A Detailed Guide to Growing and Caring for the Ironclad Qilin (Euphorbia)

SummarySoil: A mix of peat, vermiculite and perlite can be used for growing. Sowing: After sowing, sprinkle a small amount of thin soil on top, then cover with a layer of plastic film or a glass pane to maintain humidity. Water and fertilizer: Fertilizer should be applied once a month, the potting soil should be kept dry in winter, and kept moist in other seasons. Temperature: The optimal growing temperature is 15-28°C. Light: It should be placed in a bright, well-ventilated spot for care.

I. Soil

Generally, a mix of peat, vermiculite and perlite is used for growing, or 1 part garden soil, 2 parts leaf mold, 3 parts coarse sand or vermiculite, plus a small amount of decomposed bone meal mixed together.

II. Sowing

1. Seeds can be obtained through self-pollination. The seeds do not store well, so they should be sown as early as possible. Clean perlite, vermiculite or expanded clay pebbles mixed with a small amount of peat soil can be used for sowing.

2. After sowing, sprinkle a thin layer of soil on top, then cover with a layer of plastic film or a glass pane to maintain humidity.

3. During sowing, keep the soil moist to prevent the seeds from drying out. It needs to be placed in a bright spot indoors for care. Higher temperatures will speed up seed germination, but be careful that the nighttime temperature does not drop below 18°C.

4. Then wait about 30-45 days, and germination can reach about 50%, but the seeds of the ironclad qilin do not germinate uniformly, and over the following weeks they will continue to germinate one after another.

III. Water and Fertilizer

1. During growth, water thoroughly. In winter, keep the potting soil dry. Fertilize generally once a month. During this period, avoid waterlogging in the pot, which can cause root rot. Sufficient water promotes the healthy growth of the ironclad qilin.

2. The ironclad qilin grows rather slowly, so it does not need much fertilizer. Generally, an appropriate amount of Hyponex No. 2 can be applied during the growing season to supply nutrients to the plant. However, during the high temperatures of summer, if the soil stays dry for too long, nutrients cannot be absorbed.

IV. Temperature

1. The optimal growing temperature for the ironclad qilin is 15-28°C. High summer temperatures accelerate transpiration, so the humidity in the air needs to be appropriately increased.

2. When winter arrives, pay attention to the issue of low temperatures. The ironclad qilin can tolerate low temperatures of around 10°C, but when the temperature is too low, the potting soil must be kept dry to avoid frost damage or freezing injury to the plant.

3. The ironclad qilin has a rather unusual shape, and its stem is not as spiny as that of the crown of thorns, so it does not need direct strong light, making it very suitable for growing in a bright, well-ventilated spot indoors.

V. Light

1. When the ironclad qilin has grown 2-3 leaves, the plastic film can be removed. High temperatures and strong light accelerate transpiration, so it needs to be placed in a bright, well-ventilated spot for care.

2. The ironclad qilin does not grow very fast. It takes about 1 year to grow a spherical stem, and only afterwards does it slowly grow black diamond-shaped tumor-like growths.