Keeping Euphorbia globosa globose

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EuphorbianDM77
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Keeping Euphorbia globosa globose

Post by EuphorbianDM77 »

So, I see many Euphorbia globosa tend to have longish segments, not little globes at all.
Has anyone managed to keep their globosa globose? I just ordered a globose specimen from a South African nursery, and am looking for advice.

Here is a picture of my specimen, long slender segments, but it flowers a lot so I assume it is healthy.
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ralphrmartin
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Re: Keeping Euphorbia globosa globose

Post by ralphrmartin »

Mine does exactly the same, especially when flowering.

E. pseudoglobosa stays more globose.
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Re: Keeping Euphorbia globosa globose

Post by Davey246 »

Internodal distance in plants is controlled by the amount of blue light, which is what dictates what we see as elongation/etiolation. As the equator is approached, the sunlight contains more blue, on average, plus total insolation increases.

How much are you interested to experiment? It would take at least a couple of years. Provide extra blue light beyond normal daylight - check online for where the blue needs to be in terms of wavelength, but a cheap blue LED could be worth a try.

VERY interesting experiment if set up right :-)
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Re: Keeping Euphorbia globosa globose

Post by Davey246 »

Just a thought - plants from RSA are 6 months out of sync' with Europe. If you have not imported before, give some thought about what cues the plant is likely to be linked to in terms of growth and dormancy, and be prepared.

If unsure, there is some sage advice online from the late Terry Smale, albeit linked to bulbs, but very likely to be of use.
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Re: Keeping Euphorbia globosa globose

Post by EuphorbianDM77 »

ralphrmartin wrote: Wed May 18, 2022 5:53 pm Mine does exactly the same, especially when flowering.

E. pseudoglobosa stays more globose.
That is one I have yet to add to my collection!
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Re: Keeping Euphorbia globosa globose

Post by EuphorbianDM77 »

Davey246 wrote: Wed May 18, 2022 6:22 pm Internodal distance in plants is controlled by the amount of blue light, which is what dictates what we see as elongation/etiolation. As the equator is approached, the sunlight contains more blue, on average, plus total insolation increases.
Sounds interesting!

If distance to the equator is key, then we should not have much difference with South African plants though!
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Re: Keeping Euphorbia globosa globose

Post by EuphorbianDM77 »

Davey246 wrote: Wed May 18, 2022 8:46 pm Just a thought - plants from RSA are 6 months out of sync' with Europe. If you have not imported before, give some thought about what cues the plant is likely to be linked to in terms of growth and dormancy, and be prepared.
I have brought back some plants from SA about 10 years ago (legally) and one of them refuses to forget about its foreign roots and does not grow in the correct European season. The others switched without much issue.
Hopefully my new acquisitions will do fine!
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Re: Keeping Euphorbia globosa globose

Post by Davey246 »

EuphorbianDM77 wrote: Wed May 18, 2022 10:03 pm
Davey246 wrote: Wed May 18, 2022 6:22 pm Internodal distance in plants is controlled by the amount of blue light, which is what dictates what we see as elongation/etiolation. As the equator is approached, the sunlight contains more blue, on average, plus total insolation increases.
Sounds interesting!

If distance to the equator is key, then we should not have much difference with South African plants though!
Cape Town is around 20 degrees closer to the equator than London - quite a considerable distance. (I did check before my previous post.)

Total insolation of many succulent habitats in RSA, SA in general, will be way higher than in N Europe too, in part due to latitude, in part due to cloud cover. The link below does not allow for cloud cover, but there are maps online showing isohels/isonephs.

https://geography.name/insolation-over-the-globe/
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Re: Keeping Euphorbia globosa globose

Post by ralphrmartin »

I've had mine since 1995, so I dont think it's a lack of time to adapt.
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EuphorbianDM77
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Re: Keeping Euphorbia globosa globose

Post by EuphorbianDM77 »

Davey246 wrote: Thu May 19, 2022 9:55 am Cape Town is around 20 degrees closer to the equator than London - quite a considerable distance. (I did check before my previous post.)

Total insolation of many succulent habitats in RSA, SA in general, will be way higher than in N Europe too, in part due to latitude, in part due to cloud cover. The link below does not allow for cloud cover, but there are maps online showing isohels/isonephs.

https://geography.name/insolation-over-the-globe/
Oh, it is quite the difference indeed!

I'm not going to do it, but I'd be interested in the results of the blue light experiment you suggested.
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