Over wintering Diamond Frost Euphorbia indoors

9 years ago

Hi everyone

I've used this awesome plant in the past but really didn't have any place for flowers in the last few years since we rented. Now we have our own home again with a huge yard and I've gone overboard buying not only container plants (mostly annuals) but we've started landscaping as well with perennials.

I decided to get the annual Pennisetum (fireworks variety I think) and plant some mounding annuals around them in whiskey barrels to go in our front yard. I usually use Lobelia (I think that's the proper name) in blue and white like I have in the past. I absolutely love the bright true blue colors. Maybe it's the different location since we've moved , but they're not lasting like I remember.

I started with 3 small 4" pots of Diamond Frost from the Home stores alternated with 3 marigold plants around the center planted Pennisetum. At first it was my least favorite planter since the white didn't show much and they seemed to not be doing too much of anything. Fast forward about a month and I just had to remove the marigolds that were being forced out by the massive Diamond Frost. It is absolutely stunning. The best part is, it's easy to care for and doesn't seem to be choking out the Pennisetum but coexisting perfectly. It's so pretty in the wind watching the grass plumes gently sway in the breeze along with the gentle movement of the Diamond Frost.

Enough gushing so let me get to my question. Does anyone have any tips on overwintering the Diamond Frost indoors. Lighting, water, container size, trimming requirements would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Featured Answer

grandmamaloy

9 years ago

Annuals will not respond well to trimming, so I don't think I'd do that, until maybe next spring when you move it back outdoors. I've never heard of anyone overwintering euphorbia, since there is also a perennial euphorbia that will grow as a perennial in your area. However, I would loosen the soil carefully, to see how big far the roots go and then get your container based upon that. I'm suspecting the roots will be quite broad since they've spread so much, but you should be able to trim all the tiny roots that go really far, keeping the main root and as many as you can fit. I don't think I'd go smaller than a 12" pot. It will survive in partial shade, so I would put it in the window that gets the best morning light in the winter time. They are fairly drought tolerant, so only water when the soil is dry. I'd test for moisture 1 to 2 inches below the top of the soil before watering well. I hope this helps...good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Info on Euphorbia

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Comments (7)

715rose
9 years ago
OMG! Diamond Frost is the easiest plant to grow from cuttings.I do have a greenhouse but would try it in a cool sunny window ..I keep it cut back until early spring then let it grow so as to have pieces to root.Just put in a shallow container of potting mix & every one takes off..Cuts will lose leaves but you will soon notice top growth.
Rose
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Last year was my first year to grow Diamond Frost, and I agree with you. It's the best "annual" for the south that's been introduced in awhile. It will bloom all the way to frost, at least. I only bought two plants last year, so I dug them both up, cut them back hard, and potted them right before first frost. I kept them growing in my basement all winter under flourescent lights. They did so well I had to cut them back twice. It is a patented plant, so it's illegal to propagate it, and that's all I am going to say. :)
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I'm envious you both are pleased with how well your diamond frost has grown, that is probably why they've done so well is that they've grown! I bought mine because in the local greenhouse they had one in a large pot with some trailing phlox, and it was gorgeous. But probably because it was grown for 2 months indoors with no wind it was able to be as large as it was. Be that as it may, I did buy a large one but made the mistake of planting it with petunias, which proved to be too aggressive (and beautiful - I planted tidal wave silver with blue priscillas and that turned out well, but very little room for diamond frost to poke out from). But, I did trim off a little piece to see if it would root (in a small glass of water), and it did, and I have it growing in another pot, but still it is not as large as what I'd seen in the greenhouse. In the second pot I placed it with babywing begonias, another rather aggressive plant, and it only gets part sun, so perhaps next year I should find a gentler annual to plant it with? Or did you plant in it's own container? Thanks, good luck finding the seeds, maybe you can overwinter a cutting for the windowsill? ~ kioni ~
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su79, A leaf node is the area on the plant stalk where a leaf is attached. When rooting cuttings of this plant, this is where the roots will form. You are correct to remove leaf material that would be under water. Look at my photo of the root development. See where the roots are forming. Each place on the stalk is what is commonly known as a leaf node. There is some reflection from the water surface but no leaf material was left on the part of the plant stalk that was underwater. realcocacola78(Wisconsin, Zone 5a) is also correct, the more nodes below water, the greater chance of root development. Also, I have read that in general, using new growth for your cuttings is best, as plant growth hormones are strongest in new growth. Good luck with your cuttings! Mary
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
its a registered trademark name...

which might mean its patented

which would make propagation illegal ...

ken
mnwsgal
9 years ago
I overwintered Diamond Frost a couple of winters by potting and keeping in a cool area under fluorescent lights. Decided it wasn't worth the bother and expense. Too many other plants that I also overwinter.

This post was edited by mnwsgal on Wed, Aug 13, 14 at 21:17
GROWCHEMOME
Original Author
9 years ago
grandmamaloy:

I'm not sure about trimming them since I haven't tried it before, but I might try to overwinter two pots to see if I can trim them or not and how that affects it. I'm just afraid they'll get too large by Spring, but then again if their in a cooler house with less light and water maybe that will help contain them. I started out with 3 little 4" pots and they are spilling out of my whiskey barrel! Hopefully it will work, but if not I've only lost $10-12 in purchasing the parent plants. Might as well try :) Thanks for the tips!

715rose:

I've heard that they only grow in water, but maybe they grow in soil for you since they're in a greenhouse? I might try using some rooting hormone that I'm picking up this week and see if that helps. Where do you clip the cuttings and how far/where on the cuttings do you plant them? Any other tips you could share that work for you would be awesome!

ken_adrian:

I did know it's registered, but I'm only using it for my own personal use in my household, not making any profit. I'm pretty sure no one will knock on my door :) Thanks for the info just in case!

mnwsgal:

Did you not have very good success or just didn't think it was worth it for you?

Thanks to everyone for their advice!
mnwsgal
9 years ago
They did alright and even bloomed inside. Think I also had problems with white flies. Just not worth the bother for me as have too many other plants that aren't prone to white flies.

In the early spring I buy a 4" plant and clip the branches so that the clipping has a nodule then use rooting hormone and put in potting mix or vermiculite inside a large plastic bag or a clear plastic pot to trap humidity. Be sure the bottom nodule is in the mix. Can usually get 2 or 3 extra plants this way.
715rose
9 years ago
As I remember the cuttings were 3 or 4 inches long & not too spindly & with a node near the surface.Nearly every one took.I've had white flies but never on Diamond Frost.I didn't have to use plastic bag or rooting hormone.They will drop leaves but the stem is what is important.I don't remember if I put on my heat mat. Doubt it would be necessary.Hope this helps.
Rose

Over wintering Diamond Frost Euphorbia indoors

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