🌱 Euphorbia Milii

Use a fast-draining succulent mix: combine potting soil with coarse sand and ample mineral drainage (perlite and/or gravel). Choose a pot with drainage holes and avoid heavy, water-retentive media; let the mix dry substantially between waterings to prevent root rot.

Seed: sow fresh seed warm (about 20–25°C) in spring in a gritty, very free-draining mix; barely cover and keep just lightly moist (not wet) in bright light. Transplant seedlings carefully once established. Propagation is more reliably done from stem cuttings: take tip cuttings in warm weather, stop milky latex flow (rinse/blot), allow cut ends to callus for several days, then insert into a dry-to-slightly-moist gritty mix; water sparingly until rooted. Handle with gloves as sap is irritant/toxic.

Feed lightly during active growth (spring–summer) with a balanced fertilizer at reduced strength; avoid frequent high-nitrogen feeding, which can promote soft growth. Withhold fertilizer in winter or when growth slows, and always apply to already-moistened soil to reduce root stress.

If mulching containers, use a thin top-dressing of mineral mulch (pozzolana or crushed slate) to keep the crown and stems dry, reduce splash-back, and improve evaporation; keep mulch away from the stem base to prevent rot.

Generally self-supporting. In containers, tall or top-heavy stems may lean; use a discreet cane and soft ties to prevent breakage, especially after repotting or if grown in lower light.

Prune to shape and to remove leggy or damaged stems; best done in spring to early summer in active growth. Make clean cuts, allow latex to drain and the wound to dry, and avoid excess watering immediately after pruning. Wear gloves and eye protection due to irritating sap.