Rules for planting and caring for milkweed milk at home, secrets of cultivation
Milkweed milk care at home is of interest to many flower growers. To succeed in this business and achieve abundant and lush flowering, you need to follow a number of recommendations. Experts advise to water and feed the culture in time. Pruning the plant and protecting it from pathologies and pests is not negligible. It should be borne in mind that the plant is considered poisonous. Therefore, you need to work with him very carefully.
Description and characteristics of the plant
This species of milkweed takes its name from the name of Baron Mil, who was governor of Reunion Island. It was he who brought this plant species to France. In various sources you can find another name for the culture - bright spurge.
Today this indoor plant is very popular. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a cactus or a palm tree. Basically, it is a succulent shrub that is covered with many branches. It is characterized by a gray, slightly ribbed stem, which is decorated with delicate elliptical leaves.
Bracts are distinguished by bright shades - scarlet, yellow, orange. They have a rounded shape and reach a width of 12 millimeters. The inflorescences consist of 2-4 flowers.
It is far from the only type of culture. So, there is a bordered euphorbia, which has excellent decorative properties. Due to her luxurious appearance, the culture is sometimes referred to as the "wealthy bride".
Rules of care
For the plant to develop normally, it must be provided with the right storage conditions.
Temperature and lighting
This type of milkweed needs sufficient heat and light. Therefore, it is placed on the south window sill. The sun's rays do not harm the plant. In winter, the culture needs additional lighting. In summer, the room temperature should be + 23-25 degrees, in winter - at least +16.
Ambient humidity
Euphorbia does not need high humidity. In this case, it is important to ventilate the room in hot weather and remove the bush from heating sources. It is forbidden to spray the crop.
watering mode
Under natural conditions, the bush grows in the desert, therefore it is drought resistant. It is not recommended to water the plant frequently. In summer, it is recommended to do this 2-3 times a week, in winter - when the topsoil dries out. The plant should be watered very carefully. In this case, it is important to ensure that the liquid does not get on the flowers and leaves.Otherwise, the probability of developing a fungal infection is high.
Size
To keep the plant attractive, it should be pruned systematically. The first time it is done after the end of flowering - at the end of summer. In this case, it is recommended to remove dry shoots and leaves. It is also worth pruning the tops of healthy, but too elongated branches. It is recommended to repeat the procedure at the end of winter. Renewed shoots are shortened by one level.
top dresser
The plant does not need any special feeding. During the growing season, it should be fertilized at 30-day intervals. For this, it is allowed to use any composition for succulents.
Bloom
This species of milkweed blooms all year round. It is characterized by inconspicuous yellow flowers of small size. This type of milkweed owes its appeal to the shiny bracts. They can be red, yellow, orange. As a result, the inflorescence seems to be quite large.
How to transplant
To successfully grow a crop, it is recommended to periodically repot it.
Choice of capacity
Milkweed needs a narrow but high enough pot. It is recommended to fill it with a drainage layer to the quarter. To do this, use expanded clay or pebbles. There should be large holes in the bottom of the container through which excess liquid is drained. At each transplant, take a pot 2 sizes larger than the previous one.
Ground requirements
This culture is not demanding on the composition of the soil. For milkweed, ordinary garden soil is suitable. However, flower growers prefer to purchase a special substrate. commonly used soil for cactus... A mixture of sheet sand, grass and sand is also suitable. They are mixed in a 2: 1: 1 ratio.
Transplant rules
In the first year, it is not necessary to replant the plant. Adult specimens are transferred to a new place when the root system becomes too narrow. To do so, follow these steps:
- Carefully remove the plant from the pot. This is done with a clod of earth.
- Clean the root system and inspect it. Damaged fragments must be removed.
- Pour boiling water over a new container and pour a layer of drainage into it.
- Fill the pot with soil and plant the plant.
- Fill in the remaining soil from above.
Breeding methods
There are several breeding options for milkweed. This allows each grower to choose the best option.
Cuttings
This is the simplest method. It is recommended to take cuttings from an adult plant that has strong and thick shoots. To root the planting material, it must be placed in water to wash off the milky juice.
After that, the plant must be dried. It is recommended to plant the culture in moist soil, and cover it with a film.
Place the pot in a lighted place and provide the plant with a temperature of at least +20 degrees. After a week, it is recommended to water the culture. It should be borne in mind that it is forbidden to root cuttings in water. It will rot them.
Seeds
It is recommended to plant the seeds in moist soil. From above, the container should be covered with foil and placed in a warm, bright place. The temperature regime should be at least +20 degrees. The seeds will germinate quickly. When several leaves appear on the shoots, they can be planted.
Divide the bush
For division it is worth using plants that have several trunks and strong roots.Thanks to this, the split fragments will quickly take root.
To carry out the procedure, the culture must be removed from the pot, free the roots from the ground and divided into several fragments. Each of them must have an offspring. Then each part is transferred to a separate earthen pot.
Diseases and pests
When growing a succulent, there is a risk of various problems. The plant is often faced with the development of pathologies and pest attacks.
Aphid
These small insects are yellow or light green. They feed on the sap of plants and lead to deformation of leaves and disruption of flower development. Treating the plant with soapy water will help control aphids.
Spider
It is possible to identify these pests by the presence of cobwebs on the plant. As a rule, pests multiply in conditions of increased dry air in the room. Treating the foliage with soapy water will help cope with this.
cochineal
These pests cause a slowdown in crop development and leaf drop. If you do not act in time, there is a risk of death of the bush. Insecticides will help cope with pests.
Thrips
When a crop is affected by thrips, yellow and silver stripes may be visible on it. Insecticidal preparations - Aktara or Fitoverm help with pests.
Possible growth problems
When growing a culture, various problems can arise. They are usually associated with poor plant care.
Throw away the foliage
Leaf fall is considered normal in the fall. In summer, this is due to the lack of heat.
The leaves are turning yellow
Yellowing foliage is caused by waterlogging the soil.
brown growths
The appearance of tree shoots on the crop is associated with sunburn.
lethargy leaves
Leaves wilt when overwatered. At the same time, they acquire an uneven color tint.
White flower
The appearance of white blooms is observed when the crop is infected with powdery mildew. Fungicides will help cope with the disease.
Benefit and Harm
Leafy spurge helps to cope with dermatological pathologies. It is often made into tinctures and decoctions. Such remedies successfully treat pathologies of the liver and digestive organs.
In this case, the plant is considered poisonous. Therefore, it should be kept out of the reach of children and pets.
Care should be taken when preparing home remedies as they can lead to poisoning.
Varieties
Today, many varieties of milkweed are known, each of which has certain characteristics.
white veined or white veined
This plant has dark green foliage. Young bushes have white veins, but after a while they lose this shade. Over time, the leaves appear only at the top.
Mile
It's a big bush with thorns. The ends of the shoots are decorated with small leaves, and small flowers form red or yellow inflorescences.
Triangular or triangular
It is a stem succulent that has triangular stems. The plant is characterized by red-brown spines. Culture is able to reach 2 meters.
Edged
This plant is characterized by straight stems measuring 80 centimeters. They are covered with oval leaves of a light shade.
Tirucalli
This is an unusual plant that has many leafless shoots. The leaves of the culture fall off, not having time to grow. Flowering is very rare.
Comb
It is an evergreen shrub that has a thick stem. It is decorated with oval leaves measuring 20 centimeters. The flowers are white or pink in color.
Bright
This plant is characterized by the presence of thorns and small leaves. The flowers are small in size and have rich blooms.
The most beautiful
The poinsettia is considered a spectacular type of milkweed. The bush reaches 40-50 centimeters and has straight stems and large leaves. The bracts are large in size and may have a white, red or pink hue.
jellyfish head
The plant is characterized by a thickening in the upper part of the stem and branches, which diverge in different directions. The culture looks very unusual.
Fat
It is a small cylindrical plant that has tubers. The green trunk is striped and has no thorns.
Enopla
In appearance, the culture resembles a cactus and is 30-100 centimeters high. The shoots are distinguished by their cylindrical shape and rich green color.
Additional tips and tricks
For leafy spurge to develop properly, it must be carefully cared for:
- establish an irrigation regime;
- use fertilizers during the growing season;
- protect the crop from diseases and pests.
The milky sap that is released from the succulent when damaged is considered highly poisonous. It can cause burns, poisoning or irritation. Therefore, all manipulations with milkweed should be carried out with gloves.Euphorbia Mila is very popular with flower growers. This is a spectacular culture that is characterized by unpretentious care.