How to care for tirucalli milkweed?

Euphorbia tirucalli comes from the hot and arid countries of Africa - it was originally found in Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya and several other places. To survive in such a climate, the plant had to adapt. It is able to store a certain amount of liquid in the stems, which is necessary for existence - such plants are called succulents. Interestingly, they learned to make rubber from milkweed juice. And for some time they even planned to extract oil from it. What kind of care is required for milkweed tirucalli? This plant is not picky, but still we will analyze the topic in more detail.

Description of the plant

Euphorbia tirucalli is a tree plant that belongs to the Euphorbia family. It is also called rubber milkweed. Due to the huge number of branches, this plant resembles a coral. It is also often compared to a cactus. In its natural environment, it can grow up to nine meters. And at home (if you don't cut it) - up to six. Leaves appear on the tops of young plants (their length is about twelve centimeters). Leaves periodically fall off. And on adult plants there are no leaves at all. In nature, the milkweed tirucalli grows small yellow flowers. Domestic specimens do not have them.

Separately, it should be said about milkweed juice - the one that turned out to be raw materials for the production of rubber. This is not its only purpose - it is used to prepare poison for fish and insects. But it is dangerous for both people and animals. Therefore, it is best to keep it away from children and pets. It is worth taking care of your own safety - contact with milkweed can only be done with gloves. Once in the eye, the juice can cause temporary blindness. Burns appear on the skin. Drinking juice can be fatal. So if juice gets on any part of the body, see your doctor as soon as possible.

Care

It is not so difficult for this plant to provide proper care at home. Euphorbia tirucalli does not require special care.

• You do not need to look for the perfect corner in which the plant will receive the required amount of light, but at the same time it will not be affected by the sun's rays. Euphorbia is adapted to the effects of the sun, because it originated from Africa. Therefore, you can not be afraid and put it on the windowsill. And in summer, an open balcony or loggia will also become a haven for the plant.
• Euphorbia is able to withstand quite high temperatures, although the ideal option for it is plus twenty-five degrees. In winter, he falls into a state of rest in the wild. In room conditions, he also needs to create the opportunity for this - the optimal temperature in winter is twelve degrees Celsius.
• Even in the hottest season, it is enough to water the spurge once a week. Such restrictions are not at all harmful for him (we already know that he stores moisture), but excess liquid will not be beneficial. In winter, watering should be abandoned altogether. But you need to look after the plant - it may need a little water.

Advice

For watering, use water that has been infused for a week.

Reproduction

If you decide to start breeding milkweed at home, then you do not have to choose a method - they do it only with the help of cuttings.

1. First, cut off the cuttings at the top. Do this with a very sharp knife or special scissors to avoid damaging the plant. And do not forget to wear gloves, because poisonous juice will immediately pour out of the stem!
2. Pour water into a glass (slightly warmer than room temperature) and lower the cuttings there.
3. When the juice stops flowing from them, leave them in the air for about a day. You can skip the point with water and immediately spread the cuttings. Then they will have to lie down for three days.
4. Treat the cut site with phytohormone (although this is optional).
5. Place peat in a small pot and sprinkle with coarse sand.
6. Stick the cuttings into the pot.
7. Take care of lighting and watering.
8. Rooted cuttings can be planted.

Euphorbia should grow in a mixture of soil, coarse sand and coal. A drainage layer is also required. For better growth, you can use fertilizers that are intended for cacti... But in winter, fertilizers must be abandoned.

Protection from pests and diseases

Despite the ability of milkweed to survive in conditions that are detrimental to many plants, even it is susceptible to some diseases. Yes, and it is not able to resist attacks of pests.

• One of the most common problems with home-grown milkweed is root rot. This is due to the excessive care of plant breeders who water the spurge too often. But we all remember that one watering a week is enough. And also you need to prepare the drainage layer. If the process has already begun, ruthlessly remove the damaged roots and replant the plant.
• Discoloration of the stems. If you notice that they have changed color and become brown, it means that the plant has fallen into inappropriate temperature conditions and hypothermia has occurred. Here, unfortunately, it will not be possible to save the spurge.

It is worth remembering about the pests that love this plant.

• Mealybug - white fluff testifies to its appearance. Get rid of it with alcohol-soaked gauze. And remove the damaged areas of the plant.
• Spider mite - to get rid of it, special chemical compositions are sold in shops for gardeners.
• Aphids - these pests will have to be collected from the plant by hand.

How to distinguish Ripsalis and Hatiora from Tirucalli milkweed

By the way, not only the fertilizers used are related to the spurge tirucalli and cacti. This plant is often confused with Ripsalis and Hatiora. The couple belongs to the cactus family. Euphorbia - for Euphorbia.

How to distinguish from each other Ripsalis, Hatiora and Euphorbia Tirucalli? There are a number of signs.

• Firstly, milk is released only from milkweed. Therefore, if you are not sure which plant is in front of you, be sure to protect your skin.
• Secondly, there are leaves on the young milkweed.
• Thirdly, one of the most significant differences between milkweed and these cactus plants is that the latter have yellow flowers, but the probability of seeing them on a milkweed growing at home is extremely small.

There is also a slight difference between hatiora and ripsalis - in hatiora, flowers are located only at the tips of the cuttings, and in ripsalis, cuttings are completely covered with flowers.

Output

Euphorbia tirucalli is a tree-like plant that originated from Africa. Thanks to such a biography, it is not particularly demanding on the conditions in which it grows - it can be watered once a week, direct sunlight will not harm it. But excess moisture and too low temperatures can cause plant diseases. It also needs to be protected from pests - aphids and ticks.

The plant is often confused with some types of cactus. Euphorbia is distinguished by the presence of milk. This milk is very toxic, so keep the plant away from children and animals. And be sure to protect your skin when in contact with it!