Euphorbiaceae (Euphorbiaceae) is a frequent guest on our windowsills. They are quite unpretentious to the illumination of the room, do not require frequent watering and at the same time have a strange, contradictory beauty - beautiful delicate flowers bloom on rough, spiny, shapeless stems. All these qualities make them popular among beginner growers. Various species of milkweed are found on almost all continents, although the homeland of most of them is Central Africa. Let's talk in more detail about one of the representatives of this large family - the African milkweed milkweed, whose homeland is Morocco.
Plant description
Euphorbia resinous (Latin name - Euphorbia resinifera) is a highly branched shrub plant, reaching a height of 0.5-1.5 m, and a width of up to 2 m. Its shape resembles a pillow dotted with vertical fleshy tetrahedral stems of bluish-green colors. The acuity of the milkweed is caused by short paired dark brown spikes located on the edges of the stems at a distance of about 1 cm from each other. The leaves of the plant are reduced to small brown scales, quickly falling from the stems. During flowering, small, most often yellow-green inflorescences appear on the tops of shoots, grouped in three on each stem. After the euphorbia has faded, in place of the flowers, fruits are formed in several oblate boxes.
Care Tips
This type of milkweed is often grown as an ornamental plant. Like many of its "relatives", tarry euphorbia can grow both in open ground and in pots, gardens and rooms. The southern plant perfectly takes root in a temperate climate, it is not demanding on the composition of the soil, it tolerates cold well - in a word, it perfectly adapts to environmental conditions. However, as for any plant, there are optimal conditions that must be observed when caring for milkweed.
If euphorbia is grown indoors, then the lighting should be scattered, but at the same time bright enough. Watering is required moderate, and in winter and completely minimal. Euphorbia is watered with settled water at room temperature. Note that this plant is completely insensitive to soil composition and air humidity.
Methods of reproduction in an artificial environment
Milkweed propagation can be performed in the following ways:
- seeds
- cuttings
- dividing the bush.
The first method of reproduction is a rather time-consuming procedure. Ripened seeds are sown in a small pot, watered well, and then covered with a film, which is removed only after the appearance of the first shoots.
When propagating by cuttings, the place of the cut on the mother plant must be covered with finely ground coal. The very same cuttings are recommended to be placed in a container with water until the formation of roots or immediately planted in the ground.
Dividing the bush is the easiest method of milkweed propagation. Perform the procedure in the spring, before the start of active growth of the plant. Small parts are carefully separated from the mother bush and planted in separate pots.
