Euphorbia handiensis

Synonyms:

There are no synonyms for this plant, due to its rarity

Habitat:

E. handiensis is native to Canary Island.

Description:

E. handiensis is a rare succulent of the Euphorbiacee botanical family. The plant has a columnar habit and is made of ribs. The stem is bright green and the ribs are furrowed and bear long light brown spines along the edge. The margin of the ribs has grey streaks and the ribs seems lignified. The plant can reach 1 m in height and tend to branch. Branches first are small and rounded and then are long and columnar. Branches born on the edge of the rib and are useful for propagation because can be used for cuttings. Flowers bloom during the spring and are of a beautiful yellow-amber color, the flower bud occurs along the stem.

Cultivation:

This is a slow growing succulent but quite easy to cultivate. For this succulent the best sun-exposure is direct sunlight, so you can place it outdoors. The soil should be mixed with pumice, clay and loam to allow the drainage and prevent the root rot, the plant is prone to it indeed. Remember to use perforating pot to drain excess water. Watering can be done normally: during the vegetative period you can water regularly the plant (every 7 days), checking that the soil is completely dry before watering again; in winter you should stop the watering to allow to the plant to enter dormancy. If you want a very fast and lush growth you can fertilize the plant during the growing season with the specifics fertilizers for cacti; stop fertilizing throughout the winter. If the pot starts to be too small for the plant you can repot the plant in a pot 2 cm wider. Handle the plant carefully and wear gloves because the latex it exudes is toxic. The plant can tolerate temperatures as low as -5°C but it is better for the plant to remain at temperatures above 8 C°.

Propagation:

Propagation can be done by seed or cutting. By seed is very simple to propagate the plant, it is enough to sow the seed in a sandy loam soil and keep it with high level of humidity. By cutting you can use the offsets that grow at the base of the plant. Cut the offset as close as possible to the base of the stem and then let it dry; after a few days the cut surface will dry and a callus will form, then place the cutting in a mixture of sand, soil and pumice

Curiosity:

Species of the Euphorbiacee family normally if are damaged, exude a white milky sap, called latex. Many plants produce latex, but in the Euphorbiacee this latex is often poisonous and may irritate skin. The poisonousness is due to some alkaloids so it is best to keep the plants away from children or pets.

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www.giromagi.com

Italian Blog:
www.giromagicactus.com

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