The plant, common in the tropics of Africa, America and Asia, as well as in the south of Russia and the Mediterranean, is called milkweed for the secreted milky juice. In ancient times, the sap of this plant was used to lubricate arrowheads. Euphorbia is a very unpretentious plant that is easy to care for at home.
The euphorbia family is very common and includes plants, shrubs and trees.
Types of milkweed
1. Euphorbia fringed, reaching a height of 70 cm, got its name from the light range of leaves.
2. Euphorbia multiflorous has oblong leaves and bright yellow flowers. The milkweed bush itself looks like a ball.
3. Triangular spurge is a shrub or tree, growing up to 3 meters, with large leaves.
4. Euphorbia is a shrub that grows up to 50 centimeters and has reddish leaves.
5. White-veined spurge is a plant that reaches 50 centimeters in height and has a ribbed stem and dark green leaves with white veins.
Milkweed content at home
As already mentioned, this plant is very unpretentious, but does not like wet soil and drafts, since in this case shoots and roots begin to rot.
Milkweed transplant
The best time to transplant this plant is in the spring months. Young plants should be transplanted once a year, mature plants once every 2 years.
Soil for milkweed
The ideal soil for milkweed is a soil designated for cacti and succulent plants. In a ratio of 2: 3: 2, combine leafy soil, turf soil and sand. Place expanded clay drainage or pebbles on the bottom of the pot.
Feeding milkweed
It is best to feed this plant in the warm season once a month. As a top dressing, liquid mineral fertilizers used for cacti are suitable.
Lighting and watering milkweed
Euphorbia loves the sun and tolerates direct sunlight well. Some varieties prefer diffused light, while others can thrive in shade. The choice of location for your plant depends on the species. In winter, spurge should be watered once a month or less. In the event that the temperature in the room is less than 12 degrees, the plant can not be watered. In the summer they water it once a week. It is also recommended to spray.
Milkweed temperature
Some types of milkweed of African origin are kept at a temperature of 20-25 degrees. The minimum temperature is 12 degrees, but some plants originating from countries with temperate climates can tolerate cold temperatures of 6-10 degrees. In the event that you keep the spurge at a low temperature, warm the soil and keep the flower in a lighted place.
Propagation of milkweed
There are 2 ways of propagation: cuttings and from seeds.
Cuttings are best cut in late spring. Remove the lower leaves from the cutting, then lower it into water, and sprinkle the cut with charcoal. After 2-3 days, the cutting can be planted in the sand, which should be slightly damp.
From seeds, you can grow white-veined, garden euphorbia, as well as all ball-shaped plants.
Diseases and pests of milkweed
The most dangerous pest is the mealybug. If a white powdery bloom appears on the plant, then the spurge is affected by this particular pest. Wipe the affected area with running water and alcohol or a mixture of soap and machine oil.
Also, pests such as aphids, thrips, spider mites and fungal diseases can infect euphorbia. In the fight against aphids, use herbal remedies, for example, an infusion of garlic with alcohol, mustard, and onions.
When fighting a spider mite, phytopreparations such as soap solutions and alcohol are suitable. Fungal diseases are disinfected with fungicides.
Many diseases can be caused by improper care, insufficient watering, lack of nutrients, as well as drafts and sudden changes in temperature.
