Indoor Euphorbia Trihedral

Euphorbia Trihedral (Triangular), or Euphorbia trigona, is a tropical perennial bush of succulent. In natural conditions, it is found on the African continent, on the island of Madagascar, in South and Central America. In recent years, Euphorbia has been increasingly grown as a houseplant. It is easy to care for, even beginners can cope with the task.

Euphorbia Trihedral

Description of flower

Often the Triangular Euphorbia is called a cactus. This is an erroneous opinion. The plant belongs to the Euphorbia family and has nothing to do with cacti. The appearance of the flower is a bit similar to the appearance of prickly upholstery. eating desert, but no more. You can better see what a cactus and Euphorbia Triangular look like in the photo. Then it will become clearer what the difference is between them.

Euphorbia Triangular is a succulent bush growing in the tropics In the wild, it can reach a height of 4-5 m, at home the tree stretches up to 2-3 m. The trunk has a diameter of about 6 cm. From it, fleshy trihedral branches rush up. The name of the plant comes from their form. The length of the branches can be 15-20 cm.

On the tops and faces of each branch, small oval leaves grow with pointed tips up to 4 cm long. The color of the leaves is dark green and the branches are light green, sometimes white strokes are visible on them. There is a variety of burgundy shade, but it is very rare.Additional stems sometimes grow from the lateral faces. They need to be cut off in a timely manner to give the bush the right shape.

It is impossible to bloom the plant in room conditions, appreciate it for its beautiful faceted stems and the original shape of the bush. The root system of Euphorbia of the Triangular is poorly developed, therefore it is advisable to plant it in a deep and high pot. Stem is necessary for the growing stem.

The flower juice, like other milk plants, is poisonous, therefore care and pruning should be carried out with full observance of safety rules.

Features of daily care

Triangular Euphorbia and its maintenance are very simple, because it is recommended for cultivation in offices, galleries, shopping centers, because in public places it is difficult to carefully care for plants. A bush is also suitable for beginners lovers of indoor flowers. In order for the plant to develop and grow well, the following points should be observed:

• Lighting. Euphorbia of any kind loves light, it tolerates even direct sunlight. The trihedral Euphorbia is no exception, but it must be accustomed to the light gradually. If you immediately put the pot on the south window, the bush may get burned. The variety grows well in a shaded place, unlike other varieties.
• Temperature. Triangular Euphorbia is a tropical flower; it does not tolerate low temperatures. During the active growing season, the apartment should be 23-27 ° С, and during the rest period – 15-18 ° С.You should protect the indoor bush from drafts, you can not put it close to the glass in severe frosts.
• Watering. The trihedral false cactus does not like overflow, but it tolerates dryness perfectly. In summer, it is watered no more than once every 6 days in small portions. In winter, the bush does not need water at all. It is important that the earthen lump is only slightly moist and the water does not stagnate, otherwise the plant will begin to rot.
• Humidity. The bush does not need high humidity. If the apartment is too dry or the stalks of the Triangular Euphorbia become dusty, you can give him a small shower. The soil is covered with a film so that excess moisture does not damage the root system.
• Fertilizers. Feeding should begin in March and end in October. They make complex mineral mixtures for cacti no more than twice a month.

Caring for the Triangular Euphorbia takes a minimum of time. Even very busy people are able to grow it at home. Indoor flower can develop with irregular watering, and with any type of lighting. The only rule is to prevent it from freezing.

Pruning

Trilogal Euphorbia needs pruning about 1-2 times a year. Its stems are able to grow several meters, let out long side shoots. From this, the shape of the bush deteriorates, and the size becomes so large that the bush does not fit in the apartment. Trimming Euphorbia Triangular is carried out with gloves, special glasses and a dense mask.If poisonous juice gets on the skin or mucous membranes, it can cause a severe burn.

Trim both tops and side branches. It is advisable to draw up a preliminary plan for the formation of a Triangular cactus bush. So that it does not grow too tall, cut off the top. The stems will quickly give lateral shoots that will form a beautiful “hat”. So that the Trihedral Euphorbia does not grow in width, you should control the number of side shoots, leave the most beautiful and growing strictly up, and not to the side.

How should I trim the Euphorbia Triangular and what tools to use? It is best to take a knife or a special garden pruner. When cutting, it is very important not to introduce an infection, therefore the instrument is well washed and wiped with alcohol. In order to guaranteed stop the further growth of the stems, it is advisable to heat it. On cutting, poisonous juice begins to stand out during circumcision. It is carefully blotted with a sterile gauze, then sprinkled with charcoal.

Transplant

Indoor succulent plant Euphorbia Triangular in the first years of life in the apartment needs an annual transplant, then it is advisable to transplant it into a new pot when necessary, when the roots completely occupy the previous one. It is best to do this procedure at the end of winter or the beginning of spring, at the very beginning of the growing season.

The size of the new pot should be 3-4 cm larger in diameter and height than the old one. Since the bush grows rapidly upwards and its crown is significantly superior in weight to the root system, the pots are often turned over. To prevent this, a layer of large heavy stones can be laid at the bottom, sprinkled with fine pebbles or crushed brick.Pebbles will increase the stability of the flowerpot and play the role of drainage.

To transplant flowers, you can take the soil ready, with a neutral reaction. Many experienced flower growers prefer to prepare the soil on their own. Take equal parts:

• soddy soil;
• leafy soil;
• sand;
• peat.

A layer of earth about 4-5 cm thick is poured on the bottom of the pot. Then the plant is taken out of the old flowerpot, thoroughly cleans the roots of soil residues, put into a new container and sprinkled with earth. The transplant is done very carefully so as not to damage the young roots. After that, you can water the flower a little. Old Euphorbia Triangular should be replanted every 3-5 years, but the topsoil is updated annually.

Reproduction

Euphorbia Triangular is a room flower that can be propagated exclusively by cuttings . It takes root quite well and takes root, therefore there is usually no problem with breeding, even beginners can afford it. Material is prepared for propagation in the spring, during pruning, or at the moment when the transplant is made. Here are some useful tips:

• It is best to take lateral or upper strong shoots without signs of illness and defects.
• You need to cut branches with a sharp and clean knife along the oblique line.
• The size of the handle should be about 10 cm.
• The poisonous juice is carefully blotted with gauze and left the stalk for several days in the room so that the cut is dry
• Expanded clay or crushed brick is placed on the bottom of the container for planting Three-sided Milk, a substrate is poured from above in equal parts sand and peat or cactus soil.
• Plant the stalk in the ground, water it abundantly and place it in a slightly shaded place.

When the stalk is rooted, it can be transplanted into a permanent pot . Euphorbia takes root for 4-6 weeks. You can just put a twig in some water. But with this method, the propagation of Euphorbia Triangulum is less successful, the percentage of engraftment is lower, an excess of moisture leads to decay of the roots.

Plant diseases

When home care is wrong, indoor flowers wither, get sick and die. In order to identify and fix the problem in time, you need to know the main symptoms of pathologies. Euphorbia Triangular affects the following diseases:

• Drop of leaves (typical for overflow).
• Drying of leaves is a sign of low humidity at home.
• Yellowing of leaves. Indicates an insufficient or overabundance of mineral fertilizers.
• Brown growths occur when sunburns, when the flowers are too long in direct rays.
• Rotting of the stems, accompanied by an unpleasant odor, occurs with excess moisture or infection during pruning.
• Slowing down growth (when the size of the pot is not suitable for the plant: it is too close, replanting is required).

Pests rarely annoy the bush, because its juice is poisonous. Only aphids are able to settle on leaves and stems. It is easy to detect when examining the Triangular Euphorbia and collect it with a damp cloth.

Benefit and harm

From Triangular Euphorbia there is benefit and harm at the same time. It is grown at home, not just for the sake of beauty. The bush is able to absorb electromagnetic waves, therefore it is recommended to be placed near computers, in offices where there is a lot of equipment. Euphorbia also perfectly refreshes the air, neutralizing unpleasant odors. In this regard, pots are often kept in the kitchen. The energy of the plant is very strong, therefore it is not recommended to be placed in the bedroom so as not to disturb sleep.

In ancient times, the wild Trihedral Euphorbia or indoor flower of this species was used for medical purposes. Healers from eastern countries collected juice to rid their patients of warts, lichen, corns and even intestinal parasites. In India, poisonous juice was dripped onto snakebites to neutralize the poisonous reptiles. Modern doctors talk about the dangers of such experiments: the harm from alternative therapy is greater than good.

If the Triangular Euphorbia grows in a house, you need to be very careful with it. It is necessary to protect children and animals from the flower so that they do not get poisoned by poisonous juice.Care for the bush should also be extremely careful so that milk drops do not get into the mouth or respiratory tract. Symptoms of poisoning are very unpleasant, sometimes even dangerous to health and life.

Before trimming the Triangular Euphorbia or caring for it, you need to wear gloves, glasses and a mask. Transplantation also requires the same precautions. If the juice accidentally drips onto the skin or mucous membranes, it is necessary to thoroughly wash the affected area with soap. If a bird or a pet accidentally ate a leaf, urgently need to contact a veterinarian. But this rarely happens with animals, because their instincts work. More often, young children get into trouble. You should not keep the flower at home if a preschool child lives in it.