Key points for cultivating Euphorbia polyandra
Are you curious about the knowledge introduction of the succulent plant Euphorbia polyandra, and its cultivation essentials? Let's take a look together.
Euphorbia polyandra is a perennial succulent plant, with stems initially spherical and later becoming cylindrical with age, reaching a diameter of 20 cm and a height of over 5 meters. It easily forms clusters, has a blue-green color, and has 11-15 ridges. The stem tip is densely covered with villous hair. Areoles are dense, with 12-15 radial spines that are hairy, yellowish-white, and 8-12 central spines that are needle-like and brown. Both types of spines are about 0.5 cm to 0.8 cm long. The flowers are large, with a diameter of 5 cm to 6 cm, having a funnel-shaped corolla and a pale yellow color. The flowering period is from June to July.
Euphorbia polyandra prefers a warm, dry environment with plenty of sunlight, is drought-tolerant and semi-shady, but not tolerant to waterlogging. The optimal growth temperature is 18°C to 24°C, and it is not cold-tolerant, with the winter temperature not falling below 5°C, and it can briefly tolerate 0°C low temperatures. It thrives in fertile, loose, well-draining sandy loam soil, and a mixture of decayed leaf soil, potting soil, and coarse sand can be used. Cultivation is easy, with strong and rapid growth. The root system is well-developed, and potting should be done every spring, with root pruning. During the growing period, the potting soil should be kept moist and fertilized appropriately. In winter, keeping the soil dry can enhance cold resistance.
Common propagation methods include seeding, cutting, and grafting.
Seeding: April to May, with an optimal germination temperature of 20°C to 24°C. Seeds germinate in 1-2 weeks, and seedlings grow rapidly, reaching a diameter of over 1 cm in the next year.
Cutting: Best done in spring and autumn, by cutting off the offsets from the mother plant, drying the wound, and inserting them into a sand bed, which can take root in 25-30 days.
Grafting: Conducted in May to June, using cacti or opuntias as the rootstock and two-year-old seedlings or offsets from the mother plant as scions. The graft can heal and survive in about 15 days, after which it grows rapidly.
Disease and Pest Control
Usually, there are few diseases and pests. Occasionally, root rot, (T-J) disease, and red spider mites can cause harm, which can be treated accordingly.
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