Euphorbia piscidermis
Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 6:12 pm
Hi all,
Euphorbia piscidermis is a lovely species, not too difficult to find in the trade but unfortunately it is often available as grafted plants only, which for me detracts from its beauty.
I once bought a specimen on its own roots from Phil White when I was visiting England in 2002, and took it back to Brazil. The little plant did not have many roots, and the roots did not seem very strong to me. The plant was potted in my normal compost when I got home, but after a good while it was not showing any signs of new growth.
I searched the literature and found the information that this species grows in limestone gravel in a reddish, limestone derived soil in its native habitat. A similar kind of limestone soil occurs in several areas in Bahia, Brazil, and the next time I visited the region of Morro do Chap?u I collected a little bit of this kind of soil and limestone gravel, and repoted my Euphorbia piscidermis in this stuff.
The plant did not show any signs that it was enjoying the new substrate at first, it was not growing and just sit in there. But after a few months new growth became apparent in the little plant, and it even flowered.
Unfortunatelly when I had to move to Switzerland to do my PhD. I had to give away my Euphorbia piscidermis. I unpoted the plant, and to my surprise it had developed a very strong root system, the root ball completely filling the pot where it was potted. There were three or four main roots, very thick and strong, growing all the way to the bottom of the pot and curling there.
So I presume this species really likes the limestone-derived soil in which it was potted in!
Now I would like to get a few plants of this species to take with me when I return to Brazil. I have been looking for sources that sell this species on its own roots, but so far no luck - I have not find neither seedlings nor rooted offsets for sale. Does somebody knows of a source for this species on its own roots?
If I do not find plants in its own roots, I will try to degraft grafted specimens.
Is this species difficult to root if degrafted?
Cheers,
Euphorbia piscidermis is a lovely species, not too difficult to find in the trade but unfortunately it is often available as grafted plants only, which for me detracts from its beauty.
I once bought a specimen on its own roots from Phil White when I was visiting England in 2002, and took it back to Brazil. The little plant did not have many roots, and the roots did not seem very strong to me. The plant was potted in my normal compost when I got home, but after a good while it was not showing any signs of new growth.
I searched the literature and found the information that this species grows in limestone gravel in a reddish, limestone derived soil in its native habitat. A similar kind of limestone soil occurs in several areas in Bahia, Brazil, and the next time I visited the region of Morro do Chap?u I collected a little bit of this kind of soil and limestone gravel, and repoted my Euphorbia piscidermis in this stuff.
The plant did not show any signs that it was enjoying the new substrate at first, it was not growing and just sit in there. But after a few months new growth became apparent in the little plant, and it even flowered.
Unfortunatelly when I had to move to Switzerland to do my PhD. I had to give away my Euphorbia piscidermis. I unpoted the plant, and to my surprise it had developed a very strong root system, the root ball completely filling the pot where it was potted. There were three or four main roots, very thick and strong, growing all the way to the bottom of the pot and curling there.
So I presume this species really likes the limestone-derived soil in which it was potted in!
Now I would like to get a few plants of this species to take with me when I return to Brazil. I have been looking for sources that sell this species on its own roots, but so far no luck - I have not find neither seedlings nor rooted offsets for sale. Does somebody knows of a source for this species on its own roots?
If I do not find plants in its own roots, I will try to degraft grafted specimens.
Is this species difficult to root if degrafted?
Cheers,