Euphorbias, bane of my Rooting Existance

Well, they are fun to grow, once you know the perils. The poisonus sap, the vicious spines, the exploding seed habits.

Just how do you get a broken piece to root? I have pieces that are nearing two years old, and still not rooted.

Well, there is the 'suspend from a chopstick' stuck in the ground, leaving the plant barely touching the medium. There is the leave-it-lay-there-and-ignore-it camp. And multitudes inbetween. Anyone with a success story? Please?

Oh, another question. How DO you control those exploding seeds, especially if you want to plant them later?

Cena

Okay, the common 'poinsetta' is a Euphorbia (E. pulcherrima). Crown of Thorns, Euphorbia. There are giant trees that look like cacti, that bleed milky sap when damaged. Any plant with milkey sap, chances are good THOSE plants are Euphorbias, also.

Okay, how do you root them?

I do have at least one success to report, just today. A Euphorbia mammilaria, 'corncob plant' with roots showing (after 10 or so months) today. Potted it up too.

Anybody propogate with seeds?

Cena

I germinated some Euphorbia (Summer Poinsettia)seeds easily by chilling them in fridge for 2 weeks, then soaking seeds for a few hours in hand-hot water, then planting 1/4 " down is good seed starter soil. I had about 80% germination. The plants seem to be slow growers and I'm keeping an eye on them for powdery mildew. They're not performing the way I thought they would, so these are on my so-so list right now.
Trish

This message was edited Thursday, Jun 7th 10:42 AM

I have maybe about 6 Euphorbia characias wulfenii that started blooming about March. They're huge - about 5 years old. Have always just cut off the blooms when they start to flop over. This year I decided to collect the seed. I'm still waiting for them to turn brown. Do they turn brown? Is this a lost cause? I'm very interested in the replies to Cena's thread
Liz