Propagation
Divide established clumps during early spring.

Note:
Contact with the milky sap may cause skin and eye irritation.


Botanic information
Leaf: The leaves are not produced and the plant photosyntheses through the fluted stems.

Flower: The male and female apetalous flowers are arranged in a cup-shaped involucre-like organ that has small green bracts. The cyathiums are arranged at the end of the branches on short stalks which persist and form the spines on the plant. Each flower eye produces up to 5 peduncles (spines) to 40mm (1?in) long with a central sterile one. They appear during summer.

Fruit: The 3-valve capsule is an explosive schizocarp and contains the numerous seeds that are viable but the plant is commonly reproduced vegetatively to maintain true to type.


Culture
Succulents are easy to care for pot plants and are excellent as children`s first houseplant. They can tolerate a great deal of neglect and mismanagement allowing beginners to tune their horticulture talents.

These plants prefer hot days and cool nights and during winter tolerate temperatures that fall to 4.5şC (40şF). Bright indirect light is essential and if grown in full sun some shade is required.
When watering allow the compost to dry a little before re-watering. Reduce watering during winter to once a month. The soil must be well drained and never allow it to become boggy as this will result in the plant rotting. Misting the leaves is not required and the plants prefer fresh air. Houseplants should be placed near an open window.

When re-potting select a shallow pot that is just larger than the current one and pot up during spring in a loam based gritty potting mix.

General plant symptoms
Stem elongation is normally the result of too much water or lack of light. Rotate the plant to even growth and place in a brighter position.

Brown spotson the leaves is an indication of under-watering, be certain that the soil is well drained and water regular, as succulents require ample moisture during summer.

Defoliation suddenly results from watering with cold water. The plants prefer tepid water or the plant loose leaves from under-watering.