Euphorbia trihedral: planting and care at home, how to propagate

Euphorbia triangular (trihedral) - a plant that looks like a cactus. However, Euphorbia does not belong to the Cactus family, despite the fact that it has spines. In the wild, the flower grows in Central America and Southwest Africa. Thanks to its decorative properties and unpretentious care, spurge has become widespread in cultural cultivation.

Brief characteristics and description of the flower

Euphorbia trihedral or euphorbia trigona first appeared on the island of Madagascar. Belongs to the Euphorbia family. Euphorbia - a tall plant - reaches a height of two to three meters.The stems and branches have flattened ribs with long spines, which is why many people confuse it with a cactus. The plant is poisonous and stinging with thorns can cause intoxication. Euphorbia leaves are small, tear-shaped in shape.

What is the use of Euphorbia

Preparations based on milkweed are used to treat wounds and cuts on the skin. Also in folk medicine, the plant is used for the manufacture of diuretics and laxatives. Its juices are able to purify the blood and slow down the growth of neoplasms, due to which the culture is used in the treatment of neoplasms. In official medicine, infusions from it are used to treat kidneys, hemorrhoids and eczema.

How to create ideal conditions for culture maintenance

Like any home plant, spurge needs the right conditions for its development. The flower needs to provide sufficient lighting, suitable soil, temperature and humidity in the room.

Lighting and location

Euphorbia is a light-loving plant, so it needs bright lighting for its development. Choose a place for landing, as much as possible illuminated by the sun. In summer, it is better to rearrange the pot on the balcony.

Required soil composition

For euphorbia, soil that is loose in composition and allows water to pass through is suitable. The appropriate primer can be purchased at the store or you can make it yourself. To do this, you need to mix peat, sand, leaf and sod land in equal proportions. In addition, the plant needs a drainage layer. It can be made from small pebbles or bricks.

Selection of a flower pot

Clay pot is best for this plant. It should be deep and have holes for drainage. Choose an appropriately sized pot so that the stem does not overhang it and fall over.It makes sense to immediately put a strong high pole in the pot and tie the stem to it as it grows.

Temperature regime by seasons

Spurge is a heat-loving flower. It tolerates temperature changes quite steadily, but drafts can harm it. In the summer, for milkweed, a temperature of 20-25 degrees Celsius should be maintained. In winter, spurge feels better at an average temperature of 14 degrees. This mode allows the inflorescences to be laid. However, the temperature should not be lowered below plus ten degrees.

Room humidity

In terms of air humidity, spurge is quite unpretentious, but it will not be out of place to regularly spray the leaves and stems with a shower. At the same time, do not forget to cover the soil with a film during water procedures so as not to overfill the soil.

You bought a flower - what next?

After planting, the plant needs proper care. Despite the fact that spurge is unpretentious in terms of care, it must be regularly replanted, watered properly and applied the necessary fertilizers to the soil.

How often should the plant be watered

The flower does not need frequent abundant watering. It is much easier to cope with the lack of moisture than with its excess. In the warm season, the flower should be watered once a week, and in winter - once a month. Watering should be done very carefully, as the thorns of the plant contain juice, which can cause intoxication of the body.

Fertilization

Fertilizers are recommended to be applied to the soil from spring to autumn. Suitable complex fertilizers for succulents, which can be bought in specialized stores. These complexes contain all the necessary substances that favorably affect the development of the flower.

Frequency of transfers

Replant a flower should be no more than once every two years. Transplantation should be carried out as needed, to replace the pot with a larger one. The transplant procedure should be carried out in early spring, when the shoots have not yet begun to grow intensively.

Shaping milkweed pruning

Unlike varieties of milkweed that grow in a bush, trihedral spurge does not need sanitary pruning. Weak shoots and leaves of the flower do not need to be cut, they dry out and fall off on their own. However, trihedral euphorbia is very branchy, so annual shaping pruning should be carried out so that the plant does not become like a large branched tree.

What diseases and pests is crop susceptible to: control methods

If you do not give the plant proper care, it can get sick. With insufficient or excessive feeding, milkweed leaves may turn yellow.Due to an excess of moisture due to excessive watering and lack of drainage, the leaves may fall off the flower. Also, due to excessive watering, the plant's root system rots.

Due to the scorching rays of the sun, brown growths often appear on the stems of the plant, with the help of which the spurge protects itself from too high temperatures. The growths do not need treatment, but their presence negatively affects the appearance of the plant.

Pests affecting the crop are aphids, mites and mealybugs. To combat them, insecticide preparations should be used.

Methods of reproduction

The main method of propagation of trihedral milkweed is cuttings. The advantages of this method are that it requires minimal costs and is highly effective. At the same time, if you follow all the rules of reproduction, there will be a minimum number of dead seedlings.In order to propagate the plant by cuttings, it is necessary to carefully cut off young he althy cuttings with a sharp knife, and treat the remaining wound with charcoal.

Cut shoots should be left for a couple of days in a dry, warm place, after which the young plant should be planted in prepared soil, and the pot should be placed in a warm, lit place.

In addition to cuttings, seed propagation is available. However, this method is characterized by poor germination and long germination. Seeds should be bought from trusted sellers and planted fresh in the ground. If it is not possible to plant them fresh, the seeds should be stored in a dry place, however, it should be noted that the germination of the seed material will decrease.

Problems of growing African flower

Since the plant is unpretentious in terms of care, there are quite a few problems with growing it.However, there are some negative points that a florist may encounter. Brown spots of rot may appear on the stem and leaves of the plant - this is a reaction to excessive watering. Due to insufficient illumination, milkweed stems can stretch, this is especially noticeable in winter. In addition, in a pot that is too spacious, the plant grows quite quickly due to the increase in roots.

Signs associated with triangular milkweed

According to belief, trihedral euphorbia has life-giving power and is able to bring peace to the house in which it grows. Folk signs attribute to him the ability to give peace, moral and physical relaxation, as well as a beneficial effect on the human musculoskeletal system.

However, like any plant with thorns, it should not be placed in the bedroom. This is especially true for married couples, as this can contribute to conflicts between loved ones.