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Euphorbia lactea 'Cristata'

22 years ago

Hi to all,

A few years ago I was given a large Euphorbia lactea"Cristata" in a pot, when we were given it the plant was crested but now the new growth is growing straight up. What has happened to it? What do I have to do to make it crested again? Hope somebody can help me.

Michelle

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Comments (3)

littlelisie
21 years ago
Crested growth isn't something that's guaranteed. Unlike 'monstrose' varieties of plants, where the variation from normal growth is due to genetic mutation, crested growth can occur on normal plants. Sometimes it's due to variances in light intensity, or damage, but generally the causes are unknown. A plant that produces one area of crested growth may have all other areas growing normally, and a cresting plant like yours or for example the crested form of Mammillaria elongata, the one that looks like a brain, may revert to normal growth for no apparant reason. Sorry!
Lis :D
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Dave61
21 years ago
Hi
If you have any of the crested part left you need to remove the normal growth and leave the crested part behind this will need to be done regularly. Dust the cuts with sulphur to prevent rots and to stop the sap from running. Also you could take some cuttings of the crested part and start a couple of new plants so if anything happens to the original you will still have it. These cuttings should be dipped in Hormone powder not gel and left for a couple of weeks to callous and then planted in 50/50 mix of course sand and peat or cocopeat and kept moist. i recommend taking Euphorbia cuttings in Spring/Summer when the plant is growing so that you have a better chance of success.
Regards Dave hall
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solarforge
Original Author
21 years ago
Thankyou littlelisie and Dave for your help. I am going to do what you said and remove all the straight parts and hopefully the plant will return to be crested again.
Thanks
Michelle
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