How to cultivate Euphorbia milii
Main content introduction: Knowledge about the cultivation of Euphorbia milii and the key points of caring for potted Euphorbia milii, the following article will introduce to everyone by the editor.
Euphorbia milii, also known as "Crown of Thorns," is one of the most common tropical desert plants in the Euphorbiaceae family, preferring a warm and dry environment throughout the year. If your balcony or windowsill has plenty of sunlight, Euphorbia milii is also a good choice for a flowering plant that doesn't require frequent care.
I. Variety selection
The varieties of Euphorbia milii are also very rich, including common long-leaf Euphorbia milii, "Flaming Sword," beautiful Euphorbia milii, yellow-flowered Euphorbia milii, and white-flowered Euphorbia milii.
The flower colors of Euphorbia milii are mainly red, pink, yellow, and white, with some varieties having mixed-color petals.
II. Daily care techniques
Euphorbia milii has a particularly long flowering period. If the temperature can be maintained above 15 degrees Celsius all year round, it can bloom throughout the four seasons. In warmer winter areas, providing more sunlight and proper water control can keep it blooming continuously.
1. Maintain a warm environment
If you live in areas such as Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Hainan, Euphorbia milii can be grown outdoors as long as proper drainage is ensured. Otherwise, it relies on natural conditions.
If you are in an area with frost in winter, Euphorbia milii can only be grown as a potted plant. When winter comes and temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius, it should be moved indoors promptly to avoid frostbite.
Euphorbia milii is particularly susceptible to frost. When temperatures drop below 9 degrees Celsius in winter, its leaves can easily turn yellow and fall off, which is a normal phenomenon. At this time, water control is essential, and it should not be watered frequently.
If the temperature can be maintained between 18 to 33 degrees Celsius, it will grow very well. It is a heat and sun-tolerant tropical desert plant that can be directly exposed to the sun in high summer temperatures, but it is important to increase environmental ventilation and avoid keeping it in a stuffy and humid environment.
How to cultivate Euphorbia milii
If friends want to make Euphorbia milii easier to care for, they can even graft it onto other Euphorbiaceae plants, such as grafting Euphorbia milii onto Euphorbia cactoides or Euphorbia leucoxylon, which will enhance its ornamental value and make it look more unique.
2. Learn to control watering
When caring for potted Euphorbia milii, it is essential to learn to control watering. It is better to let the potting soil dry completely for a few days than to water it frequently. The soil must be avoided from staying constantly moist. If the potting soil is always in a moist state, it is prone to root rot.
Especially when some friends keep it in a shaded indoor area with insufficient light and poor ventilation, the potting soil dries slowly, and it is watered frequently, resulting in root rot within a few days.
In winter, when temperatures are low, it is even more necessary to stop watering. For example, when temperatures are below 12 degrees Celsius, there is no need to water much, unless it's in particularly good weather at noon, when it can be supplemented with water to avoid the plant drying out.
3. Suitable soil
When caring for potted Euphorbia milii, it is important to provide it with loose and well-drained soil. If grown outdoors directly, garden soil mixed with coarse sand in a 4:1 or 3:1 ratio can be used to plant Euphorbia milii.
When growing Euphorbia milii indoors, a potting soil with better aeration can be chosen. Now, the potted Euphorbia milii available for online purchase, especially those directly grown in nurseries, usually use a mixture of peat soil and perlite in a 4:1 ratio, mixed with 2 to 4 grams of slow-release fertilizer, which can also be used by us when planting.
4. More sunlight
If you want Euphorbia milii to bloom more, it is important to provide more sunlight. It is best to keep it in a full-sun environment, ensuring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day for better blooming. Insufficient light will reduce the number of flowers and make the leaves tender.
5. Key to blooming of Crown of Thorns
In addition to providing sufficient sunlight, using a compact pot can promote blooming. If the pot is too large and the potting soil too abundant, it can lead to a reduction in the number of flowers.
Also, pay attention to regular pruning to prevent the branches of the Crown of Thorns from growing too long.
Because the Crown of Thorns blooms at the top of the plant, if there are too few branches, the number of flowers will also be small. When the branches grow to about 20 centimeters, they can be pinched to about 15 centimeters in length, ensuring many branches and a high number of flowers.
Caring for potted Crown of Thorns does not require frequent fertilization. It has a low demand for fertilizer, usually applying slow-release fertilizer once in the spring and autumn, with only 2 to 4 grams needed each time.
The above content about how to cultivate Euphorbia milii and the key points of caring for potted Euphorbia milii can help you. We also hope that everyone visits the Green Plant Enthusiast website to learn more about green plant and flower experience and common sense!