Despite its typical name, the coral cactus (Euphorbia lactea ‘Cristata’) isn’t a cactus at all. Depending on the range of Euphorbia lactea utilized to produce the coral cactus, the leading crest of the plant can differ from green to blue-grey, to whitish-green in color.
The coral cactus is a popular houseplant, not just because of its special appearance but also due to the fact that it’s easy and low-maintenance to look after. Prior to bringing one of these succulents into your home, understand that like all plants in the Euphorbia genus, the latex sap of the coral cactus is considered toxic to both pets and humans.
Learn About Grafting, A New Way to Grow Plants!
Grafting is a proliferation method that joins two plants into one. This is accomplished by connecting the bottom portion of one plant (rootstock) to the top part of another (scion) and permitting the tissues to grow together, where they will continue their growth as one plant.
Botanical Name: Euphorbia lactea ‘Cristata’, Euphorbia lactea x neriifolia
Common Name : Coral cactus, crested Euphorbia, crested elkhorn, crested candelabra plant, candelabra plant
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Plant Type: Succulent
Mature Size: 1-2 ft. tall (indoors)
Sun Exposure: Full, partial
Soil Type: Sandy, well-drained
Soil pH: Acidic, neutral, alkaline
Bloom Time: Spring, summer
Flower Color: Pink, purple
Hardiness Zones: 10-11 USA
Native Area: Africa
Toxicity: Toxic to pets1, toxic to humans
How To Care For Coral Cactus
Taking care of a coral cactus is relatively uncomplicated, although it does differ slightly from many desert cacti and succulents. This Euphorbia mix is more tolerant of dubious conditions than most Euphorbias and also needs more frequent watering. In addition, considering that this succulent is made by manually grafting two Euphorbia plants together, it can not be propagated in the conventional sense, such as through stem cuttings, department, or by seed. In order to develop brand-new coral cactus plants, you would require following the grafting procedure.
Light
This succulent does finest with lots of light. When growing the coral cactus inside, choose a location that gets a number of hours of direct light to motivate ideal growth. If you select to grow your coral cactus outdoors where the light is more extreme, an area that is partially shaded is finest. If you are growing it in containers) to prevent lopsided growth, make sure that you turn your plant frequently.
Soil
To prevent overwatering and waterlogged soil pick a light, well-draining soil mix that is modified with plenty of perlite and sand. Cactus and succulent soil are developed specifically for these kinds of plants and supplies great deals of drain, however you can also make your own in the house if you want. Just blend together equal parts potting sand, soil, and perlite.
Water
The coral cactus is not as drought-tolerant as some of its close relatives in the Euphorbia household. When watered when the leading 2 to 4 inches of soil is dry, it needs to not be permitted to dry out and does best. However, do not stress if you forget the periodic watering as it can get better from minor periods of drought.
Temperature And Humidity
That being said, it can likewise be grown outdoors year-round in USDA zones 10 to 11. For growers that live in colder regions, this succulent can be grown outdoors during the spring and summertime and then moved back indoors throughout the chilly fall and winter months.
Fertilizer
The coral cactus is ruled out a high-feeder but can take advantage of some light fertilization during the spring and summer. Use a fertilizer developed for cacti and succulents once a month up until the fall and after that stop applications till the following spring.
How To Pot And Repot Coral Cactus
Due to the reality that these plants are grafted, they rarely (if ever) outgrow their pots. It is still an excellent idea to repot them every couple of years to offer the plant with fresh soil and upsize the pot if needed. Wait up until the spring or summertime when the plant is actively growing to repot, as this will avoid the plant from going into shock.
Don’t Let Pests And Diseases Ruin Your Coral Cactus!
Look out for common houseplant pests like scale, mealybugs, spider termites, and aphids which can all settle on this Euphorbia. If you notice pests on your plant, separate it from your other plants right away and remove any bugs you can see with an alcohol-soaked cotton bud. You can also use neem oil or insecticides to assist treat more major problems. In addition to these common pests, coral cacti are also vulnerable to root rot, which normally arises from overwatered conditions.
How To Take Care Of Coral Cactus
Besides some common houseplant pests and illness, taking care of the coral cactus is problem-free and fairly basic. Nevertheless, there are a couple of typical issues to look out for, including yellowing, and brown spots developing on the rootstock or top crest of the plant.
Turn Yellow
If your coral cactus is turning yellow, it is likely that the plant is struggling with overwatering. While these succulents delight in more frequent watering than some other types of Euphorbias, they should still be allowed to dry somewhat between waterings and need to never be kept in regularly damp soil conditions. If you presume overwatering is the culprit, repot your coral cactus with fresh, dry soil immediately.
Brown Spots
Brown areas can reveal up on your plant in two various ways– as brown, mushy areas, or as hardened ‘crispy-looking’ areas. Out of the two, brown mushy spots are by far the more concerning result and are generally a sign of some kind of rot or fungal infection.
Normally, hard brown spots are less worrying and are sometimes just a ‘scar’ on the plant’s skin from a previous injury that healed over. If your plant is suddenly moved from a shady location to an extremely intense place, they can likewise be an outcome of sunburn which may take place.
