Today, spurge is represented by many types and forms. Many of them can be grown indoors.
This article is devoted to the subtleties of the cultivation of ribbed euphorbia (combed, combed).
Botanical description of the plant
This shrub is counted among the genus Molochai. His homeland - the tropics and subtropics of the south-eastern regions of the island of Madagascar.
It is an evergreen or semi-falling succulent. Its stem reaches a height of 1.2 m and a diameter of 3 cm. It is ribbed, twisted spirally, covered with spikes. On it are several pentagonal branches of dark green or green-brown color. Sometimes the plant can be without any shoots. 
Succulent leaves are oval, long, 12 cm long, 2.5 cm wide. They are located at the top of the trunk. Grow on long red cuttings. The color of the leaves is rich green with a reddish tinge. The bottom plate is white.
Summer formed apical inflorescences. They grow on a long (4-5 cm) peduncle. The flowers are yellow with a green tint. Bracts white or pink.
Did you know? A close relative of euphorbia, ribbed, is poinsettia, better known as the Christmas Star or Euphorbia, the most beautiful. It received its name from the person whose name is associated with its distribution throughout the world - the American Joel Roberts Poinsett. Every year on the day of the death of a botanist in America, the National Poinsettia Day is celebrated.
Medicinal properties and harm
All varieties of milkweed contain milky sap, in which euforbin, amorphous gum, alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins are present. Such a composition makes the plant poisonous. Usually, animals avoid contact with wild-growing euphorbia. People from ancient times use it for medicinal purposes. Today, funds based on it are present in folk and official medicine.
It is known about such useful properties of euphorbia ribbed:
- pain relief;
- removal of inflammation;
- excretion of sweat and urine;
- getting rid of worms;
- toning;
- blood purification;
- bowel cleansing.
Learn more about how it can be dangerous to humans.Succulent roots are used to heal wounds, ulcers, burns, boils. They are ground into powder and powdered affected areas. Juice leaves rubbed skin to get rid of age spots, warts, corns. Funds based on it are recommended to eliminate edema, alleviate the condition after insect and animal bites, and treat stomach ulcers.
Succulent can also cause harm. So, when it comes into contact with the skin and mucous membranes, it causes allergic reactions, burning, inflammation. Swallowing juice or any part of the plant may cause stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea.Important! Due to its toxicity, comb euphorbia should not be grown in houses where there are small children and pets. When growing plants in such families, the pot must be placed in an inaccessible place.
Conditions for growing at home
Ribbed spurge can often be found on the windowsills. He attracts florist unpretentious and exotic appearance. Like any tropical plant, it loves good light, warmth, high humidity and does not tolerate drafts, sudden changes in temperature.
Lighting
Lighting is very important for the development and decoration of milkweed. The worse it is, the more the trunk becomes bare and the faster the leaves fall. In addition, when grown in the shade of a succulent, small leaves are formed. 
The best lighting for succulent is bright diffused. Direct sunlight can cause burns. It is advisable to grow euphorbia on a windowsill located in the western or eastern part of the house. If you put the pot on the north side, the flower will be dark, and in winter, additional lighting with fluorescent lamps will be required. When growing on the south window you need shading.
Temperature and humidity
The optimum temperature for growing in spring and summer is + 20… + 25 ° С. In winter, a decrease to + 16 ° С is possible, but not lower. Lowering the temperature during the rest period is desirable, but not necessary. It allows the plant to gain strength before the growing season in spring. At this time, it slows down its growth.
In the summer, the flower will be grateful if it is exposed to fresh air, for example, to a balcony or terrace, but with good protection from drafts.
With regard to humidity, it is important that it was slightly above the average. Succulent reacts worse to dry soil than to dry air.
How to care at home
Spraying care includes standard procedures: regular moistening, fertilization, pruning and transplanting. In the case of the development of diseases or attacks of harmful insects, therapeutic treatments will be required.
Watering
Watering for milkweed in spring and summer should be abundant. The optimal frequency of hydration - 1-2 times a week.
Starting in October, watering is gradually reduced. In winter, their frequency should be 1 every 1.5-2 weeks. If the temperature is low, it is possible and more rare watering.
For humidification use tap water, passed through the filter, purifying from chlorine and impurities, or separated in 1-2 days. It should be soft and warm. Regular spraying euphorbia are not needed. They should be made only in the heat and dusty foliage.
Top dressing
Succulent feeds from March to September. In the fall and winter, top dressing is not just unnecessary, they are harmful, since they have a detrimental effect on the growth and development of the plant.
The recommended frequency of fertilizing during the growing season - 1 time per week. It is necessary to use ready-made fertilizers designed for cacti and succulents. They are introduced in the liquid state at the root after abundant watering.
Crown trimming
Pruning euphoria is needed in several cases:
- When deforming shoots.
- With sanitary purposes.
- In order to slow growth.
- For rejuvenation.
- In order to form new side shoots.
- For the prevention of the development of diseases and attacks of insects.
Sanitary pruning is carried out annually in spring. Remove all deformed, damaged shoots, dry leaves.Pruning to slow growth can be done 1 time in 2-3 years. A well-sharpened and disinfected knife cuts off the tops of the shoots after flowering. Cut cuttings can be treated with activated charcoal and used for reproduction.
Transfer
Young plants that have not reached the age of 4 years should be transplanted annually. Transplantation of more mature plants is allowed 1 time in 2-3 years. The procedure is planned for spring.
In order to successfully transplant a room flower, you must purchase or prepare the soil in advance and buy a larger 2-3 cm old pot. It must be wide.
For euphorbia, ready-made soil mixtures are suitable with the note "For cacti and succulents". The substrate must meet the following characteristics:
- loose;
- with good moisture and air conduction qualities;
- moderately nutritious;
- subacid.
Read more about the benefits and dangers of milkweed.If you prefer to prepare the soil yourself, then you need to mix in equal shares the following ingredients:
- leaf earth;
- peat;
- sand.
The substrate, prepared by himself, requires disinfection. To do this, it is boiled, held over steam, calcined in the oven or microwave, watered with manganese solution or boiling water. 
In order to properly transplant ribbed spurgeons, the following steps must be taken:
- The day before transplantation, the plant should be watered abundantly.
- Well wash and rinse the pot with boiling water. Dry it to the end.
- At the bottom lay a high layer of drainage of expanded clay, pebbles. Charcoal can be added.
- Sprinkle on top of a layer of prepared soil.
- Remove the spurge from the pot, without destroying the earthy coma.
- Put a lump in the center of the pot.
- Fill the void with soil so that from the top of the pot there is 1.5-2 cm.
- Well moistened.
Important! All work with comb euphorbia at home must be done with gloves. After carrying out the procedure, wash your hands with soap and water. If the plant juice is in contact with the skin or mucous membranes, the affected area should be washed with plenty of water without soap.
Breeding
The flower multiplies well independently. Often the seeds from the fruit fall to the ground and soon germinate. If you want to multiply the plant purposefully, then this can be done both in seed and vegetative ways.
Seeds
To implement this method requires equipment mini-greenhouses. Seeds are removed from the fruit and sown in a loose moist substrate placed in a long, flat container. Then the seedlings are covered with glass and put in a warm, well-lit place. 
They are periodically aired and moistened with a spray bottle. After the sprouts appear, the shelter is removed. When forming two true leaves, sprouts should be dived into plastic cups filled with peat (1 part), sand (2 parts), humus (2 parts), and leaf ground (1 part). When the shoots form 5-6 leaves, they are transplanted into permanent pots.
Cuttings
Cuttings are cut in the spring from the top of the shoots so that they have a few leaves. Then they are put into warm water, and after the milky juice stops emanating from the cuts, they are treated with pounded activated carbon. They wait until the film appears and put it in a peat-sand mixture. A container with cuttings is placed in a room where a consistently warm temperature is maintained at + 20 ° C and higher and good lighting. After 14 days, after rooting, they are transferred to permanent pots. 
Reproduction of milkweed with leaf cuttings is also possible. Sheet pinch off. After the milky sap is drained, it is treated with “Kornevin” and put on rooting in the soil or water.
Division
Reproduction by dividing the bush produced in March or September. The plant is removed from the pot, inspect the roots, if found, remove diseased and damaged specimens. Then divide the roots and stems in half and arrange them in different pots.
Did you know? In 1935, during the Italian-Ethiopian war, during the movement through the thickets of the Euphorbia candelabra tree and cutting down the road with bayonets, Italian soldiers were severely poisoned with milky sap from the wounds of the plant. After a few hours, all 300 soldiers had headaches and cramps in their eyes, and later they were blind.
Difficulty growing
Pests and diseases rarely affect euphorbia ribbed. Most often, he suffers from the fact that the owner makes mistakes in the creation of conditions of detention and care.
So, excessive moisture can lead to rotting of the root system. Most often, the problem is found during transplantation. You can suspect it when the foliage falls. Save the plant can be a transplant in a new soil and pot. It is necessary to remove the plant from the old pot, thoroughly inspect the rhizome and remove the damaged roots. Slices need to be treated with crushed activated carbon. Go through any healthy roots with any systemic fungicide.
Watering with cold water provokes the formation of a hard brown crust at the base of the stem. It is necessary to adjust the moistening with water at room temperature. 
Strongly leaves fall, stretched or bent stem of plants that grow in conditions of poor lighting. To correct the situation will help move the pot to a lighter place.
A slow growth or lack of it over a long period of time indicates several errors: the absence of fertilizing, transplants, or a change in the microclimate during a period of rest. It is necessary to establish the exact cause and eliminate it.
So, ribbed spurge is an interesting and unpretentious plant with a spectacular appearance. It is easy to grow and propagate at home. The main thing with care is to observe personal safety measures, since the milky sap of the plant is poisonous.
