How to propagate Euphorbia pulcherrima by cuttings

Cutting method of Euphorbia pulcherrima

Cutting soil

Choose fertile and loose soil. You should know that the more fertile the soil, the more vigorous the cuttings will grow, and they can grow normally even if you control water and fertilizer. There will be no phenomenon of branches shrivelling, and the survival rate can reach over 90%.

Cutting method

I won’t go into details about how to choose cuttings, and let’s just look at how to propagate by cuttings. Bury the top of the stem node, about 10 cm long, into the soil to a depth of about 7 cm, leaving the lower cut outside. It will take root in 20 days. It will break out of the soil in about 40 days.

Don't worry that the Euphorbia obesa will not survive if it is propagated through cuttings because it has no leaves. Although its breathing will be restricted due to the lack of leaves, many aerial roots will grow on the nodes to help it breathe. If you find many aerial roots during propagation, you can water it appropriately and add some soil to make it more likely to survive.

Maintenance of Euphorbia pulcherrima after cutting

The Euphorbia obesa will continue to grow branches and leaves in autumn, which is also the second growth period of the year. The new leaves gradually age and mature. The management and maintenance methods are basically the same as in spring and early summer. Top dressing can be applied 2 to 3 times, mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, and the light time can be increased.

The weather turns cold after the Frost Descent. In order to prevent the Euphorbia obesa from freezing and frost and snow, it needs to be moved indoors to keep warm. It can be placed in a sunny place indoors and the room temperature can be maintained at 8℃. Stop fertilizing and water sparingly. It is better to keep the soil in the pot on the dry side. Too much moisture will cause the leaves to wilt and fall over and the roots to rot. From mid-March to early April in spring, the time for opening windows for ventilation can be gradually extended as the temperature rises, laying the foundation for later moving the plants outdoors for maintenance.

In addition, the potting soil of Euphorbia obesa should be changed once every 1 to 2 years, which can be done in spring or autumn. When changing the potting soil, remove some of the old soil and dead roots, add new culture soil (a mixture of leaf mold, garden soil, sandy soil, and organic fertilizer), and add hoof slices as base fertilizer.