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Euphorbia tirucalli: characteristics of the species
In the Italian popular flora, Euphorbia tirucalli is one of the 32 species mentioned by the botanist Otto Penzing. This hardy shrub takes different dialect names depending on the region and sometimes even the only province to which it belongs. In particular, this plant is native to southern Africa. Over time, the wild species also spread to Central America and later also to Europe. There are several species of euphorbia in nature. From rustic to spontaneous, from succulent to flowering. Some species of this crowded plant family are very ancient, and traces of them can even be found in the fossil record from the Cretaceous period. Pliny, in his writings,
tirucalli spurge
Euphorbia tirucalli has a succulent stem and stems, if it were not for the absence of the areoles typical of cacti, it could be confused with succulents of the genus Cereus. I’ Euphorbia tirucalli It is therefore a succulent plant that does not tolerate temperatures below 8-10 degrees. They are propagated by stem cuttings prepared in the hot summer months, allowing them to dry out for 48 hours before burying them in peat and sand soil at a constant temperature of 20-25 degrees. As soon as the plants are rooted, you should transfer the young plants to pots, which you will grow like any other “succulent plant”. The best soil is sand (two parts) and lightly moistened fertile soil (one part). The tirucalli spurge It is a plant that requires a lot of light, it must be watered regularly.
Euphorbia tirucalli: sun exposure
Euphorbia tirucalli, like all plants that thrive in a sub-desert climate, prefers very sunny locations. The more hours the plant spends in direct sunlight, the healthier and more disease-free it grows. In fact, plants grown indoors should be placed near balconies or windows to take advantage of direct sunlight. Being a plant of African origin, it fears winter frosts, so if it is kept outdoors, it must be protected during the winter months. There are species of this numerous family, which live in precarious conditions and in completely desert areas or in any case in arid and barren soils, characteristic habitat of succulent species. Euphorbia tirucalli grown in the open field can reach 4 to 5 meters in height.
Euphorbia tirucalli blooms only in summer. Its flowers are small, aesthetically insignificant and supported by very small yellow or green bracts. Specimens of this plant grown in pots are almost always between 100 and 150 centimeters high. When the plant is cut, it emits a milky substance that is quite toxic if it comes into contact with human skin and mucous membranes. If you have animals in the house, it is advisable to be careful that they do not bite the plant. It is recommended that plants living in the house move them every two years. Euphorbia tirucalli is a hardy plant that is also very resistant to pest attacks and diseases in general. Its main enemies are the red spider mite, aphids and scale insects.