| Widespread Identify | Satan’s spine, Zigzag plant, Redbird cactus, Slipper flower |
| Botanical Identify | Euphorbia tithymaloides |
| Household | Spurges |
| Plant Kind | Perennial, succulent |
| Mature Measurement | 2-10 ft. tall, 1-2 ft. extensive |
| Solar Publicity | Full, partial |
| Soil Kind | Properly-drained |
| Soil pH | Impartial |
| Hardiness Zones | 9/11 (USDA) |
| Native Space | North America, Central America |
| Toxicity | Poisonous to pets, poisonous to folks |
Satan’s Spine Care
Listed below are the primary care necessities for rising a satan’s spine plant:
- Plant in a well-draining potting combine.
- Select a location that receives vivid, oblique mild.
- Water each one to 2 weeks; enable the soil to dry down between waterings.
- Feed with houseplant fertilizer at half-strength through the rising season, if desired.
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The Spruce / Anastasia Tretiak
Mild
This plant grows finest when it receives vivid, oblique mild. An excessive amount of direct solar can burn the foliage and too little mild may cause leggy progress.
Soil
Satan’s spine grows finest in well-aerated soil that drains rapidly. It’s finest to make use of a soil combine for succulents, which could have a really perfect ratio of sand, perlite (or pumice), and potting soil to facilitate good drainage. Soil pH is much less essential however ideally needs to be impartial to barely acidic.
Water
Water this plant when the soil begins to dry. The frequency will range primarily based on temperature and humidity ranges, however normally each one to 2 weeks is enough.
Like different sorts of succulents, satan’s spine is drought-tolerant however when you let the plant get too thirsty, it is going to begin to drop leaves.
Throughout dormancy, it is best to step by step cut back your watering frequency by about half. For instance, in case your plant is accustomed to being watered as soon as each two weeks, prolong the time between watering to 4 weeks.
Temperature and Humidity
Native to tropical areas of North America and Central America, satan’s spine vegetation do finest with temperatures between 60°F and 85°F. The plant can tolerate a brief snap of cooler climate however won’t survive frost.
In relation to humidity, common to excessive humidity will profit the plant. Nevertheless, due to its drought-tolerant nature, the plant can stand up to a interval of low humidity.
If the air turns into too dry for an prolonged time frame, it could be helpful to put a pebble tray with water beneath the plant.
Fertilizer
True to its low-maintenance nature, satan’s spine vegetation usually don’t want fertilization when grown in a nutrient-dense soil combine.
Nevertheless, when you discover lackluster progress or pale foliage, you’ll be able to fertilize with a family plant meals system diluted to half-strength—however solely achieve this about as soon as per 30 days through the rising season.
Sorts of Satan’s Spine Crops
- Euphorbia tithymaloides ‘Variegata’: This kind of satan’s spine has variegated inexperienced and white leaves however in very vivid mild, the inexperienced can develop into shades of pink. It will probably attain as much as 8 toes in peak.
- Euphorbia tithymaloides ‘Nana’: A dwarf-size model of the satan’s spine plant, this selection solely reaches a mature peak of 12 inches or much less. It has vivid inexperienced foliage and a much less apparent zigzag progress sample for the stem due to the tight spacing between the elliptic leaves.
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Pruning
Typically, satan’s spine vegetation don’t require common pruning. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to prune branches as wanted to keep up the form of the plant or restrict its vertical progress.
Remember the fact that the sap may cause delicate pores and skin irritation, so put on backyard gloves when trimming the branches to keep away from contact.
Propagating Satan’s Spine
Satan’s spine is simple to propagate via cuttings and could be began in water or soil. It’s finest to propagate through the plant’s rising season, ideally within the spring or early summer time. Right here’s tips on how to do it:
- With a pair of sharp scissors, lower a 4- to 6-inch part of a stem from the plant. Remember to put on gloves to attenuate contact with the sap of the plant.
- Let the lower stem dry out for a number of days.
- To propagate in water: Fill a vase or jar with clear water. Take away any leaves that can keep in touch with the water. Place the slicing within the vase or jar. Hold in a heat space with vivid, oblique mild. Change the water repeatedly to maintain it contemporary and monitor for root growth. As soon as roots are current, transplant the slicing to a pot with succulent soil combine.
- To propagate in soil: Fill a small pot with succulent soil combine. Place the lower finish of the stem into the soil. Moisten and place in a heat space with vivid, oblique mild. Water to keep up soil moisture however don’t enable the soil to develop into soggy. After a number of weeks, test for root progress by flippantly greedy the slicing and giving it a mild tug; resistance signifies root formation. Transplant as wanted or enable the plant to proceed to develop within the starter pot.
Potting and Repotting Satan’s Spine
Satan’s spine can attain a mature peak of as much as 10 toes tall when grown outside, however indoor vegetation usually tend to high out round 4 or 5 toes. Because the plant grows, you’ll have to repot it.
When it’s time to repot, select a pot that’s 1 to 2 inches bigger in diameter than the present pot. The most effective materials for a pot for a succulent like satan’s spine is clay, because it permits extra moisture to evaporate extra simply. You also needs to select a pot with a drainage gap.
To repot the plant, loosen the soil across the pot’s perimeter. Then, gently grasp the plant and pull to take away. Shake off extra soil however don’t overly disturb the foundation system. Fill the brand new pot with succulent soil combine and repot the plant to an identical depth as earlier than.
Withhold water for a number of days and as much as every week to permit the plant to acclimate earlier than watering.
Widespread Issues With Satan’s Spine
When given the proper rising circumstances, a satan’s spine plant is comparatively simple to take care of. Nevertheless, issues with the plant’s foliage are usually the primary warning indicators of an issue with mild or moisture ranges. Right here’s what to be careful for.
Curling Leaves
If the pointed leaves of a satan’s spine plant start to twist, incorrect mild ranges are more likely to blame. With an excessive amount of direct solar, the plant could curl its leaves as a protection in opposition to burning.
A satan’s spine plant may have curling leaves if it’s not receiving sufficient mild. Monitor the plant to make sure that it’s not receiving an excessive amount of direct solar, particularly within the late afternoon for vegetation in a west-facing window location.
Leaves Turning Yellow
Yellow leaves on a satan’s spine plant could also be attributable to overwatering. An excessive amount of soil moisture can result in root rot, which can first start beneath the soil floor earlier than manifesting with signs like yellowing leaves.
Withhold water till the soil dries; if root rot has developed, it’s possible you’ll have to repot the plant and trim away any slimy, foul-smelling roots.
Plant Leaves Falling Off
A satan’s spine plant could drop leaves if the plant experiences stress. Most frequently, that is due to underwatering. Though the plant exhibits some resistance to drought, it does finest with a constant watering routine, particularly through the rising months.
Water to revive soil moisture however resist the urge to overcorrect. Monitor the plant after watering and water once more when the highest few inches of soil are dry to the contact.
FAQ
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It is uncommon for this plant to flower indoors, so in order for you a satan’s spine plant to flower, it’s possible you’ll want to maneuver it to an out of doors location. It’s best to solely do that if the temperature is usually above 60°F and by no means expose the plant to frost.
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Indoors, most satan’s spine vegetation will develop to about 4 or 5 toes tall. How tall the plant turns into (and the way rapidly) will largely rely upon how steadily you repot it and whether or not you feed the plant with fertilizer. In its native habitat, a satan’s spine plant could develop as much as 10 toes tall.