Today we are going to talk about a type of plant that belongs to the group of succulents and that can be used mainly for decoration. It's about the Euphorbia resiniferous. It is one of the most useful plants to be placed in clay pots and it is ideal for all those people who do not have time to take care of their plants since they hardly require attention. It is a type of succulent that produces multiple stems and that forms a structure that has numerous thorns.
In this article we are going to tell you all the characteristics, uses and care of the Euphorbia resiniferous.
Key features
It is a type of succulent plant that comes from Morocco. It is found mainly in the southwest of Marrakech and in the province of Tusa. It is a plant that has numerous thorns but quite short in length. They are only about 5-6 mm. One of the characteristics for which this succulent stands out is that it is capable of developing numerous quadrangular stems that have approximately about 40-50 centimeters high and 2-3 centimeters wide. It has a greyish green color and the spines are placed on its sides.
When the summer time arrives and the temperatures are higher, this plant begins to bloom. It only produces small yellow flowers but does not require too much care. As time goes by, the Euphorbia resiniferous it can form colonies of stems up to 20 meters in diameter. It is one of the most important characteristics to take into account if you are going to have a plant that needs to act as a ground cover. The most normal thing is that it is used in wide pots.
Caring for the Euphorbia resiniferous
We are going to see what are the main care that this succulent requires so that it can be maintained and developed in good condition. As we have mentioned before, it is not a plant that requires too much care. Even so, depending on the location and the climate where you are, you will have to pay special attention in some aspects. These are the following care that the Euphorbia resiniferous:
Location and irrigation
The first of all is to know the location. You have to know that this plant does not develop well indoors. Being a plant that needs a lot of natural light in homes, it does not develop well. If you have a fairly bright interior patio, it can go quite well. The patio should allow in direct sunlight to simulate being outdoors. It is a plant that needs direct sun exposure throughout the day. Keep in mind that if you have bought it from a nursery, you have to gradually accustom the plant to sun exposure to avoid possible damage. Above all, it is interesting to protect it in the hours of greatest solar intensity.
As for watering, like almost any type of succulent, the frequency should be rather low. The Euphorbia resiniferous it does not resist excess water but it does withstand the dry season. When summer arrives it begins to bloom even with the higher temperatures and the reduction of water. The waterlogged earth is going to hurt you, but a month can go by without the need for water. To avoid problems, it is best to water only when the soil substrate is dry.
Substrate and compost
Other aspects to take into account so that this succulent can be developed in good conditions is the substrate and the subscriber. As for substrate, if we use a pot it must have good drainage. This means that the irrigation water cannot be stored so that it becomes flooded. In this way, we are able to give our plant the necessary amount of water and it is in charge of filtering the rest. If we sow it in the garden, we will need well-drained soil.
When the time from spring to summer arrives, it is convenient to fertilize with some specific fertilizer for cacti and succulents. You just have to follow the instructions specified on the package. And it is that at these times of the year, it begins its flowering and needs a greater amount of nutrients.
Planting the Euphorbia resiniferous
As we mentioned before, this plant should be planted in a good garden in a pot. Let's see what you have to take into account when planting in the garden:
- Make a 50 × 50 centimeter hole to plant.
- It can be filled with universal growing medium and mixed with equal parts perlite.
- It must be ensured that the plant is well buried. To do this, it is advisable to hold the plant while pressing to the sides and down so that it is well supported.
- You just have to plant the plant the hole and, when about 6 days have passed, you have to water a little.
This succulent is multiplied by stem cuttings in spring and summer. It is the easiest way to reproduce. If you want to multiply this plant, you just have to take a stem, let the wound dry for a week and I do it in a pot. To cultivate it, you have to do the aforementioned. It is essential that the pot has a universal substrate mixed with perlite in equal parts. Once you have planted it, it is best to leave it in a semi-shady location. It is advisable to water 1 or 2 times a week and you will see that in about 10 days it will begin to root.
It can withstand cold and frost as low as -2 degrees well. Although it can bear it well, it is not recommended that temperatures drop below 0 degrees.
Uses
Finally, we are going to list some of the main uses of the Euphorbia resiniferous. Its main use is a decorative plant, although it is known that has a toxin that serves as a starting point for developing certain pain relievers. It is resiniferatoxin. This toxin is found in latex and is quite irritating if it comes into contact with the skin, eyes and mucous membranes. It is advisable to be careful when planting this plant and use protective gloves. It is also advisable to wear glasses if the wind is strong enough.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Euphorbia resiniferous and their characteristics.