Slipper Plant (Euphorbia lomelii) – Succulent plants

Euphorbia lomelii is an attractive, long-stemmed, unusual perennial succulent with a woody root crown. The leaves are tiny, red turning to green, yellow or brown, appearing after rain, dropping within weeks, often missing. The stems are green, jointed, mostly unbranched, upright and straight, tapered like a candle near the tips and covered by a waxy substance known as Candelilla, which means “little candle”. The plant spreads slowly outwards with new stems emerging from below ground to form tight clumps up to 90 cm wide. In mid-summer into fall the unusual, orange-red, slipper-shaped flowers, appear along the stems and are often followed by reddish fruit.

Scientific Classification:

Family: Euphorbiaceae
Subfamily: Euphorbioideae
Tribe: Euphorbieae
Subtribe: Euphorbiinae
Genus: Euphorbia

Scientific Name: Euphorbia lomelii V.W.Steinm.
Synonyms: Pedilanthus macrocarpus, Hexadenia macrocarpa, Tithymaloides macrocarpa, Tithymalus macrocarpus.
Common Names: Slipper Plant

How to grow and maintain Slipper Plant (Euphorbia lomelii):

Light:
It prefers full to partial sunlight. Provides good sunlight at least 3-5 hours of the day, and turn it regularly so that your plant doesn’t begin to grow lopsided.

Soil:
It grows well in well-draining, gritty soil or cactus potting mix. They are not particular about soil pH, but they cannot tolerate wet soil.

Water:
You can allow the soil to dry out between each watering. Before watering the plant check underneath the pot through the drainage holes to see if the roots are dry. If so then add some water. Do not water too often to prevent overwatering, that can potentially kill it off.

Temperature:
It prefers an optimal temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit – 85 degrees Fahrenheit / 16 degrees Celsius to 29 degrees Celsius.

Fertilizer:
Fertilize every two weeks with a diluted balanced liquid fertilizer during its growing season in the spring and summer. Avoid fertilizing your plant during the fall and winter months.

Propagation:
It can be easily propagated by cuttings. Take cutting in spring, which needs to be dried out for a couple of weeks in shade before potting. This can be tricky, because of the exuding sap. Rooting hormone is recommended with Euphorbias. Also can be propagated from seed, but they can be difficult to germinate.

Pests and Diseases:
Euphorbia may be susceptible to mealybugs, scale insects, occasionally spider mites.