varifolia;
• Mile;
• Belozhilkovy;
• Triangular or trihedral;
• Cypress;
• Tirucalli;
• Pallas or Fisher;
• Poinsettia.

Each species needs to be looked after differently, although the rules do not vary too much. It is important to remember that Euphorbia in the wild grows on dry, desert and semi-desert soils, as well as warm edges. This is the reason that the indoor flower does not tolerate overflow and hypothermia, but can grow quietly with very low humidity.

Care rules

Euphorbia loves proper care. To learn its principles is not at all difficult. This unpretentious flower can calmly grow in public institutions, in the apartments of busy people and beginner florists. It is very important to adhere to safety rules during any manipulations, because the milk juice is poisonous.

Here are a few tips on how to care for Milkweed.

Lighting

The Milkweed plant loves a lot of light, can tolerate even direct rays sun, although it’s not worth abusing such properties: if the light is too intense, the green bush can get burns. Especially sensitive to light Euphorbia is triangular multifaceted.

In the shade, the flower also withers, stops growing, therefore it is best to put the flower pot on the south or southeast windowsill.

Temperature

In the tropics it is warm all year round, at home it is necessary to ensure the same ambient temperature. The optimum temperature in the summer is 22-27 ° С, in the winter – 14-16 ° С. Some varieties of Euphorbia flower tolerate lower temperatures, around 8-12 ° C.

Watering

There is no need to water the decorative room Euphorbia too often. This is a desert shrub that does not like excess moisture. In the summer, it is enough to moisten the soil once a week. Wintering can take place without any watering if the apartment is cold enough. When the temperature is between 16-18 ° C, water the plant once a month. Water for watering should not be too cold and not too warm, soft (sifted out or boiled).

Fertilizing

Do I need to bring it to the ground where the Molochaya bush grows, fertilizer? Feeding a flower is needed, but you can not overdo it with it.Fertilizer is applied during the period of active growth and development from early March to early October. You need to feed the plant 1-2 times a month.

Care for leaves and stems

If the leaves are very dusty, they are wiped with a damp cloth. For fragile varieties, a thick brush that can be slightly moistened is more suitable. Dried twigs should be removed. When the apartment is very hot or the air is dry due to heating, you can spray the Euphorbia. At the same time, the soil is covered with polyethylene so that the roots are not wetted.

Trimming milkweed

Trimming Milkweed – the procedure is mandatory. Most species of this shrub can grow in height by 2-3 m. Some give ugly side shoots, the flower resembles a weed or shapeless bush. In the interior, such a plant will not look at all appropriate.

The pruning time depends on whether the cultivar of the Milkweed blossoms or not. Flowering bush must be cut in the fall, immediately after the end of the growing season. If you do this at the end of winter or early spring, there will be no flowers in the summer. If the variety does not bloom, it can be pruned both in autumn and spring. It is important to know that it is easier to form a beautiful crown during spring pruning, because many owners sometimes cut even a flowering bush at the end of February, sacrificing inflorescences for the sake of shape.

The following instruments should be prepared before the procedure:

• regular or sickle-shaped knife;
• sterile gauze napkin;
• crushed wood corner;
• rubber gloves;
• glasses.

Before trimming the decorative Euphorbia, wear glasses and rubber gloves: poisonous juice is dangerous if it gets in on the skin of the hands or eyes, there will be a burn. Many people are allergic to milky juice.

The trimmer knife should be washed well and wiped with an antiseptic. The slice is made either straight or along an oblique line. First you need to shorten the tops, then take on the side shoots. The branch is removed so as not to damage the edge of the trunk. It is desirable to carry out pruning according to a clear plan. It is better to try to imagine how the crown will look in the future. It is conditionally necessary to remove unnecessary branches and only then proceed with the practical implementation of the plan.

After trimming the branches, it is necessary to blot out the juice that has stood out with a tissue. Further, the place of the cut is sprinkled with charcoal. Such manipulation allows the “wound” to drag out faster and prevents infection.

Very soon, “children” and side shoots will appear near the cut area. Over time, the extra can also be removed. The cuttings that form after trimming Euphorbia can be propagated.

Plant transplant

We have examined how to properly care for Milkweed and crop it. Now let’s talk about transplanting . It is allowed to do it only during the rest period. about only in the exceptional case when the roots are damaged by parasites or rot, immediately after purchase.

Soil for planting

When transplanting milkweed it is very important to choose the right soil, because of the quality Soil in many respects depends on the growth rate and plant health.You can buy ready-made land for cacti or universal soil. It is easy to prepare the mixture yourself.

Option No. 1:

• leaf soil – 2 parts;
• earth with humus – 3 parts;
• sand – 2 parts.

Option number 2:

• turf soil – 1 part;
• sand – 1 part;
• peat – 1 part.

All components of the soil are thoroughly mixed and slightly moistened.It is better to allow the mixture to settle for several days, so that the planting is more efficient.

Transplant process

The pot for replanting an indoor plant Euphorbia should be high. Its roots are much weaker than the crown. So that the long trunk does not outweigh and the flowerpot does not turn over, heavy stones are placed on the bottom, then a claydite layer is poured as drainage and one third of the pot is filled with earth.

The plant to be transplanted is carefully pulled out of the old flowerpot. The earth should be shaken off without applying much effort so as not to damage the roots. The flower is carefully transferred to a new container and sprinkled on top of the rest of the earth, slightly tamped. At the end, Euphorbia should be watered, it can be slightly fed with mineral fertilizer.

Young plants should be replanted annually in the first 2-3 years. The new pot should be 2-3 cm larger in diameter than the old one. In the future, you can transplant every 3-5 years, changing only the topsoil. A bush is transplanted unscheduledly if the root of Euphorbia begins to decay or is attacked by pests. In this case, the damaged roots are removed and the ground carefully removed.

Milkweed Reproduction

Milkweed reproduction is simple: it takes root well and quickly takes root. How can this bush be propagated? There are several methods for propagating a tree:

• cuttings;
• leaves;
• seeds;
• dividing the bushes.

For some species, any of the methods is suitable, while others recognize only cuttings or division of the bush. We’ll take a closer look at these methods.

Propagation by cuttings

Propagation by cuttings, or cuttings, is the most popular way to obtain a new bush of Milkweed. It is suitable for any variety. It is best to cut the bush during autumn pruning. You can cook cuttings in the spring. Preparation and planting consist of the following steps:

• cut a branch about 10 cm long (the cut should be one centimeter from the last leaf node);
• the lower leaves are carefully removed;
• juice is washed in a container with warm water;
• wipe the slice with a dry cloth or napkin;
• sprinkled with crushed charcoal;
• dried in the open air 2-3 days;
• plant the cuttings in a substrate consisting of equal parts sand and peat;
• water and cover with a plastic bottle.

Keep under the bulb com stalks need to, as long as it does not take root, about 2 weeks. Then the cap is removed and after another 2-4 weeks, the Euphorbia is transplanted into a permanent pot.

Reproduction by leaf cuttings

Not every euphorbia accepts propagation by leaf cuttings. For this, only the Trihedral and Belozhilkovy varieties are suitable.Here are the steps involved in planting leaf cuttings:

• gently pinch the green leaf;
• wait for the white juice to drain;
• treat the cut with a rooting stimulator (better Kornevin or Epin is the best fit);
• wrap the tip in mineral wool;
• lower it into a moist substrate of sand and peat;
• cover it with a jar or a plastic bottle.

Every day you need to remove the cap for a couple of hours so that the green leaf can breathe and not become moldy. Rooting ends in about a month. Since that time, another 2-3 weeks keep the stalk in the substrate, but already in the open state. At the end of the term, you can transplant the plant into a permanent pot.

Propagation by seeds

Propagation of Milkweed by seeds is possible only in cases when it blooms at home. The plant forms small pods in which there are small peas. To get seeds from Euphorbia without loss, ripening pods are tied with gauze. When they open, they untie the cheesecloth, take out the seeds and dry them. They can be stored in a place protected from moisture for no more than a year.

Sowing and germinating seeds look like this:

• prepare a substrate from equal parts of sand and peat;
• they disinfect in the oven for 2-3 hours at a temperature of 100 ° C ;
• when the soil cools down, moisturize it;
• the seeds are soaked in water for a day;
• plant seeds to a depth of 0.5 cm;
• cover the container with foil and put in a bright place;
• ideal temperature for germination is 25 ° C.

The first shoots of Milkweed appear 2-4 months after sowing . After 2 weeks, they will get stronger, and the sprouts can be transplanted into a new substrate of the same composition. After another month, the seedlings are transferred to the pot. It is easiest to grow White-Eared Euphorbia from seeds: it has excellent germination.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

Reproduction by dividing the bush is most often carried out at Milkweed. It can be planted in spring or autumn, when the growing season ends. A green flower is pulled out of the pot, the earth is gently shaken. First, divide the crown, and then the root system. If it is impossible to divide the shrub without tools, cut it with a knife. White juice is washed off with some water. The plant is transplanted into a new pot with good drainage.

Diseases

Proper care of flowers at home helps to avoid any problems. But it is not always possible to ensure it, because it is worth knowing the main symptoms of plant pathologies and ways to get rid of them.Euphorbia can affect diseases and pests. Here is a description of the signs of illness that occurs when a tree is poorly looked after:

• Lack of light. The leaves turn pale, curl, deform and fall off, the bush lags behind in growth.
• An excess of light (sunburn). The leaves or the trunk acquire a red or yellow color in one of the areas, which then turns brown. Worst of all, the bush is affected by prolonged direct sun exposure.
• Falling leaves. This phenomenon may be natural in some species in mid-autumn, when they fall into a dormant state. If the bush drops leaves out of season, most likely it lacks light or fresh air
• Insufficient watering. Euphorbia all leaves turn yellow if it is not watered enough. Yellow sheets can also be a sign of deficiency or an overabundance of mineral fertilizers, primarily nitrogen.
• Sudden changes in temperature in the apartment or drafts. In this case, the flower wilts, its leaves dry, it stops growing, sometimes even dies.

In nature, plants with poisonous sap have few enemies. but at home pests attack the Euphorbia and it can wither. Most often, such a group of insects affects the tree:

• Mealybug. The leaves are covered with white spots and plaque. You can deal with the pest with a soap solution, tobacco infusion, calendula flowers, garlic.
• Scutellum.On the leaves there are spots that have a red, yellow, bright orange or brown tint. Fighting insects with the insecticide; the use of Aktar and Fitover helps a lot.
• Trips. This pest leaves pale yellow or silver spots on the leaves. The fight is the same as with a scale shield.
• Aphids. Bugs appear on the plant, which can be either green or black. It helps to destroy aphid garlic, onions, hot pepper, mustard, infusion of alder cones.
• Spider mite. The lower parts of the leaves are covered with white cobwebs. To remove parasites, the leaves are wiped with an alcohol or soap solution.
• Root mealy. The pest gradually gnaws the roots, which makes the bush completely dry. Often it is detected during a transplant. To destroy the parasite, the roots are treated once with an insecticide, then they are watered with Aktar once a month. Salting of the roots sometimes helps.

In order not to miss and start the disease, the Milkweed bush is regularly inspected at home. When parasites first appear, they can be collected manually. If the Euphorbia is suffering from improper care (the leaves hang, turn red, fall off, the whole bush turns yellow, withers or dries), try to correct it.

Useful properties

Useful properties of Milkweed known for a long time. It is used by both folk healers and official medicine.Plant juice with medicinal properties contains:

• resin;
• rubber;
• copper compounds and other minerals;
• coumarin ;
• alkaloids;
• flavonoids.

In modern pharmaceuticals, Molotaya produces emetic, anthelmintic drugs, drugs for simulating vomiting, treatment of poisoning, and weight loss . In folk medicine, the healing properties of toxic juice were used to treat warts, calluses, and blood purification. With its help, skin, face were whitened and cleaned from spots with freckles in any area. Contraindications say that Euphorbia juice can cause allergies. They should not be treated on their own.

Popular beliefs speak about the benefits of growing Euphorbia, and astrologers are interested in it. It is believed that the plant has a very strong energy. It is able to absorb all the negative accumulated in the house. Families who keep a plant in their apartment rarely quarrel and fall apart; harmony always reigns in their relationship. Even in complex families, people start to relate to each other better. The magical properties and secret meaning of the flower is used in India to fight demons.

There is also a scientific explanation for the benefits of Euphorbia. Some scientists believe that it absorbs electromagnetic waves, therefore they advise them to be planted in offices, placed near computers and other electrical appliances. If you keep a flower in the kitchen, you can get rid of unpleasant odors. Even if you do not believe in all signs and superstitions, it is worth planting a bush at home.The tree looks very beautiful, and caring for it is not at all difficult. Euphorbia is not without reason called a flower for lazy people.

It is very important to adhere to safety rules when growing a flower. It can be harmful to humans, cause allergies. Poisonous juice, falling on exposed areas of the body, burns them. Animals and young children should not be allowed to the flower so that they do not poison. Similar recommendations exist for all poisonous domestic plants, among which there is an extensive family of Euphorbia.