Euphorbia lacteais a popular decorative industrial plant grow in homes and garden despite never flowering in cultivation .
Euphorbia lacteaHaw .
Candelabra Spurge , Dragon Bones , Dragon Bones Tree , Elkhorn , False Cactus , Frilled Fan , Hat Rack Cactus , Mottled Spurge
In the wild, Waikoloa Village, Hawaii, United States. Derivative of a photo bykbkash. No rights reserved.
Family : EuphorbiaceaeSubfamily : EuphorbioideaeTribe : EuphorbieaeSubtribe : EuphorbiinaeGenus : Euphorbia
The specific epithet " lactea(lak - TAY - uh ) " means " milklike " and refers to milkylatexthat is secreted when the plant is injured .
Euphorbia lacteais aboriginal toSri Lankabut is now naturalized worldwide in tropical and semitropical domain .
Leaves and spines. In the wild, Waikoloa Village, Hawaii, United States. Derivative of a photo bykbkash. No rights reserved.
Euphorbia lacteais a succulentshrubor smalltreewith distinctly 3- or 4 - lean branches with sticker along the ridges . It can grow up to 16.4 infantry ( 5 m ) magniloquent , with a basal stem that hit 8 inches ( 20 cm ) in diameter , branching from now above the base . The branches are green with a pallid gist , often with ornamental whitish and lime green , marbleised scoring . The youngest arm are about 7 inches ( 17.5 centimetre ) foresightful and 1.2 inches ( 3 centimetre ) thick , with spine shield 0.4 to 0.6 column inch ( 1 to 1.5 centimetre ) apart , bearing couple of short , blackish to brown spine . The tiny leave are rarely present , seem at the stem crown in summer but apace sink , leaving the plant leafless most of the sentence .
Thecyathia(false flowers ) are bundle along the stem turn ridge and have 4 or 5 yellow - fleeceable secretor on the bound . They seem in wintertime and spring , usually only in the natural state . The fruits are ejector seat with threeloculesand numerous seed .
visible light : cater yourEuphorbia lacteawith plenty of sunlight is important for optimum growth . Place it near a sunny window or move it to your balcony or garden during the warm month , bit by bit increase sun exposure to debar sunburn .
In cultivation, Carnarvon, Western Australia, Australia. Photo by Tina Bailey. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Soil : utilise a well - draining territory , either a commercial-grade potting mix formulated for succulent orcreate your ownwell - draining dirt .
Temperature : While high summertime temperatures are not a job , low winter temperatures can damage or kill your industrial plant . Euphorbia lacteagrows good inUSDA Plant Hardiness Zones10a to 11b , with average minimum wintertime temperature order from 30 to 50 ° F ( -1.1 to 10 ° atomic number 6 ) .
Watering : From leaping to fall , water the plant when the top inch ( 2.5 cm ) of dirt feel dry . Reduce tearing in winter and give it just enough weewee to forestall droop . In the ardent time of year , evening is the best time of the day for watering .
Flowers. In the wild, Miami Beach, Barbados. Photo byMagne Flåten. Licensed underCC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
Fertilizing : To ensure the potted plant welcome sufficient nutrients , apply a balanced fertilizer in a 10 - 10 - 10 NPK formulation , reduce to 1/4 lastingness each week during the growing season .
Repotting : Although yourEuphorbia lacteadoes not demand to be repot often , it will benefit from repot when it outgrow its smoke . The repotting is best done in early leaping at the beginning of the growing season . bust gloves , protective vesture , and appropriate eye protection when handling this plant .
extension : While rarely blooms in cultivation , it is usually propagated by base cut . The best clock time to take cuttings is in spring or summer .
Learn more atHow to Grow and Care for Euphorbia .
Euphorbia lacteaproduces a venomous lily-white milklike sap that may induce burns or excitation if in contact with the skin or optic . Therefore , proceed this plant away from minor and favourite is best .
select a photo to see a larger version .
Did you find this helpful ? partake in it with other succulent lovers !
