Succulents are perfect plants for outdoor and indoor decoration if the need for too much care. One of the succulents that attracts a lot of attention is the euphorbia enopla. It is a highly branched succulent whose stems split upward and create an effect that resembles a multi-armed candelabrum. It needs some essential care but the results are quite good.
In this article we are going to focus on explaining what the care and characteristics of the euphorbia enopla.
Key features
It is a succulent whose stems are covered with reddish thorns. It is a long and robust plant quite decorative that attracts quite the attention. It is in high demand in this regard and you can see how they are arranged in rows along the edges of the ribs.
It has ephemeral and tiny leaves, so it is not its maximum attraction. The male flowers appear on a solitary peduncle measuring 8-15 mm. It also has female flowers that are shorter but have between 4-6 bracts. As with other succulents in the Euphorbia family, when the plant is cut, It releases a thick white milky sage known as latex.
It is quite easy to grow, since it does not require much care. It tends to fall more because of the excess attention that is given rather than forgetting about it. However, it is essential to know some good practices to obtain the best results in terms of decoration. With these cares you can put into practice some fundamental tips to obtain a good harmony and beauty in the plant.
Although the usual use in pots and planters, they are also interesting in rockeries and in cactus and succulent gardens. They are fairly easy plants to care for, so they are ideal for those people who are not too attentive and do not have too much time to care for plants.
Caring for the euphorbia enopla
We are going to divide what are the main care that the euphorbia enopla to be able to have much more detailed all the aspects. Preferably it should be grown in an area where direct sun hits. It needs intense and direct sun throughout the year so that it can develop and maintain in good condition. The plants that they do not grow in full sun they tend to grow faster but they get dirty very quickly. As they grow, they may need tutors and it is not at all advisable, since the results will not remain the same.
On the other hand, one of the important aspects of its location is from the outside. If the place where you live usually has a lot of frosts in winter, you should know that this plant only tolerates very light frosts. If the runs are constant and quite intense, it is best to put them indoors during the colder days.
Soil and irrigation
They are two fundamental aspects in the care of the Euphorbia enopla. The preferable soil for her is a suitable substrate for cacti and succulents. The most important thing in this regard is that the soil is well drained to prevent root rot. Drainage is the ability of the soil to filter irrigation or rain water. If they extract it is not recommended, the plant can get waterlogged and the roots to rot.
As for watering, you have to water generously as long as the soil is completely dry. Do not let the soil get too wet to provide good drainage to the plant. Unlike what happens with other succulents, the euphorbia enopla does not adapt very well to long periods of drought. As we know, succulents are able to tolerate lack of water very well. It also doesn't tolerate damp soil very well, so you have to make sure it gets too much water.
If you want to transplant the succulent, you can wait until it reaches or exceeds one meter in height. One of the best indicators is to wait after two years.
Maintenance of the euphorbia enopla
One of the very interesting maintenance so that the plant can be kept in good condition is fertilization. It should be carried out in spring and summer. For this, we are going to use a suitable fertilizer for cacti and succulents that is find diluted in water and preparation indicated on the package label. Fertilization can be done on a monthly or biweekly basis, depending on the needs of the plant at all times.
The sap of the plant is poisonous after ingestion and irritates the skin and eyes. It is recommended to wear gloves during maintenance and pay special attention to avoid contact with the eyes and mouth. Thus, it is important to be careful about touching the sap while handling the plant in your care. Branching and compensation of plants is an effective method of reproduction. Remove the stake and Let it dry for 2-3 days to allow the wound to heal.
As we have already mentioned before, vegetable latex is toxic and requires some care in the maintenance of the plant. Euphorbia plants can grow from seed, but they are difficult to germinate. The seeds are sown below the surface of the tray with a mixture of substrate and sand. Spray regularly to keep the substrate surface slightly damp. According to environmental conditions, germination takes between 1 and 3 weeks.
It is a plant that does not need pruning and if we do not overdo it with watering, it does not usually have problems with pests and diseases. If you want to clean the plant you do not have to spray it with water, but it is better to use a brush. They are propagated by seeds sown in spring in a seedbed with a slightly damp sandy substrate, and cuttings in summer, always watch out for the irritating latex of these plants.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the euphorbia enopla and their characteristics.