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This exotic will feel comfortable in modern apartments and in the hands of beginners: he loves dry air and prefers rare watering. Different types have differences: there are deciduous and succulent, with a smooth stem and prickly. In this article we will talk about caring for the indoor flower of spurge and give photos of different types.

All about milkweed care at home

Species features
Varieties and flowering
Substrate selection
Correct content
— Illumination
– Temperature and humidity level
Care
— Shaping and trimming
— Watering rules
— Fertilizers
– Transplantation
How to propagate
Signs of improper care and parasites

Species features

Euphorbia got its name because of the milky juice that appears when the stem is damaged. The second variant of the name is Euphorbia. That was the name of the Roman doctor, who was the first to put into practice its healing properties. Extracts are used in folk medicine today: they are part of various remedies for lichen, eczema and other diseases.

At the same time, it is because of the juice that the plant is considered poisonous. In case of accidental ingestion, it causes poisoning, and severe burns appear on contact with the skin. That’s why gloves are required during the care process, and you need to keep the potty away from children and pets.

It is impossible to describe in a nutshell what euphorbia looks like. Each species has its own characteristics that distinguish it from its brethren. If you put two pots with different varieties side by side, it’s hard to believe that this is the same plant — they are so different and different.

Varieties and flowering

Consider the most popular types of indoor milkweed with names and photos.

poinsettia. One of the brightest and most beautiful representatives of deciduous Euphorbia, in another way it is also called the «Christmas star». It blooms from December to February, it can reach a height of 3 meters. Huge bracts come in red, orange, yellow and other shades. And the flowers themselves, on the contrary, are very small.

Fat. It has an unusual ball shape and at first glance resembles a cactus. It does not have a stem, it stretches up to 30 cm with age. Small inflorescences at the top resemble cones. It blooms in adulthood, not earlier than after 5 years.

Comb. It grows in height up to 120 cm, the trunk has a ribbed surface. Leaf plates are dark green, with a pointed end. It begins to bloom from the first year and grows into a shrub. The flowers are small and have a pale white tint.

Mile. On the surface of the stems there are numerous thick needles. The leaves are flat, without pronounced veins. Flowers come in different rich colors: red, pink, yellow and others. With proper care at home, Mil’s Euphorbia can bloom all year round.

Trihedral. It does not bloom, but has an attractive appearance, will decorate any interior. It can grow up to 3 meters in height. The leaves have three edges, and red spikes are located on them.

Belozhilkovy. A distinctive feature of this species is the clear white veins on the leaf plates. Visually, the specimen may resemble a palm tree, because the bulk of the leaves are located precisely at the top. Blooms in spring and summer with small white buds.

Bordered. During the flowering period, the leaves turn white. Slices are used to make bouquets and flower arrangements. This is a garden perennial spurge, and therefore planting and care differ from the maintenance of indoor varieties.

soil and pot

For a flower, a ready-made mixture for cactus plants is suitable, look for it in the store. If you wish, you can make it yourself. For this, leafy soil, river sand, peat and turf are taken in equal proportions. It is necessary to lay drainage or pebbles at the bottom of the pot, as spurge does not like waterlogging. By the way, about the pot. A vessel of small depth, but wide, so that the water does not stagnate, will do.

Conditions of detention

Lighting

Euphorbia prefers good lighting and is not afraid of sunlight, so it is better to put the pot on the south window. With a lack of light, it can grow and develop more slowly. In winter, when the day length is reduced, the plant must be additionally illuminated with a phytolamp so that it receives enough light.

Temperature and Humidity

Euphorbia feels comfortable even in dry air. And excess moisture, on the contrary, can provoke rotting of the roots. The plant tolerates temperature changes, but drafts are not useful for it, consider this when airing.

The flower will be comfortable in a room with a temperature of + 22-26 degrees, the permissible maximum is +30 degrees. Flowering varieties need rest in winter, so they need to be kept in a cool place to book buds.. During this season, the temperature should not be below +14 degrees.

Care rules

Pruning and crown shaping

It is important to know how to prune spurge so that it bushes, and which species do not need to be formed.

• It is imperative to pinch the tops of the stems of branched varieties immediately after flowering ends (for example, Mile). This contributes to the growth of a lush and neat crown. Strong and healthy stems cannot be removed — they will bloom next season.
• White-leaf, comb and other cactus species do not need to be cut.
• If the plant has become very tall, the top can be cut off and rooted for planting. Experienced gardeners advise treating the cut area with crushed coal to avoid rotting.
• Pruning must be done with gloves so that the poisonous juice does not get on the skin. Old shoots can be carefully unscrewed with your hands, and the stems can only be cut with a sharp, disinfected knife.

Watering

A slight drought for a flower is better than waterlogging. Watch the soil and water abundantly only as it dries. If we talk about the schedule, then in summer, in the heat, you need to water about once every 7 days, in winter — once every 30 days, in the rest of the time — a maximum of once every 14 days.

For irrigation, settled water is needed, not cold and not hot. Do not spray the crown, this will lead to waterlogging.

top dressing

Euphorbia needs to be fed once a month in the spring and summer, do it after watering so that the components penetrate the soil better. Not immediately, but after a few days. It is important not to overdo it with fertilizers, in excess they can harm the plant. For hardwoods, complex liquid top dressings are suitable, for cacti — special mixtures for succulents.

Transfer

Young specimens should be transplanted annually in the spring. Choose a new pot larger than the previous one so that the root system develops normally. The roots are fragile, so it is better to do this by transshipment.

Mature plants do not need frequent transplantso it should only be done when needed. For example, if the old soil has deteriorated from waterlogging or excess salts.

You can not transplant spurge during flowering, this will lead to the dropping of buds. And even if a flowering plant is purchased, it is necessary to wait until the end of this period, and only then start transplanting.

3 ways to reproduce milkweed

from seed

It is best to plant seeds in May. They need to be planted in the ground to a depth of two centimeters, moisten the substrate and cover with a film. The pot must be placed in a place with a temperature in the range of 20-23 degrees. The film must be lifted from time to time so that the seedlings are ventilated. If the soil dries out, it should be moderately moistened. After a few weeks (the exact time depends on the species), the first small leaves will appear, after which you can carefully transplant the flower into a permanent pot.

cuttings

Even beginner flower growers can easily cope with this method. In the spring, you need to carefully cut off a small area from the shoot, no more than 12 cm long. Then clean it from the secreted juice under running water. The cut must be treated with coal chips and wait a few days until a protective film appears there. After that, the cutting can be rooted in a special soil or prepared independently, a mixture of sand and peat will do. The soil needs to be well moistened and create the effect of a greenhouse, an ordinary film is suitable for this. It is important to air the seedling regularly. The container must be placed in a place with a temperature of at least 20 degrees. And after about 14 days, you can transplant into the main pot.

Kustom

You can also plant whole bushes, they are also called «delenki». Not any cut is suitable for this, but only one on which there is at least one kidney. Bushes should be planted in spring or early autumn, but avoid the flowering period. Be prepared for the fact that the «delenka» grows slowly, even if all the rules for care are followed. It’s a stressful situation for her.

Pests and problems due to improper care

The plant does not require complex care, but some maintenance errors can lead to a loss of decorativeness. These signs can be used to identify possible problems.

• Falling leaves indicate a lack of water, namely, small watering.
• Omission of leaves, uneven color of the plates may be the result of excessive moisture.
• Gray rot. A type of fungus that appears due to excess moisture in the air or nitrogen in the substrate. Treated with fungicides.
• Fluffy plaque signals powdery mildew. It can be transmitted from a diseased plant, and overdried soil will aggravate the situation. You can remove it with the help of antifungal agents for plants.

Exot can also be attacked by various pests..

• Aphid. Small insects that are clearly visible to the naked eye. They need to be collected and treated with a soapy solution, then rinsed with clean water.
• Mealybug. The consequences of infection — the foliage turns yellow, falls off, the plant stops growing. It is necessary to transplant into a new soil, completely clearing the root system of the old soil and treat with insecticides.

• Spider mite. Its traces are white and yellow spots on the plates. It can be treated with a soapy solution, in an advanced case — with special acaricides.