Description of milkweed tirucalli, planting and care at home, reproduction

Succulents are indoor plants that do not require special care. They are adapted to grow in unfavorable conditions. One of the succulents, Euphorbia tirucalli, has an unusual appearance. It has long shoots that do not have leaves when mature. Inflorescences are yellow, tubular. At home, the plant rarely blooms. Below is a description and characteristics of the crop, information about growing and caring for the flower.

History of the breeding of milkweed tirucalli

The habitat of Euphorbia tirucalli is Africa. The culture is able to grow in dry conditions. For this reason, milkweed is grown for animal feed in regions where rainfall is rare..

Description and characteristics of culture

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

Stem

Euphorbia shoots are round and fleshy. They contain poisonous juice that does not affect animals, but is dangerous to humans. Young plants have green branches. As Euphorbia tirucalli grows, the color of the stems changes to gray-green.

Note! Euphorbia juice is poisonous, so all work with the flower is carried out with gloves. Liquid that accidentally gets onto open areas of the body is thoroughly washed off with running water.

Leaves

Young milkweed produces linear, bright green leaves. Their length does not exceed 12 centimeters. The growing season of Euphorbia tirucalli is in spring and summer. In the off-season, the leaves fall off, remaining only on the tops of the plants.

Flower and bloom

The buds begin to bloom in October. The inflorescences consist of tubular flowers. The petals are painted in yellow tones. Flowering at home is rare.

Rest period

In winter, Euphorbia tirucalli enters 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 once a month; do not fertilize it at all.

Reproduction

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

• cut the cuttings with a sharp knife;
• wash off the milky juice under running water;
• dry for 24 hours;
• planted in a pot with a light, loose substrate;
• cover with film.

The cover is periodically removed and the cuttings are watered as necessary. Rooting of the plant occurs quickly.

Important! The cut cuttings must be air dried for at least 24 hours. This will prevent it from rotting when planted in the ground.

Necessary conditions for cultivation

In order 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, the plant does not require additional moisture. Periodically, euphorbias can be showered for hygienic purposes. Water will wash away the dust that interferes with the flower's breathing.

Temperature

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

Illumination

The succulent is not very demanding when it comes to lighting, but it will look more decorative on a windowsill on the south side of the room. It must be protected from bright sun glare. In too dark a place, the shoots will weaken and stretch out.

Required soil composition

The substrate for milkweed is loose and light. You can make your own soil mixture from the following components:

• leaf compost;
• turf land;
• river sand.

To plant euphorbia tirucalli, you can purchase ready-made soil for succulents.

How to plant a plant at home

Store-bought euphorbia requires replanting because it is in transport soil. It is first quarantined to identify possible diseases and pests. If none are found, transplantation begins after 10-15.

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 is damage on the shoots or roots, they are removed. The cut areas are disinfected with activated carbon.

Note! A new container for milkweed tirucalli is selected a little larger than the previous one. It should be wide, but not deep.

Drainage and soil preparation

The pot must have holes to drain excess liquid. A drainage consisting of expanded clay, small stones, and brick chips is laid at the bottom of the container. Otherwise, due to stagnation of moisture, 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 placed at the bottom of the pot;
• pour loose substrate;
• Euphorbia is planted, the root system is covered with earth;
• watered.

The transplanted plant is placed in a warm place. It does not require frequent watering. The rooted apical cuttings are planted in the same way.

Home care

Euphorbia care Tirukalli involves infrequent watering and fertilizing. In order for the bushes to branch beautifully, they are shaped. The cuttings remaining after pruning can be rooted and new plants can be grown from them. If spurge is attacked by pests, it is treated with special preparations.

Watering

The flower does not require a lot of moisture.Watering is carried out after the top layer of soil has dried by 2.5-3 centimeters. Use warm, settled water. In winter, the soil is moistened no more than once a month. Water is poured not under the plant, but along the edge of the pot. From excess moisture, the flower can be affected by putrefactive microorganisms.

Trimming

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

Feeding

Euphorbia tirucalli naturally grows in depleted soils. At home, it is enough to feed the plant once in the spring and once in the summer. Use fertilizer for succulents.

Important! Organic matter is not used to feed euphorbia, since the nitrogen contained in it negatively affects the development of the plant.

Formation

The florist can shape the bush at his own discretion. For example, with frequent pruning of the apical cuttings, the flower will begin to grow in width. If you need to grow a tall succulent, cut the shoots only occasionally.

Transfer

Young milkweed is replanted annually. The pot is selected slightly larger than the previous one. It should be wide, not deep. Drainage material is laid on the bottom. The soil used is loose, air- and water-permeable. Adult bushes can be replanted less frequently: once every 2-3 years.