Euphorbia Mil: planting and care at home, propagation by cuttings

Spurge Mil is a beautiful ornamental exotic plant. Introduced almost 2 centuries ago from Africa, due to its unpretentiousness, resistance to moisture deficiency, low susceptibility to diseases and pests, this species has become one of the most beloved indoor plants, both experienced flower growers and amateurs.

History of variety selection

The birthplace of this culture is the mountainous regions of Madagascar and the islands adjacent to it. This Madagascar species of milkweed is also widespread in South Africa and Mexico. For the first time in Europe, this plant was brought by the governor of the French island of Reunion - Baron Milus, in 1821.Initially, this type of milkweed, due to its tall stature and sharp thorns, was used for dense hedges. But over time, due to the long and beautiful flowering, it began to be cultivated as an ornamental plant to decorate winter gardens and greenhouses.

Note. Due to the characteristic shine of the leaves, as well as the large number of thorns, this plant has also received such characteristic names as Euphorbia brilliant and Crown of Thorns.

Botanical description and culture features

Euphorbia Mil is an indoor flower already familiar to most housewives. It is distinguished from other species of the Euphorbiaceae family, first of all, by characteristic features in the structure of vegetative and generative organs.

Stem

The plant has an upright, highly branched, slightly ribbed grayish stem with a large number of sharp lignified spines. In nature, this type of milkweed reaches a height of 200 centimeters, while in room conditions - 100-120 centimeters.

Leaves

The plant has light green ellipsoid or teardrop-shaped leaves, up to 50 millimeters long and 15 millimeters wide. They are formed at the tops of the central and lateral shoots. At the same time, each leaf blade has 2 modified stipules - sharp spikes that remain on the stem after the leaf dies.

Flowering

With proper care, this spurge can bloom all year round. The flowers of this plant are inconspicuous, small, yellowish in color, surrounded by large bracts of scarlet, white, yellow color.

Important. Very often, many flower growers wonder why this unpretentious type of milkweed does not bloom with them. The answer lies in improperly organized care - insufficient lighting, rare top dressing, strong growth of lateral shoots, which take a large amount of nutrients received by the plant from the soil for their growth and development.

Reproduction

Mile's spurge is propagated in the following ways:

1. Seeds - for this, the seeds bought in the store are sown in small containers with a light nutrient substrate, covered with foil or sheet glass, placed in a warm and dark place. After the appearance of sprouts, the container is placed on a well-lit windowsill. When the seedlings have 2-3 true leaves, they dive into separate pots.
2. Cuttings - cut off a 10-12 cm stalk with 2-3 leaves from the top of the shoot when pruning, place it in a container with water for a day, then dust its lower cut with charcoal, keep it for another 2-3 days , and only then planted in a small pot or cup filled with a light nutrient substrate (coarse-grained sand). The process of rooting and formation of a normal root system takes, on average, 30-45 days.

Of these two methods, grafting is most often used - it allows you to save money on the purchase of expensive seeds and is more likely to get a strong seedling with fully preserved varietal characteristics.

Brilliant pests

The main pests of the milkweed are aphids, whiteflies and root mealybugs.

Aphids

These pests, settling in whole colonies on the leaves, suck the juice out of them, which is why the leaf blades curl, turn yellow prematurely and fall off. They fight aphids on milkweed, cutting off damaged shoots, spraying plants with such insecticides as Aktellik, Aktara, Inta-Vir.

Whitefly

Whiteflies are small white midges that settle on the underside of leaves and feed on their juice. The leaves affected by the pest curl, turn yellow, fall off. To combat the whitefly, leaves inhabited by pests are removed, plants are sprayed with insecticides.

Root Mealybug

This pest settles in the soil and damages the tender young roots of the plant, thereby leading to a slowdown in its growth, and with a large population - to death. To combat the mealybug, the affected plant is removed from the pot, its measles system is thoroughly cleaned of soil, washed under water, sprayed with insecticides and transplanted into a new, pre-disinfected container. The old pot is thrown away.

Diseases of milkweed Mil

Of the diseases, Mil's Euphorbia damages only rot, which is the result of frequent and abundant watering, low indoor temperature. To eliminate the consequences of this disease, the plant is removed from the waterlogged substrate, the roots are thoroughly disinfected, rotten shoots are removed and, transplanted into a new container, placed in a room with a normal temperature regime.

Necessary conditions for growing

For normal growth and development, even such an unpretentious plant as Euphorbia Mil, requires a certain level of illumination, the composition of the nutrient substrate, air humidity.

Location and lighting

The container with the plant is placed on well-lit, south-facing windows. In winter, with insufficient lighting, for normal and abundant flowering, additional illumination is used with the help of special lamps. Insufficient lighting will lead to the fact that the plant will stretch out a lot, stop blooming profusely and beautifully.

Humidity

Euphorbia is not picky about air humidity and does not need additional moisture. This plant feels good in the dry and hot air of apartments and private houses with stove or central heating.

Soil Requirements

The most suitable soil in terms of physical and chemical properties for growing Euphorbia Mil is a special shop soil for succulents and cacti. In the absence of the possibility of acquiring such soil for planting milkweed, a soil mixture is prepared, consisting of equal parts of leafy and soddy soil, peat, and coarse sand.

Optimal temperature conditions

The optimal temperature regime in the room in which milkweed Mil is grown depends on the time of year:

1. Summer - + 20, +25 ^S.
2. In winter - +15, +16 ^S.

When the temperature background is below these values, the plant will be strongly oppressed, drop leaves prematurely, and not form pedicels with buds.

Planting a flower at home

At home, this type of milkweed is grown in seedlings, with the obligatory picking of grown seedlings.

Preparation of containers and soil

For planting seeds, ordinary seedling boxes are used, previously cleared of last year's soil residues and disinfected with a 1% solution of potassium permanganate. They are filled with a light mixture for succulents or the homemade mixture described above, spilled with water.

Shallow and wide pots with holes at the bottom and a drainage layer of expanded clay, pebbles are used for picking grown seedlings. Drainage should take up approximately 1/3 of the volume of the tank.

Technological process of disembarkation

Seeds are planted in small grooves in the soil substrate, fall asleep on top and, having covered the seedling box, are placed in a dry, warm and dark room.After the appearance of sprouts, the seedlings are grown in a box until they have 3 true leaves. After that, the seedlings dive into pre-prepared separate containers.

How to care for a plant

Mile milkweed care includes watering, fertilizing and occasional pruning.

Water frequency

This plant belongs to succulents - crops that are highly resistant to drought. Thanks to this, Euphorbia Mil does not require abundant and frequent watering. The frequency of watering depends on the season:

1. In summer, the plant is watered once a week.
2. Spring and autumn - 1 time in 14-15 days.
3. In winter - once a month.

Water the plant with settled soft water at room temperature. When watering, water is carefully poured under the root, preventing it from getting on the stems and leaves.

Do I need to spray the bush

You should not spray the leaves of milkweed Mil - this can lead to the formation of foci of rot, the appearance of pests. The dust layer formed on the leaf blade is removed with a small brush or soft rag.

How often and what to feed

Feed the plant when watering it with a special liquid complex fertilizer for cacti and other succulents. The frequency of fertilizing in the spring-autumn period is 1 time per month.

Formation

In order for Euphorbia to please with abundant and beautiful flowering, it must be cut annually. With this pruning, all shoots of the plant are shortened by about half their length.

Transfer

Since in the course of growth and development the plant develops not only the aerial part, but also the root system, it must be periodically transplanted into larger containers.The frequency of transplants depends on the age of the plants: young plants are transplanted once a year, adults - once every 2-3 years.

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