Euphorbia is the common name for plants of the genus Euphorbia, of which there are more than 2,000 species, including weeds. All of them are not alike, and sometimes it’s hard to believe how two outwardly different plants can belong to the same genus. The only thing that unites them is the milky nectar, thanks to which they got their name. Ease of care, unpretentiousness and outlandish appearance made them favorites in the world of floriculture.

Description and characteristics of the plant

Euphorbia, or Euphorbia has 160 greenhouse species that differ in the range of flowering and even the type of plant. These are perennial and annual euphorbia, shrubs, herbs, cacti and succulent representatives. Most of them have a fleshy, juicy stem, firmly rooted in the soil. The trunk is straight or ascending, slightly branched, from a down-to-earth type to 2 m in height. Some species are deciduous and without thorns; the rest have thorns and thorns. Rhizomes are creeping and ascending, and leaves are found of all types.Euphorbia blooms most often with monoecious flowers in the spring or in the first half of summer yellow, light green, pink, red, white, orange (there are no blooming representatives). Some species form fruits in the form of a three-house nut with seeds. Milk juice has an island flavor and toxic properties, so its livestock bypasses. The native land of the plant is the subtropics of Latin America, the tropical zones of the islands of Madagascar and Abd al-Quri, archipelagos in the Indian Ocean.

The best time for milkweed breeding

If you do not want to harm the plant, you must familiarize yourself with the rules of its reproduction. An incorrectly chosen period can provoke a change in vegetative processes and your plant will slow down in growth, and the baby will not take root. Each breeding method has its own periodicity.

Important! Do not forget to monitor the watering of the soil, it should always be moist. Only by providing warmth and moisture will you create ideal conditions for seed germination.

If you choose the method of propagation by seeds, then the best time to plant them is early spring (late March - early April). This is due to the fact that the seed germinates 2 months after planting in the ground, and the activity of its formation will fall on the warmest months, when the sun will be most active.When choosing cuttings, the procedure is performed in the last days of May. During this period, the sun has a beneficial effect on the appearance of roots: it still does not fry enough, but gives the necessary heat. If your type of milkweed requires bush division, then experienced gardeners advise you to make it in early autumn. The best month for this will be the second half of September - the beginning of October, when the rooting falls on days that are comfortable in temperature, but the plant does not yet have time to enter the dormant stage.

How to propagate euphorbia at home

Indoor euphorbia is propagated in three ways: by grafting leaves and stems, planting seeds or dividing a bush. Each method has not only its periodicity, but also agrotechnical features. Any of the methods is not a complex process, but it has its own subtleties, which will be discussed below.

Did you know? One of the most original varieties of milkweed is Akalifa (Acalypha). This decorative miniature bush blooms for 8 months a year with unusual spike-shaped flowers of bright red color.

Seeds

The method of propagation of milkweed by seeds is the most time-consuming and lengthy, but it allows you to get a lot of sprouts. Using it, stratification of seeds is carried out - keeping them at one temperature for a certain period of time. After all the seeds are collected, prepare a light soil of moderate acidity with impurities of sand. The substrate is heated in the oven and the seeds are sown in warm soil, covering them from above with a 2–2.5 cm layer of substrate.Then abundantly watered and covered with a film, creating the effect of a greenhouse. The workpiece must be kept at a temperature of +23 ... + 25 ° C and aired every day. After the appearance of the first shoots and the formation of a sprout of at least 2 leaves, you can safely transplant it to a “permanent place of residence”. The process from sowing to germination takes 2-3 months depending on the temperature (the warmer it is, the faster the shoots develop).

Cuttings

The propagation method by cuttings is the most popular and easiest to implement, since it does not take much time. The plant branches abundantly, so there are no problems with the choice of shoots. Depending on the type of milkweed, the cuttings are carried out by the stem and leaf method. Since during the separation of plant parts, euphorbia emits a large amount of juice, gloves should be worn before the procedure.

Important! If you notice a flower being damaged by pests, isolate it from other plants and treat it with Actara, Actofit, Actellik, Fitoverm according to the instructions.

The scheme of how to propagate the euphorbia is as follows:

1. The upper part of the stem is cut off from under the leaf node about 10 cm long, or the leaf is manually plucked.
2. The disconnected shoot is placed in a container with warm water so that the leaf touches its slice.
3. After the "wound" of the mother plant ceases to let the juice out, it is treated with charcoal (if it is not at hand, you can use regular activated carbon).
4. The shoot should stand for several hours in warm water, then it is dried, treated with charcoal (for better rooting) and planted in the soil, tamping it tightly.
5. After planting, the earth is watered abundantly, and covered with a film.
6. Under the condition of periodic ventilation, the plant is kept at a temperature not lower than + 20 ° C. It takes several weeks to fully root.

Sometimes the process is not immediately planted, but kept in water until roots of at least 3 cm appear, and only then they are planted in a pot.

Dividing the bush

Euphorbia can multiply by dividing the bush. This method is used for bushy varietal species. When the area of ​​the pot overgrows and the plant becomes crowded, it is necessary to separate the younger shoots. To do this, euphorbia is taken out of the pot, tapping them so that the plant easily emerges. Then inspect the rhizomes, sort out and remove the rotten parts. Young branches are separated manually; in extreme cases, sterile instruments are used.

Did you know? Euphorbia has long been used in folk medicine. Milk milk juice is used as a laxative and vomiting agent in the fight against diseases of the skin, kidneys, intestines and prostate. Tinctures, teas, decoctions are made from it and consumed fresh. In cosmetology, plant nectar is known for its anti-aging properties, so its extract can often be found in creams and lotions.

To stop the flow of juice, all the bushes are dipped in warm water so that the slices are immersed in it. Then “wounds” are sprinkled with charcoal, and the shoots are planted in different pots. After planting, the soil is carefully watered. With the method of dividing the bush, the plant will require time to recover, so do not be alarmed if the next spring euphorbia does not bloom or slows in growth.

Features of further care

If you are lucky to become the mistress of this outlandish plant, it is better to place it on the southern windowsill, as the plant loves bright sunlight. In the summer, when the sun is most active, it is recommended to shade the flower (this can be done using foil, curtains, fabric). Like all succulents, euphorbia retains water in itself, so it does not need abundant and frequent watering. In the autumn-winter time it is enough to water once a month, and during flowering - once every two weeks.

For the proper development of milkweed and its well-being in your home, do not forget to periodically top-dress. You can use the vitamin and mineral preparations "Mr. Color", "Master Agro", "Gumi-Omi", "Valagro" and others, depending on the plant variety. Mineral and crystalline fertilizers are applied every 2-3 weeks.

In spring and summer, euphorbia loves the temperature of +22 ... + 30 ° С, and during the rest period the environment should not fall to + 16 ° С. The plant is not hygrophilous, therefore it does not need spraying and prefers dry air. In hot summer time, the flower will benefit from taking it out into the open air (terrace, balcony, veranda). The transplant is carried out as the pot is sealed. As a rule, the most common type of milkweed is trihedral, needs to be transplanted every two years. Some milkweed species require pruning.After the flowering period ends, inspect the bush, remove excess dry branches (so that they do not pick up the juices and spoil the appearance of the plant) and trim the weak shoots, forming a lush bush. This procedure of "rejuvenation" will benefit and in a year the bush will delight you with abundant flowering. However, before making it, familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the varieties of your milkweed and make sure that pruning is necessary.

Possible plant problems after transplantation

After the transplant, the plant experiences a kind of stress and takes time to recover. It is during this period that different types of milkweed encounter diseases and the spread of pests. In order to protect the plant from them, it is necessary to take preventive measures in advance.

Possible diseases faced by euphorbia:

1. Yellowing and dry leaves, their falling off. This problem most often indicates a too dry environment in which the flower is located. To do this, water it more often and spray it with air.
2. The appearance of dark spots on the leaves indicates the development of rot. This indicates too abundant watering of the plant. Try to reduce its regime and transplant the flower into new soil.
3. Dense dark spots on old and weakened leaves indicate alternariosis. This fungal disease is caused by keeping the flower in a humid and warm environment. Try moving the pot to a dry room on the southern windowsill, and do not forget about regular ventilation.
4. Indented dark spots at the base of the stem are caused by root rot. This disease affects the roots and gradually corrodes the tissues of the plant, because of which it breaks and disappears. The problem is caused by excess irrigation and a lack of nitrogen in the soil.

In addition, euphorbia can be affected by a spider mite (the leaves are covered with a small cobweb below, and small dark mites can be seen on the stems), powdery mildew (the mushroom forms silver spots or stripes on the leaves), “tobacco mosaic” (this virus forms small dark spots on leaves resembling faded cigarettes). In order to protect the euphorbia from possible problems, it is necessary to adhere to the correct agricultural technology. It is very important not to overmoisten the soil, adhere to the watering regime, keep the flower at the optimum temperature and humidity.

The first time after a transplant, the plant, as never before, needs vitamin supplements, so do not forget about regular feeding. Each type of milkweed has an exotic appearance and is an adornment of any room. Wonderful and original euphorbia immediately attracts the eyes. And if you are already lucky to become its owner, then, having studied the intricacies of the plant propagation procedure, you will find a rich collection of this marvelous flower.