Euphorbia spurge: diversity, care and medicinal properties

Despite the fact that the birthplace of euphorbia is sunny Africa, this plant lives safely in the tropics, tundra, and deserts. Euphorbia can be found in almost any home. This plant is unpretentious in care and has a huge number of species, completely different from each other.

• Planting and care
• Reproduction
• Variety of species
• Medicinal properties of milkweed

Planting and care

Euphorbia sun-loving plant and does not like drafts. In the summer, plants can be taken outside or onto the balcony. Euphorbia tolerates temperature drops down to +8. There are varieties that prefer direct sunlight, while others prefer partial shade. If you position the spurge correctly, it will delight you with its beautiful appearance.Sun-loving varieties can exist in the shade, but the lack of sun will affect the color of the leaves. In summer, plants can be taken out into the fresh air.

Reproduction

1. Propagation by seeds. Milkweed seeds are in a capsule that ripens and cracks. To collect the seeds, place a fabric bag over the box. After collection, the seeds are dried on paper. For germination you need to purchase a sand-peat mixture. Plants are sown in separate pots. In order not to expose young shoots to infection, the soil must be disinfected and you should not sow euphorbia with other plants. The pot is placed in a dark place until shoots emerge.
2. Propagation by cuttings. Good healthy shoots are suitable for propagation by cuttings. The lower part of the branch is cleared of leaves, washed of juice, wiped dry with a cloth, the cut is dipped in ash and dried for a couple of days. Then planted in moist soil. The pot is kept away from direct sunlight.

Variety of species

1. Triangular spurge. This is one of the most common types. Ease of care and unpretentiousness have made it a frequent guest not only in residential premises, but also in public institutions. The shoots of triangular milkweed are fleshy, thick, and have knobs on the edges. The color is dark green. This species grows very quickly and can reach the ceiling in 4-5 years.
2. Poinsettia. This species is also called the Most Beautiful. This spurge has very beautiful leaves. The lower ones are green, and the leaves of the inflorescences can be pink, white or red. The plant blooms with small flowers at the end of December. After flowering, Poinsettia sheds its leaves and loses its attractiveness for several months. This is a very capricious species to care for.
3. Resinous spurge. This milkweed looks like a cactus. It looks like a bush of dense shoots. The branches are fleshy, green with four edges. There are small spines on each edge. Quite unpretentious appearance.
4. Euphorbia Mile. This milkweed looks like a mini bush. The branches are not so fleshy, with a gray tint and purple spines are located on them. The leaves are green, oblong. It blooms with small bright flowers. Young plants look very pretty, but mature ones have bald branches and look more like a thorn bush.
5. White-leaved spurge. It has a fleshy trunk, at the end of which there is a bunch of leaves. The leaves are large, oblong with white veins. This species blooms frequently and is capable of self-sowing.
6. Large-horned spurge. It has a thick triangular stem with huge paired spines.Very often this species is considered a cactus. There are small leaves on the branches, but the plant quickly sheds them. Large-horned spurge blooms with small yellow flowers.
7. Milk spurge. It has dense four-rib green branches. The ribs have a white coating in the form of stripes and small paired spines. Leaves appear, but do not develop and immediately dry out.
8. Euphorbia Tirukalli. It has smooth green branches, cylindrical in shape. The thickness of the branches is up to 7 mm. The leaves are bright green, straight, falling. Leaf length up to 12 mm.
9. Multi-thorned spurge. Has strongly branching shoots. The branches are four-ribed, bright green with a brown edge. On mature parts of branches the ribs are diffuse. Paired gray spines are located along all ribs.
10. Schoolleaf spurge. It has powerful trunks reaching 7 cm in diameter. The height of milkweed is up to 25 cm. The trunks are covered with tubercles and outwardly resemble a conifer cone. At the end of the trunk there is a bunch of thin long leaves.

Medicinal properties of milkweed

Alcohol tinctures are used as a general tonic. 1 part of the raw material is poured with 30 parts of vodka and placed in a dark place for 10 days. Then filter and drink according to the scheme: starting with 1 drop daily, reaching 30 and back.