How to cultivate Euphorbia cactoides in winter
The article shares knowledge about how to cultivate Euphorbia cactoides in winter and its maintenance skills. Let's introduce it step by step.
Euphorbia cactoides is a "housewarming flower" that has been very popular in recent years. It remains lush and vibrant throughout the year, with the function of gathering energy, dispelling evil spirits, and attracting wealth, as well as being easy to care for and adaptable to the environment. To care for it in winter, just pay attention to these points, and it will remain green and sturdy, growing up to two meters tall, symbolizing a strong and auspicious home.
1. Move indoors when it's cold
Euphorbia cactoides prefers a warm and dry environment with plenty of sunlight. The suitable growth temperature is between 15 to 35 degrees Celsius. Although it can withstand a certain degree of high temperatures, it is sensitive to cold. In winter, it can tolerate temperatures as low as about 5 degrees Celsius. If the temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius for an extended period, its growth will be hindered, becoming slow or even stagnant, and it may also lose leaves due to low temperatures. If the temperature is below 5 degrees Celsius for a long time, it is prone to frost damage, which can even freeze or kill the plant. Therefore, once the temperature drops to about 10 degrees Celsius in winter, Euphorbia cactoides should be moved indoors to maintain a temperature above 10 degrees Celsius.
2. Get plenty of sunlight
Euphorbia cactoides loves sunlight. Apart from needing a bit of shade during midsummer and early autumn to prevent scorching, it can be exposed to sunlight for most of the time. Sufficient sunlight not only promotes photosynthesis and keeps the leaves green but also produces many substances beneficial for plant growth, enhancing its resistance and promoting the growth of branches and leaves. Since winter sunlight is relatively gentle, allowing Euphorbia cactoides to bask in the sun can help it grow better, survive the winter safely, and prevent rotting. Therefore, in winter, place Euphorbia cactoides in a well-lit indoor area and rotate the pot regularly for even sunlight and growth.
3. Strictly control watering
Euphorbia cactoides has strong drought resistance and prefers a dry growing environment. If the potting soil remains moist for an extended period, it can cause root rot, and if the ambient temperature is low, it can lead to severe frost damage. Additionally, with low temperatures in winter, water evaporation is slow, and the plant's water demand decreases. Therefore, during this season, it's essential to control watering and water only when the soil surface is completely dry; usually, watering once or twice a month in winter is sufficient. Watering should be done on sunny mornings, and the water temperature should be close to room temperature to avoid shocking the plant's roots.
How to cultivate Euphorbia cactoides in winter
4. No fertilizer in low temperatures
Euphorbia cactoides does not require much fertilizer. During the growing season, to promote its growth, it can be fertilized with a dilute compound liquid fertilizer every 15 to 20 days to supplement nutrients and enhance its resistance. However, in winter, due to the low temperature, its growth metabolism slows down or even stops, so its fertilizer demand is almost zero, and its root absorption capacity is significantly reduced. Therefore, fertilizing is generally not needed in winter, especially when the temperature is below 10 to 15 degrees Celsius, to avoid fertilizer damage and root rot.
Moreover, although Euphorbia cactoides is generally free from pests and diseases, it can be affected by pests like spider mites if kept in a poorly ventilated room for too long. Therefore, during the warm midday of winter, it's advisable to open the windows for ventilation to enhance air circulation, reduce the incidence of pests and diseases, and promote normal respiration and metabolism of the plant. If you find that your Euphorbia cactoides is infested with pests or diseases, isolate it from healthy plants, move it to a well-ventilated area, and promptly spray with pesticides for control. When using pesticides, strictly follow the instructions to avoid excessive dosage that can cause damage or rot.
The above shares the specific content about how to cultivate Euphorbia cactoides in winter and its maintenance skills. If it helps you, remember to visit the Green Plant Enthusiast website often!