Grafted E. Lactea ... rot / sunburn?

9 years ago

This was one of my first plants, bought about 4 years ago.

This was really beautiful when I bought it, but over time started getting little brown patches on it. At first I thought it was corking, but it has quickly spread. Only a tiny bit of growth has popped up in four years, so I thought it needed more light, but it was too much and it went violently pink. I don’t think the brown is sunburn though, as I lived in north England and now Scotland, so until I got my T5s here there wasn’t enough light to burn it. It is hard, cracked, not soft. I have seen a similar plant that someone said could have a virus?

i believe the plant it was grafted on may have died - I’m not sure what stock it is.. but it has gone very thin and bendy at the edges, apart from a central, round column that is still hard.

so - do I cut the e.lactea off completely and try to root it? Cut around the brown bits and see if theres anything worth rooting? Leave it as is, or admit defeat?

I replaced the original soil with a soil, perlite and sand mix. If anything it was underwatered for years.

I would like to buy a non grafted one of these as I think they are stunning. But would like to save this chap if possible. Thank you for any help!

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Comments (3)

SoCal Stewart (San Diego, Ca Zone 10A/10B)
9 years ago
Hi K. I have a Euphorbia lactea, but not a grafted crest like yours is. I've had it for about a year where it gets bright filtered (not direct) sunlight. When they are getting the proper amount of light, the new growth is very pink, I'm sure like the new growth of many plants, the coloration of the tender new growth is to protect it from the sun. Similar to sunscreen. Once your plant got the pink flushing, did you move it into an area of lesser light? I don't know anything about the root stock it is grafted to or crested plants in general, but the root stock you say is thin and bendy. It makes me wonder if wasnt getting enough light for a time period?

I'm sure others with more experience with grafted crests will reply with some advice or suggestions. Good luck with your plant.

Tyler
k_schofield thanked SoCal Stewart (San Diego, Ca Zone 10A/10B)
Crenda 10A SW FL
9 years ago
I have an E. lactea crest like yours, but mine is grafted onto E. nerifolia, or Indian spurge. I don't know why they didn't use E. lactea, like yours. Sometimes the graft will fail and you will get rot, but I don't think that is happening to your plant.

Although non-grafted specimens can be found growing spectacularly in some gardens in Florida without obvious damage from the sun, I am told that too much sun can cause those spots to appear. (Sounds like you have the perfect spot, Tyler!) It is not really sunburn and IS more like corking. It will not harm your plant and new growth will curl around and cover it.

Here is my ghost - You can see a dark spot peaking out near the middle.

My first dark spots looked like this -

And here's a closer look at some - it is wet in this picture, but shows better.

And a closeup of it, dry.

My plant hasn't turned the brilliant pink that yours is showing (and I like that!), but the new growth is pink.

So I think the spots are normal. You may want to keep an eye on the root stalk. I am not at all sure what is going on there. Maybe you can post of picture of the whole plant and areas of concern on the stem for us.
k_schofield thanked Crenda 10A SW FL
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k_schofield
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you for your replies, I feel much more relieved now! And Crenda your plant is beautiful! Your close up looks exactly the same as on mine - I thought it was almost a burnt sap at first..

Tyler, I did move it away when it went so bright - I thought it was too much and didnt want to risk burning - the brown spots were there before the blush though.

I will try it in an area with lots of indirect light. It has barely grown in four years though.. is it usually so incredibly slow growing?