Every Euphorbia "White Ghost" I Purchase Develops Skin Lesions

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

I slowly killed off my first white ghost due to root rot. It was planted in the gritty mix, and even though it was not watered often it went through a pattern like the following:

1) It immediately developed skin lesions, that look like root rot but were more like sunburn. They were never soft to the touch.

2) The plant grew well

3) After a few months, the roots started to rot

4) The plant fought enormously but no matter how much I cut off the skin lesions eventually became rot that ate the plant from the skin into the core.

I decided to take a new shot at White Ghost and just planted it in gritty mix two weeks ago. It is getting mild mid-day sun. Immediately it began to form skin lesions again. See the photo below. Does anyone have any idea on what might be going on here?

I suppose this could be an intolerance to sun and it needs to be in the shade for the summer. I am more inclined to believe this plant just does not like some ingredient in the gritty mix, and that is somehow causing a systemic reaction that manifests as these skin lesions. I could try to plant it in pure pumice, or I could go for a more soil-like mixture that has very good drainage.

Has anyone else had these problems and how did you fix them? I love the look of this plant but something here is just not working.

Featured Answer

Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6

6 years ago

I keep my White Ghost on my porch which gets morning sun but no hot afternoon sun. Once damaged, got to live with it. I left an young two year old cutting in full sun thinking that being dark green would be okay. Nope, got those light brown marks all over the upper part which later in the year turned to hard wood. Plant is okay but unsightly.

The crest that they came from get full sun only once it gets used to it slowly over a month. It is fully white and I never seen a burn on it???

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Comments (12)

Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
6 years ago
The fact that it is white instead of green would suggest that bright light instead of direct sun is needed. Mine is in bright shade and some times direct sun after it is used to the bright shade after weeks. Still get some burns in direct sun so I don't give it to it anymore.

This was cuttings from a white crest.
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
bikerdoc5968 Z6 SE MI
6 years ago
IMHO, that is not sun damage. It appears more likely corking which is a natural occurrence with some succulents.
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked bikerdoc5968 Z6 SE MI
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Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
6 years ago
Corking in places you don't want. Newer growth instead of the base older areas where you would expect. Not very attractive looking.
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
6 years ago
Sush, I agree. What is the point of growing one when they get ugly with a common problem. I also have one and it does that when I give it direct sunlight for some reason, but does not when I just give it a bright spot.
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay
Original Author
6 years ago
@bikerdoc5968 Corking starts at the base and works its way up. I have never heard of corking starting at random locations on a cactus or euphorbia.
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay
Original Author
6 years ago
I never marked any reply as a "Best Answer" but it is showing a random remark as Best Answer. Is this another new "feature" here on Houzz?
bikerdoc5968 Z6 SE MI
6 years ago
westes, Agree, thanks
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked bikerdoc5968 Z6 SE MI
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Also read what westes said: corking starts at the bottom and slowly (usually) continue upwards. Apparently, if same-color spots appear in different spots, it is for different reasons. Either disease or bugs. That is what I read - trying to find link where...
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
6 years ago
What I saw last year was sun burn and then turned to hard wood (corking). It was on the newer growth and mine doesn't show corking on the base due to being in the shade more. Once damage sets in, it could only heal by corking. Lucky it was on a small green euphorbia and not my larger White Ghost.
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay
Original Author
6 years ago
@Stush2049 Are you able to avoid the sunburn by keeping White Ghost in a shaded area?
cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
6 years ago
w,

Bright indirect light and air circulation would likely discontinue those problems. Like most light-coloured / freak plants, it probably wouldn't make it in its full-coloured natural habitat as a sport.
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5