Care of the succulent plant Euphorbia lactea cristata or Coral Cactus |
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The genus Euphorbia, family Euphorbiaceae, includes 2,000 species of succulents, trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants of cosmopolitan distribution. Some species are: Euphorbia lactea, Euphorbia meloformis, Euphorbia lomelii, Euphorbia ingens, Euphorbia inermis, Euphorbia horrida, Euphorbia heptagona, Euphorbia handiensis, Euphorbia grandicornis, Euphorbia flanaganii, Euphorbia enterophora, Euphorbia enopla, Euphorbia echinus, Euphorbia cotinifolia, Euphorbia coerulescens, Euphorbia characias, Euphorbia candelabrum, Euphorbia canariensis, Euphorbia pulcherrima, Euphorbia resinifera, Euphorbia milii, Euphorbia tithymaloides, Euphorbia regis-jubae, Euphorbia royleana, Euphorbia trigona, Euphorbia bivonae, Euphorbia rigida, Euphorbia handiensis, Euphorbia balsamifera, Euphorbia leucocephala. Common names: Coral Cactus, Crested Euphorbia, Frilled Fan, Elkhorn. This species is native to India. They are cactiform plants with curious green wavy crested stems with yellowish, pink or purple spots. They are leafless but have black spines on parts of the wavy ribs. They do not usually bloom. These very slow growing and easy growing plants are used in pots as indoor, greenhouse or terrace plants. They are also suitable for rockeries and cactus and succulent gardens. The Euphorbia lactea cristata needs a lit exposure with several hours of sun in the early hours of the morning. Avoid direct sun in the central hours of the day. The winter temperature should not be less than 10 ºC (50 ºF). The soil can be a commercial substrate for cacti. The transplant is done in spring if necessary. Water moderately at the rate of once every 10 days in summer, waiting until the soil has completely dried out. In winter do not water if they are grown outdoors and water once a month at most indoors. It will be enough with a monthly fertilizer with mineral fertilizer for cacti in spring and summer. They do not need pruning. The only serious danger to these plants is overwatering which causes tissue rot. They propagate by cuttings in spring dried for 1 week in a cool and bright place. You have to be careful with the irritating latex of these plants. |
Images of the succulent plant Euphorbia lactea cristata or Coral Cactus |
 Euphorbia lactea  Euphorbia lactea cristata  Euphorbia lactea cristata  Euphorbia lactea cristata  Euphorbia lactea cristata |