Description
This plant belongs to the spurge family and comes from southern Africa. It looks like a cactus and is therefore often mistaken for one.
It is easy to grow. It forms angular, ribbed stems with rows of small spoon-shaped leaves growing at their tips.
It grows fairly fast and can reach up to 2 m in height. Even in a poorly lit spot it does not lean towards the window. Indoors it does not flower.
Requirements
Give it a sunny position. The optimum temperature is 18–25°C in summer and 12–15°C in winter.
Propagation
It is propagated from tip cuttings.
Care
Plant it in a mix of peat compost, multipurpose soil and sand. Water moderately and reduce watering in winter, when the plant rests. In summer it is worth feeding it with a small amount of mineral fertiliser for cacti. In summer the plant can be put outside.
When plants get sick
This euphorbia is susceptible to spider mites, scale insects, mealybugs, powdery mildew and greenhouse whitefly.
Before you buy
Warning! The plant contains poisonous milky sap – keep children and pets away from it in particular.