How Do You Propagate Euphorbia Aeruginosa?

How Do You Propagate Euphorbia Aeruginosa?

Euphorbia Aeruginosa can be propagated from stem cuttings. Take extreme caution while cutting these plants, since their sap may be quite irritating if it comes into touch with the skin. Allow cuttings to callous for a few days prior to applying rooting hormone and planting in soil.

When cutting the stems, use a strong pair of scissors. Also, make sure they are very clean before planting in soil.

Take a sharp pair of scissors and cut the stem at a 45 degree angle straight across the top third of the stem, making sure to leave about an inch of stem on the bottom half.

Insert the end of your cutting stick into the dirt, and gently push it into to soil so that you can feel where it is going in as you work around the stem. The following are the steps to follow when propagating from stem cutting;

• Place the stick straight into the soil with the cutting point just above soil level.
• Fill in around the base of the cutting point, making sure that all air gaps are filled. Take care not to cut through it too far as you might damage the roots in that portion of you stem.
• Fill in around the bottom of your stem using a piece of burlap, newspaper, or other suitable material to help fill any gaps created when planting your plant.
• Lift the cutting stick and gently pat it down into the soil, being careful not to damage the roots. This can be done by pressing your thumb and finger against a rock, or by gently patting the cutting tip down into the soil from over top of your cutting stick.
• Place your plant on a rock, brick, or other suitable permanent support in order to support your plant for its root development as it grows. This can also be done around plastic tubing as shown in this photo:
• Once your plant has developed roots, use it as one would any other plant; move around it, and position it in sequence with other potted plants around your home.

How Do You Care For Euphorbia Aeruginosa?

Euphorbia Aeruginosa are very easy to care for, and can be walked upon without damaging the plant. However, it is wise to wash your feet before entering a room where these plants are in order to avoid tracking any harmful substances into the room that could harm the plant.

Euphorbia Aeruginosa will benefit from a light misting every day or two, as well as plenty of sun. Euphorbia Aeruginosa do best with a few hours of direct sun in the morning or late afternoon.

This plant will not bleach if it receives light filtered by a sheer curtain (partial shade) during the peak hours of sunlight. Avoid heavy midday sun. The following are the factors to consider when caring for Euphorbia Aeruginosa;

Sunlight

Euphorbia Aeruginosa do best in full sunlight or with a few hours of direct sun bright light per day. They also will take partial sun although this may cause some leaf yellowing between the veins. However, I have noticed that if they get too much direct sunlight (during the hottest hours of the day) they may start to get a bit crispy along their leaf edges.

Water

Euphorbia Aeruginosa does best with plenty of water during the summer months and needs to be watered once a week or so during the winter season.

It is important to keep your Euphorbia Aeruginosa from drying out completely, but you do not need to wait for the soil to become dry before watering.

Watering the soil so that the plant is kept constantly wet will also promote root rot. In order to avoid this, try to only water the soil if the plant feels dry, allowing it to become noticeably wet with water before you decide that it needs to be watered.

Soil

Planting in a cactus potting soil will help make sure your plant is getting all of the nutrients it needs for healthy growth. Make sure to not overly water the soil, as this could kill your plant.

A thick layer of mulch around the base of your plant will also help keep it from drying out, as well as ward off any rodents and will also help keep the soil from becoming too moist.

Fertilizer

Fertilizing once every two weeks during the growing season with a cactus fertilizer is highly recommended in order to promote strong growth, leaf growth and root development. Euphorbia Aeruginosa are very easy to fertilize.

Pruning

Euphorbia Aeruginosa can grow to be quite high, and many people prune their plants in order to encourage flowering. This is done by simply trimming back branches to an inch or two above where you want them to branch out.

However, this is up to you, as long as you take care not to cut too deep into the new growth of your plant. Cutting back can be done by simply cutting back the top half of a branch, leaving about an inch of stem on the bottom half in order to allow it to grow in.

Temperature

Euphorbia Aeruginosa are very temperature sensitive and will not tolerate temperatures below 40 degrees F. This is also true for any other houseplants that normally only thrive at around 65 degrees F.

They can be kept at lower temperatures in order to provide additional lower light levels as well as a cooler temperature on the hottest summer days, but make sure that they are not too cold or they may lose their leaves, common in any plastic plants.

Humidity

Euphorbia Aeruginosa will not tolerate very high levels of humidity, and should be kept in a very humid environment. In order to achieve this, try not to place your plant on a tile or wood surface.

They are best kept in a large pot that is either planted into the ground or placed on a wooden sawhorse in order to provide additional drainage.

Propagation

Euphorbia Aeruginosa can be propagated from stem cutting. The best time to do this is in the spring, although it can be done all year round. Follow the steps mentioned above, and make sure that you wash your hands before handling any of your cuttings.

Repotting

Euphorbia Aeruginosa can be repotted any time of the year, although it is easiest to do so during the spring and summer months. A general succulent fertilizer can help promote faster growth.

When you repot your plant, make sure to do so in potting soil that is best suited for cacti as well as providing additional drainage. I personally like to go with a very draining soil mix with plenty of perlite added.

Pests and Diseases

Because Euphorbia Aeruginosa are such easy plants to care for and can be kept in a fairly small pot, it is natural for them to become infested with pest insects. It is best to keep your plant away from other houses plants to avoid any transfer of pests from one plant to another.

Is Euphorbia Aeruginosa A Cactus?

Euphorbia Aeruginosa is a small, succulent-forming plant with extremely attractive spines. Its name, which translates to “verdigris,” relates to the coppery-green branches with reddish-brown spines.

Euphorbia Aeruginosa can be described as a low-growing succulent with a very narrow and arching shape. It has various forms, including compact and sprawling, tall and short. Its spines are extremely sharp and will not cause you any harm if you brush your hand against it.

Euphorbia Aeruginosa is a very small plant that can be kept in small containers, where it will flourish into a large plant. It can be grown in a container and will thrive if you keep it warm, bright and moist.

It is best to avoid letting the soil get completely dry. It can be kept indoors and as an outdoor plant, in containers, but it is more suited to the latter.

How Poisonous Is Euphorbia Aeruginosa?

Euphorbia Aeruginosa is toxic to humans and pets. If ingested, it can cause burning and irritation in the mouth, as well as abdominal pain.

It can also cause an allergic reaction in some individuals if it is ingested. Its latex sap can irritate skin and eyes, but most common allergic reactions are minor.

The sap of Euphorbia Aeruginosa contains photosensitizing agents which may result in severe burns if the skin is exposed to ultraviolet light (sunlight).

The Royal Horticultural Society classifies euphorbia as a “poisonous” and “skin and eye irritant” blooming plant in the spurge family (RHS). According to the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, the milky sap or latex of the Euphorbia plant is highly poisonous and a skin and eye irritant. Euphorbia Aeruginosa is poisonous, and can cause skin irritation.

Is Euphorbia Aeruginosa Evergreen?

Euphorbia Aeruginosa is considered to be semi-evergreen. It has the ability to lose its leaves if the climate around it is too dry, too cold or if there is an excess amount of sunlight on it. Euphorbia Aeruginosa also has the ability to survive in a variety of different climates. This plant can grow in temperatures as low as -10°, but it can’t withstand temperatures below 10°F.

Euphorbia Aeruginosa can also survive in tropical and sub-tropical climates because it can tolerate soil with heavy amounts of moisture and high levels of humidity. Most species of Euphorbia Aeruginosa will have very low humidity around the roots when you first receive them, but the older they get, the higher their humidity usually is.

Euphorbia Aeruginosa is extremely popular as a houseplant because it can survive in low temperatures and high humidity. When grown indoors, it can survive between 65° – 80° Fahrenheit.

Euphorbia Aeruginosa is extremely versatile for indoor gardening, because the flower buds inside of the stems do not have thorns like other varieties of Euphorbia Aeruginosa.

It has been observed that with this variety, you are able to grow and harvest the plants from as early as six weeks after planting in a very small container.