Euphorbia tirucalli: description, reproduction and care at home

Succulents are houseplants that do not require special care. They are adapted to grow in unfavorable conditions. One of the succulents - spurge tirucalli - has an unusual appearance. It has long shoots that do not have leaves in adulthood. Inflorescences are yellow, tubular. At home, flowering of the plant is rare. Further description and characteristics of the culture, information on growing and caring for the flower.

History of Tirucalli milkweed breeding

Tirukalli euphorbia habitat - Africa. The culture is able to grow in arid conditions. For this reason, spurge is grown for animal feed in regions where rainfall is rare.

Description and characteristics of culture

Spurge tirucalli is a suitable plant for large spaces. With good care, without pruning, the culture at home reaches a height of 6 meters.

Stem

Spurge milkweed round, fleshy. They contain a poisonous juice that does not affect animals, but is dangerous to humans. In young plants, the branches are colored green. With the growth of euphorbia tirucalli, the color of the stems changes to gray-green.

Pay attention! Euphorbia juice is poisonous, so all work with the flower is carried out with gloves. The liquid that accidentally gets on open areas of the body is thoroughly washed off with running water.

Leaves

Linear leaves of bright green color are formed on the young euphorbia. Their length does not exceed 12 centimeters. The growing season of euphorbia tirucalli occurs in spring and summer. In the off-season, the leaves fall off, remaining only on the tops of the plants.

Flower and bloom

Buds begin to bloom in October. Inflorescences consist of tubular flowers. Petals are painted in shades of yellow palette. Flowering at home is rare.

Resting period

In winter, euphorbia tirucalli has a dormant period. During this period, the pot with the plant is placed in a room with an air temperature of 12-14 ° C. Water the flower in winter no more than 1 time per month, do not fertilize at all.

Reproduction

At home, Euphorbia tirucalli is propagated by cuttings. The procedure is performed as follows:

cuttings are cut with a sharp knife;
wash milky juice under running water;
dry during the day;
planted in a pot with a light, loose substrate;
cover with foil.

Shelter is periodically removed, the stalk is watered as needed. Plant rooting is fast.

Important! The cut stalk must be air-dried for at least a day. This will prevent it from rotting when planted in the ground.

Necessary conditions for growing

For a plant to develop well, it needs to be provided with conditions similar to those under which it grew in nature.

Optimal air humidity

Euphorbia tirucalli tolerates dry air well. Therefore, additional moisture is not required for the plant. Periodically euphorbia for hygienic purposes, showering can be arranged. The water will wash away the dust that interferes with the breathing of the flower.

Temperature conditions

Heat-loving succulent prefers to grow at a temperature of 21-25 °C. In summer, spurge can be taken out to fresh air. Have a bush in a place protected from cold winds and bright rays of the sun. In winter, tirucalli euphorbia is kept in a room with an air temperature of 12-14 ° C.

Illumination

The succulent is not very picky about lighting, but it will look more decorative on the windowsill on the south side of the room. It needs to be protected from bright sunlight. In a place that is too dark, the shoots will weaken, stretch.

Required soil composition

The substrate for milkweed is selected loose, light. You can independently make a soil mixture from the following components:

leaf compost;
turf land;
river sand.

For planting euphorbia tirucalli, you can purchase ready-made soil for succulents.

How to plant a plant at home

Store-bought Euphorbia needs to be transplanted as it is in the shipping soil. Previously, it is quarantined to identify possible diseases and pests. If none are found, after 10-15 they start transplanting.

Preparing a seedling

The flower is carefully removed from the old pot. Shake off some of the old soil from the root system. If there are damage on the shoots or roots, they are removed. The cut sites are disinfected with activated charcoal.

Pay attention! A new container for milkweed tirucalli is picked up a little more than the previous one. It should be wide, but not deep.

Drainage and soil preparation

The pot must have holes to drain excess liquid. Drainage is laid out at the bottom of the tank, consisting of expanded clay, small stones, brick chips. Otherwise, due to moisture stagnation, the root system of euphorbia tirucalli may rot.

Schematic planting of milkweed

Planting a flower in a new pot is done as follows:

drainage is laid out at the bottom of the pot;
poured loose substrate;
spurge is planted, the root system is covered with earth;
watering.

The transplanted plant is placed in a warm place. He does not need frequent watering. The rooted apical cutting is planted in the same way.

Home care

Care for Euphorbia tirucalli is infrequent watering, top dressing. In order for the bushes to branch beautifully, they are shaped. The cuttings remaining after pruning can be rooted and grow new plants from them. If spurge is invaded by pests, it is treated with special preparations.

Irrigation

A lot of moisture is not required for a flower. Watering is carried out after the top layer of soil dries out by 2.5-3 centimeters. Water is used warm, separated. In winter, the soil is moistened no more than 1 time per month.Water is not poured under the plant, but along the edge of the pot. From excess moisture, the flower can be affected by putrefactive microorganisms.

Cutting

Spurge tirucalli is growing fast. This creates inconvenience when growing a bush in a small room. Therefore, overgrown shoots can be cut. The tool is sharp. To prevent the transfer of possible diseases, it is disinfected. The cut sites are also disinfected. Cuttings are used for propagation.

Feeding

Spurge tirucalli in nature grows in depleted soils. At home, it is enough to feed the plant 1 time in spring and 1 time in summer. Use fertilizer for succulents.

Important! Organics are not used to feed euphorbia, since the nitrogen in it negatively affects the development of the plant.

Formation

Flower grower can form a bush at his discretion. For example, with frequent pruning of the apical cuttings, the flower will begin to grow in breadth. If you need to grow a tall succulent, cut shoots only occasionally.

Transfer

Young spurge is transplanted annually. The pot is picked up a little more than the previous one. It should be wide, not deep. Drainage material is laid out at the bottom. The soil is loose, air and water permeable. Adult bushes are allowed to be transplanted less often: 1 time in 2-3 years.