What kind of care is required for white-veined milkweed at home?

Euphorbia belongs to tropical succulents in Africa, so caring for it at home is rather difficult to carry out. It is important to know all its features so that the plant feels comfortable outside of its homeland.

Conditions for growth

Since the spurge in the apartment is in atypical conditions for it, they need to be slightly adjusted to ensure the comfort of the plant. For him you need:

• warm, so it is advisable to put it closer to the battery;
• lack of direct sunlight;
• availability of fresh air;
• spraying up to 2 times a week;
• medium watering in the summer months with water at room temperature;
• top dressing in the warm season up to three times a month, in winter one is enough.

Do not be alarmed when the leaves begin to fall off in the fall - this is a completely natural flower cycle. It is associated with a lack of sunlight, like all deciduous plants. For this period, it must be placed in a cool place and watered once a month, thereby simulating the natural living conditions. If you follow these simple steps, then in the spring it will bloom.

Reproduction and transplantation

In order for the flower to grow actively under indoor conditions, please with its flowers and not get sick, it is necessary to transplant it regularly.

When transplanting milkweed, several requirements must be observed.

• It is better to use a shallow flower pot with a large base area, since its root system is shallow.
• You need to transplant it after flowering.
• Young plants require an annual transplant, while more mature ones - every three years.
• The reaction of the soil should be slightly acidic, almost neutral: to achieve this, it is better to buy a ready-made mixture for succulents (cacti).

The plant can be propagated in two ways: by cuttings or by seeds. And if there are no problems with breeding by seeds, because self-seeding is characteristic of Euphorbia leuconeura, then with cuttings everything is somewhat more complicated.

1. The lateral shoots that have grown by the beginning of summer are cut off with scissors, secateurs or a knife.
2. Then they are placed in containers with warm water to get rid of the milky juice.
3. The next day, the shoot is taken out of the water, the cut site is treated with crushed activated carbon and left until it withers slightly (usually 2 days is enough).
4. The stalk is planted in a special soil for cacti.
5. For the first time (or better - during the entire growing period), the optimal temperature is provided in the range from 21 to 23 degrees.

Important!

White-veined euphorbia has seed-like fruits, similar to capsules, which shoot out their contents when seeds ripen. This must be taken into account when there are many other plants around it in order to avoid unwanted dispersal. For reproduction, this method is simpler and much more effective than cuttings.

You can also plant a shoot of white-veined milkweed in self-prepared soil. To do this, in a 1: 1: 1 ratio, mix the components:

1. peat;
2. sand;
3. sod land.

How to properly prune spurge?

There are no difficulties and nuances in pruning white-veined milkweed, only a few conditions must be met.

• You need to trim it after the breeding period is complete.
• Shoots are shortened by about 15 cm.
• To do this, it is necessary to use sharp objects so as not to create large wounds in order to avoid flower disease.

Regular and timely pruning stimulates plant growth and allows you to take a "respite" after a critical period of flowering and fruiting, reducing the load on the root system.

The harm and benefits of the plant

The medicinal properties of white-veined milkweed have been known for a long time. They healed badly tightening wounds, rejuvenated the skin, and relieved paralysis.

It is generally accepted that milkweed infusion has the following properties:

• relieves swelling;
• causes vomiting;
• promotes sweating;
• relieves pain;
• loosens.

Even modern doctors prescribe infusions from Euphorbia leuconeura in addition to drug treatment. Typically for the following health problems:

• hemorrhoids;
• cystitis;
• extensive lung lesions;
• disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.

But do not forget that white-veined euphorbia, like all representatives of its genus, has the so-called milky juice. It is released when any upper part of the plant is damaged and can cause severe allergic reactions and burns. Therefore, those who contain a flower should protect children from communicating with the plant and be careful themselves.

Advice

When working with milkweed, be sure to wear latex or rubber gloves. Upon completion of all work, they can be washed or thrown away, hands will have to be thoroughly washed with detergent.

Symptoms of milkweed poisoning

Keeping track of children and pets is not always easy. Therefore, it is quite easy to miss the moment when they cut off the spurge, rub their eyes or even eat it.

It is possible to recognize the involvement of milkweed in the poor health of a child or pet by the following signs:

• severe dizziness;
• nausea and frequent vomiting;
• burns on the skin or mucous membranes of the eye and mouth.

If any of the symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. If the milky juice gets on the skin, rinse the place of contact with a large amount of running water. After that, you should take an appropriate dose of antiallergic drug for age and weight.

Who and what can harm white-veined milkweed?

Like all living organisms, euphorbia begins to get sick with prolonged exposure to negative factors. Fungal diseases affect the plant under certain conditions:

• constant temperature below 21 degrees;
• excessive and too frequent watering;
• being exposed to direct sunlight;
• insufficient illumination.

In addition to the fungus, insects can also affect the plant: aphid, scale insects, spider mites. There are several ways you can try to get rid of them:

• wash with soap and water (wash off the soap later);
• well pour with a shower;
• treat with a solution using insecticides, but it is better to resort to this method in extreme cases.

It is easier to prevent a problem than to correct its consequences. Therefore, for milkweed, you should always try to maintain the comfort zone in all respects: temperature, illumination and the degree of soil moisture.

"Do not go, children, to walk to Africa"

No wonder Korney Chukovsky warned his readers about the dangers of Africa. But she, like everything distant and unknown, inevitably attracts curious people. Probably, this is how the white-veined spurge was made as a houseplant. This is not surprising: a dangerous, but eye-catching flower reminds of summer, warmth and sunlight. Therefore, growing this plant at home will warm you in the winter, and will also help you get to know yourself and introduce children to the diversity of the world's flora.