The spit palm (Euphorbia leuconeura), sometimes called the “Madagascar jewel,” is a member of the spurge family. The pretty plant with broad, large leaves is very popular as a houseplant, but requires a lot of light and warmth. By the way, the spit palm doesn't have its funny name for nothing: after flowering and fruit ripening, it practically "spits" the seeds away so far that many a pot gardener has been surprised to see miniature versions in other flower pots.
How do you properly care for the spit palm?
The spit palm (Euphorbia leuconeura) is an attractive houseplant from Madagascar that requires lots of light and warmth. It is poisonous and can cause irritation if it comes into contact with the skin. Care includes moderate watering, fertilizing, repotting and a bright location without direct sunlight.
Origin
The stem-forming and unbranched growing spit palm is native to Madagascar. The “eighth continent” off the African east coast is known for its we alth of numerous animal and plant species that only exist here and nowhere else. An estimated 80 percent of Malagasy flora and fauna are endemic, i.e. H. unique and native only to Madagascar. The spit palm, sometimes also available under the name “jumping palm”, also belongs to this illustrious circle.
Usage
The spit palm is cultivated exclusively as a houseplant in this country. Only in the summer months can the plant be moved outside to a protected place on very warm days.
Growth and size
The species grows as a shrub, but forms a succulent, angular trunk. Thanks to this, the plant is perfectly adapted to the hot and dry climate of its African homeland and should also be cultivated indoors when it is dry and warm. In its natural habitat, the spit palm reaches a height of up to 180 centimeters, but when grown in pots it usually remains significantly smaller with an average height of between 40 and 100 centimeters. The reason for this is the taproot, which naturally cannot develop too deeply in a planter. But this is a prerequisite for size growth. The trunk is dark green and measures no more than five centimeters in diameter.
As a rule, the plant grows unbranched and quite sparsely, but there is a little trick that can be used to encourage the development of secondary shoots: To do this, score the trunk in several places with a sharp, clean knife, making the shallow cuts approximately should be one centimeter long. Additional secondary trunks with leaves grow from this, making the spit palm appear more lush. However, this method only works if the spit palm is at least 50 centimeters high.
However, be sure to wear gloves when cutting, as the milky juice that comes out is poisonous.
Bloom and flowering time
Usually during the winter months, Euphorbia leuconeura forms greenish-white, very small cyathia in the leaf axils. These are inconspicuous, cup-shaped false flowers that are characteristic of the spurge family. The spit palm is self-pollinating, so it does not need another plant for pollination.
leaves
Similar to a conventional palm tree, the leaves, which are up to 15 centimeters long, grow like a propeller in the upper trunk area. They form a kind of roof there. The individual, dark green leaves have a leathery feel. The finely drawn, white-colored leaf veins look particularly pretty. Don't worry if the spit palm sheds some or even many of its leaves in the winter. This is a completely natural behavior because the plant is now going into hibernation. With spring, Euphorbia leuconeura sprouts again from the top.
Fruits
If the flowers are fertilized, small capsule fruits form. As soon as they are ripe, they literally explode and throw the spherical and dark brown seeds inside up to several meters away.
Poisonous
Like all spurge plants, the spit palm is highly poisonous. Basically, all parts of the plant contain toxic ingredients (including triterpene saponins and diterpene esters), but the milky sap is particularly dangerous. This occurs when the plant is injured even slightly and can lead to skin irritation, allergic reactions and even severe eczema. If plant parts are eaten, it can be fatal. For this reason, the spit palm should under no circumstances be cultivated in households with small children and/or pets such as cats and dogs.
Cats in particular are known to enjoy nibbling on houseplants. Unfortunately, animals' natural instincts often fail, meaning they do not recognize poisonous plants such as the spit palm as such.
When handling the spit palm and when carrying out care work such as repotting or pruning, you should always act carefully and wear protective gloves and, if necessary, safety glasses.
Location
As a location, Euphorbia leuconeura prefers a bright and warm place without drafts. The plant cannot tolerate direct sunlight and often reacts to it with sunburn. The plant thrives directly on the window sill, as long as the window is not directly facing south and can be shaded during midday if necessary. Since the plant can grow comparatively quite large, sooner or later the space on the windowsill will become too tight. Now it can stand on a piece of furniture or directly on the floor, as long as it is bright enough and - very important - not cold.
During the warm summer months, the spit palm feels most comfortable at 20 to 24 °C. In winter, however, it enters a phase of rest during which it likes to be much cooler at temperatures between 12 and 14 °C. A slightly heated and therefore cool bedroom is now the important location. If relocation is not possible (for example because the spit palm is in the only room that is not accessible to the cat/dog), Euphorbia leuconeura can survive the winter months in normally heated rooms and without suffering major damage.
It is also important to regularly rotate the pot when cultivating this plant, as the spit palm aligns itself very quickly with the sun and would grow crooked without this measure.
Soil / Substrate
Commercially available soil for cacti or houseplants is ideal. However, this must be free of peat, as the spit palm reacts very sensitively to it. Unfortunately, many substrate mixtures - especially the cheap ones from the supermarket - contain cheap peat, which is why you should take a close look at the composition before buying.
Good and inexpensive potting soil, which is not only suitable for the spit palm, but can be mixed yourself with little effort. All you need is:
50 percent coconut fiber, let it swell in a bucket of water
20 percent compost soil, high quality
15 percent fine sand, e.g. B. Play sand15 percent vermiculite or perlite, alternatively potting soil (peat-free of course!)
This creates a loose soil that can store water well and, due to its permeability, helps prevent waterlogging. Exactly important for a succulent plant like the spit palm.
Pouring
Euphorbia leuconeura does not tolerate waterlogging at all and should therefore be watered carefully. As a rule, it is sufficient to water the plant once or twice a week, or less often during the winter months, with well-stagnant tap water. Additional watering may only be necessary during very hot and dry summer months. Remove excess water from the planter or saucer immediately and ensure good drainage in the pot. A drainage hole at the bottom of the pot should not be missing; this should be protected from muddying and clogging with pottery shards.
Even if the spit palm doesn't like waterlogging, its substrate should not dry out. You can use a finger test to check when it is the right time to water again. In general, the potting soil must be superficially dry before you use the watering can again. However, it is difficult to make concrete statements about the frequency and amount of water required, as these variables depend on location, temperature and season.
Fertilize
Ideal for the needs-based supply of nutrients is commercially available cactus fertilizer (€6.00 on Amazon), which you can give the Madagascar jewel about every six weeks together with the irrigation water. Fertilization is only carried out between April and September; in the second half of the year the plant is practically in hibernation and does not need any fertilization during this time. The only exception to this rule is if you cultivate the spit palm warm all year round and do not keep it cold. In this case, the rest phase is canceled and the plant must continue to be cared for as in summer.
Cutting
It's best if you leave the spit palm alone and don't cut around it. You can only stimulate branching by scoring the trunk. However, if the plant has become too large for you, you can still cut it back. However, be sure to wear gloves and old clothing when doing this and avoid splashing your face and especially your eyes! The best time for pruning depends on whether the plant should continue to grow more or less strongly - and what you plan to do with the cuttings.
Euphorbia leuconeura cut in autumn slows down its growth, while cutting in spring stimulates growth.
Propagate
In nature, the spit palm reproduces almost exclusively via seeds. Even in captivity, seed propagation practically works by itself. Collect the tiny seeds and put them in small pots with growing substrate. If kept warm and moist – ideally in a greenhouse or similar – they will germinate quickly. You can make it even easier for yourself if you position a few pots with growing substrate around the flowering spit palm: seeds that fall in here grow into strong plants almost by themselves. However, if you want, you can put the cuttings as cuttings in a pot with potting soil and keep them well moist. With a bit of luck, the parts of the plant will take root and a new, strong palm tree will develop from it.
Caution: Like all parts of the plant, the seeds are of course poisonous and should therefore be carefully collected in households with children or pets.
Transplanting / Repotting
Repot the spit palm about every two to three years, ideally in fresh substrate and in a larger pot. Only then will it reach the possible height of around one meter. You can be generous when choosing a pot, because the new planter should be two to three sizes larger, at least for younger plants. The project works best if you move the plant directly after winter rest. At this point, new leaf growth begins so that Euphorbia leuconeura can draw new strength from the substrate.
Wintering
During the winter months you should cultivate the spit palm at 12 to 14 °C in a bright but not drafty place and neither fertilize nor water excessively during this time. If the plant drops its leaves, this is normal and not an indication of disease. The leaves will sprout fresh in spring.
However, all of these measures are not absolutely necessary, as Euphorbia leuconeura overwinters well and without damage even in a warm environment - as long as you continue to water and fertilize it. The lighting supply must also be secured in the dark season. If your spit palm often stands on the balcony or terrace in summer, bring it into the house in good time: so that the plant feels comfortable, the outside temperature should not fall below 12 °C.
Diseases and pests
The spit palm is considered to be very robust and resilient. The only thing that bothers it is watering it too often and/or too much, and over time it will develop rot. But dry periods that are too long are also harmful and also lead to the death of the plant. So make sure that the soil is neither wet nor dry.
Yellow spots on the leaves are a clear indication that the location is too sunny, as this is sunburn. Move the spit palm to another, less exposed location.
No other diseases or more common pests are known.
Tip
If possible, do not cultivate the spit palm alone, but rather with several members of the same species. Maybe you would also like to create a kind of “Madagascar corner” in your apartment. In this you can arrange typical Malagasy houseplants such as the Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), the Madagascar palm (Pachypodium lamerei), the golden leaf palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) or the Madagascar jasmine (Stephanotis floribunda).
Varieties
Various varieties of Euphorbia leuconeura are basically not known. However, there are numerous other spurge plants, some of which look quite similar and are also easy to keep indoors:
- Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima): popular and well-known representative of the spurge family, native to South America
- Magic snow (Euphorbia hypericifolia 'Diamond Frost'): flowering plant for indoor, balcony or bed cultivation
- Coral cactus (Euphorbia lactea 'Cristata'): very unusual, comb-like growth form that is created by grafting
- Christmas thorn (Euphorbia milii): very pretty flowering but thorny plant
- Crown spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites): also myrtle-leaved spurge, ideal for rock gardens or pots thanks to its flat growth
- “Baseball spurge” (Euphorbia obesa): spherical spurge plant with pretty, yellow flowers
- Pencil bush or pencil tree (Euphorbia tirucalli): also rubber hedge or milk bush, very characteristic growth form
- Devil's Backrat (Euphorbia tithymaloides): often incorrectly sold in stores as “Green Lightning Bamboo”
- Columnar euphorbia (Euphorbia trigona): characteristic, tightly upright, columnar growth with many lateral shoots
The spurge plants listed are native to different continents, but all have similar needs in terms of location, substrate and care.
