White-eared Euphorbia – a poisonous palm or an exotic handsome man?

Euphorbia leuconeura (Lat. Euphorbia) is the pearl of the subtropics, which is scientifically called euphorbia, and the people call it “monkey palm tree ”or simply“ palm tree ”, and sometimes“ cactus. ”The birthplace of the plant is Madagascar.

Euphorbia white

Botanical characteristic

The Latin name of the genus was given in honor of the doctor Euphorb. The historical description says that the doctor served in the court of the Numidian ruler Yubu II in the first century A.D. and treated many diseases with this plant.

Whole forests of euphorbia grow in nature, but not so long ago, a flower became a decoration of the interior and greenhouses around the world. Today it can be found in almost every house or apartment.

White-veined euphorbia is so named for leaves with noticeable white-silver streaks. With age, the latter darkens and the flower becomes not so “sinewy”.Petioles remain brownish. As the stem grows, the lower leaves fall off, leaving peculiar scars. When an incision is made from the leaf blades, a whitish sap is released.

The species belongs to the stalk succulents, despite the decorative crown on the top that suggests tropical trees.

This exotic indoor plant will decorate any corner, because it grows quite large – at home it reaches 1-1.5 m.

The trunk is round, fleshy, lignified from below with age. On the ribs are brown small spines. At the top there is a rosette of green oval large leaves up to 15 cm long.

In the future, young leaves grow gradually at the apex. Branching begins only in adulthood. This perennial plant does not lose its attractiveness for 10-15 years. The flowering is rather inconspicuous – with small light flowers.

The smell of nectar is not perceptible to humans, but insects will quickly fly off on a palm tree.

Purchase and adaptation

Before buying, the plant should be inspected for damage, strange spots or plaque that may indicate a disease. No need to take a specimen whose leaves are crumbling or yellowed.

After purchase, the flower must be transplanted, because the store substrate is not suitable for constant maintenance at home.

Euphorbia quickly adapts to the new microclimate, however it is important to observe quarantine for two weeks after acquisition and keep it separate to avoid unintentional infection of other plants at home.

Planting

You need to plant a flower in a pot of the appropriate size, wide, but not too deep and large, with a layer of expanded clay at the bottom. A small capacity can provoke the development of side shoots, which is why euphorbia will lose its decorativeness.

It is desirable to place the bush in the substrate deeper, laying large stones under the drainage to give the plant stability. After planting, the flower is watered with fertilizer water.

Prerequisites

Soil and location choice

Indoor flower is preferably grown on the southwestern, southeastern, southern window sills. This herbaceous plant looks good in compositions with cacti. It feels good next to batteries and other heaters.

Remember! Euphorbia is poisonous, so it is better to place it away from children and animals.

The soil should perfectly pass air and have a neutral acidity. You can buy a special substrate for succulents, or you can prepare it by combining in equal parts brick chips, calcined sand and small pebbles, turf and peat land.

Humidity

The flower does not need to be sprayed

Euphorbia tolerates dry air well, but it is optimal to grow at 40-50% humidity. High humidity can adversely affect the condition of the plant, so it is recommended to brush off the dust from the leaves with a dry cloth or brush.

Temperature

Indoor palm It is recommended to keep at 15-25⁰С. In summer, you can take out the flowerpot to fresh air. It is necessary to protect the euphorbia from hypothermia. Minor changes in the state of the flower will not affect, but drafts should be avoided.

Euphorbia blooms after a dormant period, which begins when the temperature drops to 12-14 ° C. At this time, the buds are laid. The best months for wintering are from October to February.

Lighting

This succulent is photophilous and can withstand even direct sunlight, but in the summer, rays can cause burns, so at noon it is advisable to shade a green pet from the scorching sun. tree growth will slow down.

Home care

Fertilizers and fertilizing

Propagation by cuttings and seeds, flowering, active growth require additional strength from the plant.

In the warm season, it is recommended to make additives for cacti once a month when watering. In autumn and winter, fertilizers are not used.

Potash is used during flowering.

Watering

Watering is as follows mode:

• in the summer – 2-3 times a week;
• in the winter – 1 time in 20 days – a month;
• at a temperature below 12 ° C, do not water produce.

White-euphorbia euphorbia belongs to succulents, so waterlogging can lead to rot – all moisture is stored in the stem. But drying should also not be allowed.

If the soil is excessively dry, then the water is added gradually.

The water should not be cold – preferably room temperature or warm. It is better to drain excess fluid from the sump.

Transplant

The transplant is carried out when the warm season begins. For young specimens – annually, for mature ones – every 2 years or as the root system grows.

Before starting the procedure, the flower is watered. When extracting a plant from an old pot, it is not necessary to forcefully clean the ground from the roots – let the excess crumble itself.

Transplantation is necessary in the following cases:

• after purchase in the store;
• when the roots grow or rot;
• if the soil is infected with parasites .

Crop

Trimming stimulates the growth of side shoots

Trimming euphorbia is not necessary. Formative pruning is carried out in the following cases:

• if it is necessary to shorten deformed shoots and too tall a bush;
• to make the flower more magnificent;
• to stimulate branching.

For this, the tip is cut with a sharp knife in spring or summer with a frequency of once every couple of years. The knife should be wiped with alcohol in advance. The extracted juice is washed off with warm water, and the place of the cut is sprinkled with charcoal.

Methods of reproduction

You can grow new specimens quite easily like from seeds, and when propagated by cuttings.

Seeds

Propagate – this way is simple – after flowering “boxes” with the corresponding contents are formed.

Pay attention! Euphorbia shoots seeds – this is how self-sowing takes place in nature. To avoid losing seeds, wrap the pods in advance with a cloth or simply dig out seedlings from the mother pot.

Sowing is done in moistened soil after preliminary soaking.The container is covered with a film. Next, periodic spraying and ventilation of the seedlings is required.

The emergence of seedlings from fresh, good quality seeds will have to wait about 10 days. It is advisable to store seeds for no more than 1 year.

Cuttings

Propagation by cuttings is carried out in early summer:

• the process (shoot with a leaf node 12-15 cm long) needs to be cut off;
• the extracted juice is washed off;
• the cut is sprinkled with crushed coal and dried in air for 1-2 days;
• the shoot should be rooted in a moist peat mixture and placed in a warm place with good lighting, cover with a plastic cap, periodically sprayed;
• then it remains to transplant the grown plant in accordance Potting pot approximately 2 weeks after the procedure.

Division of an adult plant

Reproduction by division of an adult tree is carried out in the off-season. To do this, it is enough to carefully divide the mother bush and transplant the resulting specimens. Places of cuts are treated with water and sprinkled with coal powder. This is a very traumatic method, so complete rooting and restoration can occur only after a year or two.

Diseases and pests

Proper care will keep the plant healthy

Benefit and harm

The benefits of euphorbia have been known in various nations since ancient times. In alternative medicine, it is used as a tonic and vascular cleanser.

Decoctions and tinctures from the roots and juice help with fungal infections, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, eczema, purulent wounds and are used to remove warts, boils, corns. In Russia, this species was used as a medicine for removing spoilage, with uterine bleeding, syphilis and impotence.

Remember, poisonous spurge – its juice can be harmful to health: temporary blindness, allergies, skin burns, poisoning, up to vomiting, respiratory failure, impaired consciousness, swelling of the tongue and the development of seizures.

The flower should be kept out of the reach of children and pets, pruning should be done with gloves.

If juice is on the skin, then this place is washed with soap and water, processed prot Ivomicrobial and anti-burn agents, it is recommended to take a drug against allergies. If contacted with eyes or inside, consult a doctor immediately.

• The plant attracts luck, helps in the career, creates a good atmosphere in the house, is a talisman.
• If you grow a flower on desktop yourself, then you can move well up the career ladder. And if you do not provide the green talisman with proper care, then the effect will be negative until the dismissal.
• You can’t put it in the bedroom or near the water – it prevents conception and can provoke the development of chronic diseases.