Euphorbia Obesa: Care, Growing Guide, & Facts
Euphorbia Obesa Description
The Baseball Plant (Euphorbia obesa) is a succulent perennial endemic to South Africa’s Cape Province. Euphorbia obesa have risen to prominence as houseplants since their discovery in the late 1800s, owing to their unusual look and low-maintenance requirements.
Despite the fact that Euphorbia obesa are an endangered species in their natural environment owing to uncontrolled harvesting, they are readily available at garden centres. To safeguard the surviving natural communities of Euphorbia obesa, national and international legislation prohibiting the harvesting of Euphorbia obesa has been adopted.
The bulbous form, V-shaped patterns, and seam-like ridges that resemble stitching distinguish these long-lived, slow-growing succulents. The plant is made up of a single large stem body from which the blooms shoot, instead of branches or leaves.
Euphorbia obesa start off round, but as they mature, they grow more elongated and cylindrical. Because they look like sea urchins, Euphorbia obesa are sometimes known as sea urchin plants.
The plants are dioecious, with yellow blooms that are either male or female and are relatively tiny in size. Because the female blooms must be cross-pollinated by a male plant in order to generate seeds, the plant is seldom reproduced by seed outside of the nursery industry.
The flowers are usually grayish-green in colour and are seen in South Africa. They are up to 7 to 8 inches tall and 4 inches wide.
How To Care Euphorbia Obesa?
As long as their light and water requirements are fulfilled, Euphorbia obesa are quite straightforward to care for. They flourish when cultivated in a regular coarse potting mix designed for cactus and succulents and placed in a spot with lots of direct sunshine or brilliant indirect light.
They’re slow-growing plants that may be allowed to fill their pots before repotting is required. Few houseplants are as low-maintenance as Euphorbia obesa. In the summer, Euphorbia obesa do not develop leaves or foliage, but they do develop little, fragrant flowers.
The robust stem structures are resistant to pests and diseases, but if the roots are overwatered or left to soak in water, they may rot.
How To Grow Euphorbia Obesa?
i. Light
Euphorbia obesa have evolved to be inundated with bright, direct sunlight in their natural environment. Euphorbia obesa should be given at least four hours of direct sunshine every day if they are planted indoors.
Loss of colour and pattern, as well as a loss of form, are all signs that your Euphorbia obesa isn’t getting enough light, as is etiolated (“leggy”) development.
To ensure that your Euphorbia obesa receives enough sunshine, place it in a south or east-facing window in your home.
ii. Soil
Euphorbia obesa require a gritty, well-draining pot soil and should be placed in a cactus and succulent potting mix to thrive.
Most commercial nurseries and garden stores sell cactus soil, but if you don’t have any, you may simply make your own by combining three parts ordinary potting soil, two parts coarse sand, and one part perlite. It needs a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
iii. Water
Euphorbia obesa, like other succulents and cacti, don’t like to be watered too much. Only water the plant when the soil is completely dry.
During the spring and summer months, Euphorbia obesa demand more water, whereas during the fall and winter months, they require substantially less.
iv. Temperature and Humidity
Warm temperatures are beneficial to Euphorbia obesa. When cultivated inside, a typical household temperature is more than enough.
Therefore, avoid planting your Euphorbia obesa in regions where it may be exposed to chilly draughts, since this could stunt its development. They can withstand temperatures as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit if planted outside.
v. Fertilizer
Euphorbia obesa, like other succulents, don’t require frequent fertilisation because they’re used to growing in low-nutrient soil.
Fertilizing your Euphorbia obesa in the spring, on the other hand, can help it thrive throughout the peak growth season. To get the greatest results, apply a cactus or succulent fertiliser.
How To Propagate Euphorbia Obesa?
Euphorbia obesa, like other Euphorbia species, are difficult to reproduce from seeds because seed production requires cross-pollination between male and female plants. Furthermore, the seeds develop at a snail’s pace.
Euphorbias with a single stem structure rather than separate branches, such as E. obesa, are often propagated by disembowelling the plant at the soil level.
Each new offset may be gently cut away and replanted in a coarse cactus/succulent planting mix as little new growth structures appear around the remaining root body.
These are slow-growing plants that can take up to eight years to develop into blooming plants.
Euphorbia Obesa Repotting and Potting
Any gritty potting mix developed for cactus and succulents works well for Euphorbia obesa. They don’t need to be repotted very often and should only be repotted when the plant’s circumference reaches the pot’s edge.
When repotting Euphorbia obesa, wear safety gardening gloves at all times since their sap can hurt the skin.
