Euphorbia lactea cristata care

Euphorbia lactea cristata is decorative plant, which looks like a cactus which is very noticeable due to its irregular fan-shaped multiple branches.

Common Names

The plant is known under the most popular names such as Crested Plant, Crested Candelabra Plant, Euphorbia cristata, Euphorbia crestada or coral cactus.

Geographical distribution

This cacti-like species is native to the tropical areas of Asia, more specifically, India and Sri Lanka.

Description

It’s a succulent with crested and undulating stems. The term Cristata, in botany, represents a wavy growth that occurs not only in cacti and succulents, but is caused by a mutation, it has a crest shape with intricately undulating fan-shaped branches, which form a serpentine crest or crowded group.

The most common ridge shape is dark green attractively marked with silver-grey zigzag patterns. Currently, this plant is available in a large number of varied and picturesque cultivars ranging in color from white to yellow, pink, purple and green.

There are also the standard species, without crest, with flattened stems on three sides, which look like a candelabrum that can easily reach a height of up to 5 meters. They are leafless but have black spines on parts of their undulating ribs. They do not usually bloom. This Euphorbia is often grafted since it by itself is not capable of performing the chlorophyll function and needs a foot that does, to survive.

Conditions for its development

Euphorbias are very slow growing but easy to grow. They are usually used in pots, as indoor plants or on terraces, if the weather allows it, they are suitable for outdoors cactus and succulent gardens.

Temperature

It should be grown in sun and warm temperature.  It can tolerate full summer sun. But  Euphorbia lactea cristata can also be kept in semi-shade.

Watering

Irrigation control is important in Euphorbia’s, in fact, they die more from excessive care and watering. They need light soil with good drainage. They resist drought very well, but unlike most succulents, Euphorbia lactea cristata does not handle long periods of drought well. It may need weekly watering during the summer. Be careful not to cause flooding. Water deeply when the substrate is dry, but do not leave the plant sitting in moist soil for a long time, which can cause root rot. The container must consist of multiple holes for ensuring good drainage.

Substrate

They are not particularly demanding regarding the pH of the substrate, neutral or slightly acidic pH is okay. But as told earlier, they do not tolerate waterlogged soil. We must add a little organic component or fertilizer to the planting soil. The substrate can be any one of those commercialized for cacti.

The substrate should be one-third humus, one-third fine soil and the rest coarse-grained sand. Do not apply peat, which may be too acidic in pH.

Fertilization

It will be sufficient to fertilize it once in a month, with some mineral fertilizer used for cacti. The best time for fertilizing the pant is in spring and summer.

If you grow them in pots or outdoors with poor soils, feed them monthly with a medium-strength fertilizer.

Re-potting

The re-potting is done in the spring, but given its slow growth, it is done every long period. No pruning is necessary.

Propagation

Propagation can be done from seed, but it can be difficult to germinate or even to find. Generally, the Euphorbia lactea cristata is propagated by cuttings or grafts. The variegated forms are difficult to cultivate on their own roots and are generally grafted for convenience on a foot of Euphorbia canariensis, Euphorbia resinífera or Euphorbia neriifolia.

The key to proper propagation is warmth and good air circulation. Although not necessary, these cuttings could be dipped in rooting hormone and then left for a period of 3 to 4weeks until they form roots. Then proceed to plant them. This can be tricky, due to the sap it exudes. The sap or latex is toxic and irritating and can affect, inflaming the mucous membranes and skin, if they come into contact.

Latex care

As with all other Euphorbias when a plant is damaged, it exudes a thick, milky, white sap known as latex. The milky sap of Euphorbia serves as protection against predators and to close wounds. This latex is poisonous and irritating and particularly dangerous for the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. So pay close attention so that it does not come into contact with your eyes or mouth. If the latex comes in contact with the skin, it should be washed immediately with water, as it is no longer soluble in water, when it dries. In this case, use fat solutions or emulsions such as milk or skin cream. In case of contact with eyes or mucous membranes, a doctor should be consulted. Sensitive people can even react to latex vapors, so it is also necessary to ensure adequate ventilation.

Tips for handling

• Use gloves to handle the plant in transplanting and cutting processes.
• Wear protective glasses, thus avoiding splashes of latex on eyes and mucous membranes and skin. Contact with the eyes can cause blindness.
• Provide good ventilation in the work area with the plant, in order to avoid latex vapors.
• Ingestion or even inhalation of latex and its vapors can cause nausea and vomiting.
• Keep Euphorbia out of the reach of children.

Plagues and diseases

The main disease that can affect it is the rotting of the roots due to excess watering, The waterlogging generates fungi that can kill the plant. If the cristata stem or pad suddenly withers or turns pale green, this usually indicates a fungal attack is caused by waterlogging.  So ensure good water drainage for avoiding such devastating circumstance.

If you observe the presence of the mealybug infestation, proceed to wash carefully with a damp cloth, on the pest. Observe that the roots are not affected by the mealybug infestation. If it is, then wash well and apply insecticide or prune severely damaged parts and change the substrate and to avoid future outbreaks of the pest. They can occur in the folds of the ridge. They are sap-sucking insects and can attract fungi. If washing is not enough, proceed with a commercial insecticide for this purpose and proceed to treat the plant.