The so-called spurge plants, with their sometimes very exotic appearance, are usually cultivated as potted plants in this country. The vast majority of species are cared for as indoor plants all year round, as they are not hardy outdoors in the central European climate.

The Euphorbia marginata is frost hardy in our latitudes

The wrong track of plant names

A euphorbia species that can be found outdoors seasonally is the subspecies Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost', which is sometimes also sold in specialist shops under the name "Magic Snow". As much as the name might suggest, this euphorbia species should not be overwintered outdoors in cool temperatures. After all, the wintry-sounding name of this plant species only refers to the visual appearance of the numerous, small flowers.

There can be problems not only with frost

If the temperatures outside are getting cooler as autumn progresses, then it is not only the falling temperatures that can lead to problems with the spurge plants that are still outdoors: the increasing humidity, together with the cold, can ensure that even at temperatures below 12 to 15 degrees Celsius that plants like the triangular spurge develop putrid spots. So make sure you move to a suitable winter location in the house as early as possible. With most euphorbias, overwintering in a relatively warm room is just as possible as overwintering in a room with a temperature of only 15 degrees Celsius, although in the latter case watering should be much more economical.

Overwinter euphorbia properly

Many euphorbias have been among the most popular indoor plants for many years:

  • the triangular spurge
  • the pencil bush (Euphorbia tirucalli)
  • the cactus spurge (Euphorbia ingens)
  • the spit palm

All subspecies of the plant genus Euphorbia mentioned should be overwintered frost-free in the house. The cactus-like spurge plants should usually be watered very little.

tips

After a long growing season on the patio, overwintering the euphorbia indoors can become a problem due to a lack of storage space. If you want to cut back your euphorbia before wintering, you should always be careful of the poisonous plant sap.

Category:

Indoor plants