Care of the succulent plant Euphorbia stenoclada or Silver Thicket |
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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 stenoclada, Euphorbia meloformis, Euphorbia lomelii, Euphorbia tithymaloides, Euphorbia rigida, Euphorbia obesa, Euphorbia milii, Euphorbia mammillaris, Euphorbia leucocephala, Euphorbia lactea, 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 regis-jubae, Euphorbia trigona, Euphorbia bivonae, Euphorbia handiensis, Euphorbia balsamifera. Common name: Silver Thicket. This species is native to Madagascar. They are succulent plants with a shrubby (sometimes arboreal) habit of slow growth that reach 5 meters (16.4 feet) in height. The stems are branched profusely, have tubers and thorns, and are green and light gray in color. They do not have leaves but they do have small flowers that are not very decorative; it is not usual for them to bloom in pots. They are used in pots for patios and terraces, in greenhouses and as an indoor plant; they are also interesting to form impenetrable barriers. Euphorbia stenoclada needs full sun exposure and high temperatures. In winter the temperature should not be less than 6 ºC (42.8 ºF). They do not resist frost. The soil can be a commercial cactus substrate or a mixture of garden substrate and coarse siliceous sand in equal parts. Water moderately in spring and summer, waiting for the substrate to dry; they resist prolonged drought very well. In winter do not water. They do not need fertilizers or pruning. They are plants quite resistant to pests and diseases; sometimes they can be attacked by mealybugs. They propagate from cuttings 15 cm (5.9") long; protect your hands from the irritating latex these plants produce. |
Images of the succulent plant Euphorbia stenoclada or Silver Thicket |
 Euphorbia stenoclada  Euphorbia stenoclada  Euphorbia stenoclada |