Re: Red Colour in a Euphorbia (was no subject>)

Catherine Ratner wrote:

Can anyone tell me what are the conditions that promote red coloration in
Euphorbia tirucalli "Sticks on Fire"?  Mine is a small plant in a brown
bonsai pot, never fed, watered infrequently.  It is healthy and growing
slowly, but has never been as red as when I bought it about two and a half
years ago.  It was suggested that heat brings out the redness, but I think
that can't be true as it has just experienced over two months of unremitting
heat.  My hunch is that it is full sun and some degree of cold, but I bought
it in San Diego, so how cold could it have been?!

Cathy
Quite a lot of plants go purple for in cold weather and this at a guess
I would say is because of a restricted uptake of phosphorus at that time. With the return of warmer conditions they then revert to a more normal green.

Bright red shades, on the other hand, are often a reaction to high sunlight and very likely help to protect the tissues from excessive UV radiation. I don't think cold usually plays any part in this.

Sunshine, with or without a great deal of heat might be the answer to your problem.

Moira

--
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ. Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm

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