General care tips for Euphorbia trigona.

After having talked these last few days about invasive plants and their consequences, let’s see the ones that interest us. Those that we can plant without fear of compromising ecosystems without any remedy. In this case we bring you a so-called succulent plant to grow indoors. Euphorbia trigona.

SOME CURIOSITIES ABOUT  EUPHORBIA TRIGONA OR MILK PLANT 

When the subtitle says what it says it is not by pure chance or whim. We know that cacti are plants that evolved to withstand the extreme conditions of climates such as desert climates. At some point there had to be specific species that were neither the one nor the other. In a way, the plants called succulents are that something in between from a morphological point of view.

In this regard, euphorbia is the most intermediate between cactus and plant. Its morphology is tremendously curious and for this reason it has become a well-known plant in many homes. It is a shrub with succulent stems in the shape of a candelabrum with a triangular section on whose three edges leaves and thorns are placed longitudinally in a mathematical sequence. Cactus and plant, plant and cactus. Sometimes the stems have 4 edges.

Outdoors, in its habitat, it is capable of reaching 3 meters in height.

The name we have given it for the milk plant is no coincidence either. It is a plant that secretes a milky sap that in contact with the skin and eyes is extremely irritating. Gloves are recommended for transplantation and handling operations.

GENERAL CARE OF EUPHORBIA TRIGONA

TEMPERATURES

The minimum threshold temperature that Euphorbia trigona supports is around 5 ºC. This temperature should be considered as the most extreme so frosts are not something you can bear. It needs warm and constant temperatures for its optimal development.

In winter you can ask for something more cool and it doesn’t hurt to place it in a gallery where the temperature will be around 10-15ºC. It is not strictly necessary but you appreciate it.

ILLUMINATION

If a plant of this type could not withstand the sun, it would be one of the greatest incongruities of nature, since they are precisely as they are to withstand the stakes of the Astro Rey. Therefore, full sun will be ideal even if it tolerates sieving well.

IRRIGATION

If there is something to be wrong, it must be a lack of irrigation . The excess is irremediably sentenced. It is not quite a cactus in terms of frequencies. You need a little more regularity. Letting the soil dry completely and holding it a little will be ideal during the busiest period. In winter, irrigation can be almost eliminated.

One very occasionally is possible and recommended during this time.

SUBSTRATUM

Above all, it requires good drainage . Otherwise it does not require too specific substrates. It is necessary that a good part of the substrate (1/3) is sand to facilitate said drainage.

MULTIPLICATION AND SOME OTHER FINAL ADVICE 

  • The easiest way is to reproduce by cuttings from the stem in late spring.
  • It is susceptible to attacks by mealybug, whitefly, spider mite or mildew, although indoors it is more difficult for this to occur.
  • It is advisable to transplant approximately every 3 years.
  • In winter it loses the leaves that it will recover in the following spring. If you lose them outside of winter, the environment is too cold.

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