Description of the 7 best types of indoor milkweed, propagation and care

Euphorbia is a decorative foliage flower that is often grown to decorate rooms. Even inexperienced gardeners can grow it, as the plant is easy to care for. However, before planting, you still need to understand all the features of planting and caring for indoor milkweed.

Popular varieties of milkweed

Euphorbia has many varieties that can be grown at home. Therefore, before planting this cactus, you need to find out which varieties are best to plant.

Ribbed or comb

It is a green stem shrub whose trunk has a ribbed surface. The height of the comb variety is one and a half meters. The plant is most often found in coastal and subtropical forest areas in Madagascar.

Over time, miniature yellowish flowers form on the bush. The diameter of each of them does not exceed three centimeters. Ribbed spurge blooms in the first half of summer. Flowering lasts 20-30 days. Among the main features of the ribbed plant are resistance to frost, as well as protection from pests.

Belozhilkovy

It is considered one of the most common varieties of milkweed, grown by many gardeners. In nature, such a plant grows up to two meters without problems. Indoors and in a pot, the maximum height is 120-130 centimeters. The trunk of the white-veined variety also has irregularities on the surface. The foliage is bright green with thin white veins.

The flowers of such a seedling are not easy to notice, since they are located under the leaves. They have yellowish petals and bloom in June or July.

mile

This is a tall variety that, in suitable conditions, grows up to two and a half meters. The bush has many branched stems of a grayish color. The leaves are located at the top of the shoots.Their length reaches four centimeters and their width does not exceed two centimeters.

The main distinguishing feature of Mili is considered to be the bracts, which are brightly colored. Their surface can be painted yellow, orange and scarlet. The flower is in small orange inflorescences. Milya, like most other varieties, blooms in summer.

Head of Medusa

Decorative medium-sized spurge that grows well in pots. If you properly care for the planted seedling, its height will reach 130-145 centimeters. In this case, the diameter of the main stem is 20-25 cm.

The medusoid variety has many lateral branches on the trunk, which can be either short or long. The central part of the trunk is slightly thickened, it accumulates nutritional components and moisture that comes through the root system from the soil. Medusa's head blooms at the end of May or early June.

Beautiful or poinsettia

A popular flowering milkweed that is native to central America and southern Mexico. This variety is considered one of the most compact, as the bush grows up to fifty centimeters. Greenish leaves with an ellipsoid shape form on the stems of the bush. On the edges of each of the leaves there are serrations, which make the leaves more unusual.

The distinctive features of this milkweed include its unusual flowers, which can be painted in any color. Most often there are plants with red, yellowish or burgundy petals.

Enopla

A low-growing succulent plant that can be grown in small pots. Enopla bushes grow up to 30-35 centimeters; small red thorns with a slight purple tint grow on the main stem.Miniature reduced leaves with a green surface are formed on the stems.

Two types of flowers are formed on the plant:

• men's;
• women's

Enopla flowering begins in the summer and lasts 2-3 weeks.

Fat

This plant variety looks like a small cactus. The plump seedling has a spherical shape. Leaves or spines do not form on it; instead, compact branches in the shape of spheres appear on the plant. The diameter of the main stem is 5-8 centimeters, and the height is 15-30 cm. At first the trunk is octagonal, but over time its shape becomes more rounded.

Fat spurge can have a gray, greenish, steel, purple and even brown color. You can also see transverse multi-colored stripes on its stem.

Can I keep it at home?

Some people are afraid to keep milkweed at home because its juice contains toxic substances that can harm human health. However, if you maintain the bush correctly, it can be grown at home.

Experienced gardeners recommend handling planted milkweed carefully. The following recommendations must be followed:

• replant seedlings wearing protective gloves;
• place pots with plants out of the reach of children and animals;
• Do not pick the stems with your bare hands.

Useful properties of milkweed

Euphorbia is one of the plants that are actively used in medicine. From its juice you can prepare medicinal formulations that have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and diuretic properties. The freshly squeezed juice contains the following components:

• zuforbon;
• saponin;
• alkaloids.

The flowers of the plant also contain useful enzymes that improve the functioning of the immune system and help get rid of the symptoms of leukemia.Euphorbia can be used to treat wounds and treat ulcers.

What to consider before purchasing a flower

Before purchasing a flower, you need to familiarize yourself with the conditions in which it is best to grow it.

Location and lighting

The cultivation of euphorbia seedlings should be carried out in a suitable place. Many varieties of this plant are light-loving and therefore should be grown on windowsills that receive direct sunlight. However, the most beautiful variety loves diffused lighting more and therefore care must be taken to ensure that the rays of the sun do not fall on it.

This plant can also be grown in a shaded place where there is practically no light. In this case, the leaves will have a less bright color, which is why they will lose their attractiveness.

Optimal temperature conditions

When growing milkweed, you must adhere to a temperature regime that promotes plant growth. Experts advise growing it at temperatures from 15 to 27 degrees above zero. In summer, the plant is taken outside, into the sun. In the evening, when the temperature drops below 14-16 degrees, he is brought into the room.

There are varieties of milkweed that tolerate temperature changes. They can grow at temperatures of 5-7 degrees. However, at such temperatures, the container with the flower must be placed in a lighted place.

Humidity

Some people believe that spurge bushes must be grown in conditions of high humidity, but this is not so. The plant tolerates drought, and therefore the humidity level in the room with milkweed should be average. However, the plant will grow well even in high humidity.

Required soil composition

Before planting spurge, you should understand the optimal composition of the soil.It is the soil and the components that make up it that influence the further development of the planted bush.

Flower growers with many years of experience recommend growing seedlings in permeable and loose substrates. This type of soil is ideal for growing milkweed. If you were unable to purchase a soil mixture for succulent-type plants, you can independently prepare a composition for growing cacti. To do this, mix sand with humus and soil in equal quantities.

Pot size

In order for planted spurge to grow well, you need to choose a suitable container for it. Some people use boxes for planting milkweed, but most often people use pots. In this case, containers must be changed as the plant grows. Experts advise replacing the potty annually.

First, the seedlings are planted in small pots 10-12 centimeters deep. However, when the root system grows, you will have to prepare larger containers. Mature milkweed seedlings should be grown in pots whose depth is 17-25 centimeters.

How to care for a flower at home

Planted milkweed needs proper care so that it develops and blooms faster.

Regularity of watering

This plant, like many others, must be watered periodically. At the same time, there is no need to moisten the soil too often, even during serious droughts. In summer, watering is carried out no more than once a week. In winter, the number of waterings is reduced to several times a month. When temperatures are less than twelve degrees, watering seedlings is contraindicated.

If you have to moisten dry soil, you need to do it gradually. First, spray and only then water.

Top dressing

Experts advise regularly adding fertilizers to the soil so that the plant has enough nutrients. At the same time, the seedling needs to be fed most heavily when the growing season begins. In this case, fertilizing mixtures are added to the ground within two weeks.

Euphorbia should not be fed with mixtures that contain a lot of nitrogen. This component can negatively affect the growth of the main stem of the seedling. The best feeding is considered to be rotted compost or birch charcoal.

Pruning and crown formation

Indoor bush spurge should be periodically pruned and thinned to get rid of excess shoots. Also, pruning significantly accelerates the growth of the main stem of the seedling. This procedure is carried out annually so that the milkweed does not have many side shoots.

You can trim the seedling with sharpened scissors or a knife. You cannot pluck shoots by hand, so as not to damage the spurge and to avoid cutting your hands on the sharp thorns that grow on the stems.

Transfer

Replanting milkweed is a must, since without replanting it will not grow normally. Flower growers advise transplanting the seedling into a larger pot with thick walls, the diameter of which is 3-4 centimeters.

Before planting the plant in a new place, the bottom of the container is covered with expanded clay for better drainage. The thickness of the drainage layer should not be more than five centimeters. Planting of euphorbia bushes in a new place is carried out annually.

Pests and diseases: control and prevention

Despite the fact that the plant is resistant to some negative influences, it still sometimes gets sick and is attacked by pests. Seedlings begin to get sick due to the following reasons:

• lack of fertilizers;
• lack of light;
• non-compliance with temperature conditions;
• excess moisture.

The presence of pests or diseases is indicated by yellowing of the foliage, the appearance of spots on the leaf blade, and wilting of seedlings. Fungicidal preparations and pest control products will help protect milkweed.

How to propagate milkweed

There are three methods for propagating milkweed seedlings.

Cuttings

Some gardeners propagate milkweed bushes from cuttings. To do this, a leaf is plucked from the plant and sprinkled with Kornevin. This is done to stimulate the growth of rhizomes and root them. After this, the cuttings are transferred to a container with sand and left for 20-35 days.

Dividing the bush

Also, spurge propagates not only by cuttings, but also by ordinary division of the bush. This breeding is carried out in March and early April. The bush is carefully dug up, after which the stems are separated. Then the separated stems with roots are transplanted to a new location.

Seeds

The spherical varieties of the plant reproduce only by seeds. Before planting, the seed material is calcined in an oven, after which it is planted in the prepared soil mixture. After 40-50 days, the germinated seedlings are transplanted into a larger pot.

Conclusion

Flower lovers often plant indoor spurge. However, before this, you need to understand the varieties of the plant and the features of caring for it.