Advice on growing/growing on Euphorbias

Nollie

Are they quite slow to get going?

Here are some Euphorbia Polychroma Bonfire that I have just received. They are meant to form dense cushions 30cm high x 40cm wide, but are rather sorry looking plants. Not helped by the fact that most of the soil had fallen out of the pots and although the crowns were moist, the roots were very dry. I know they don’t like a lot of water, but am currently rehydrating the roots:



My question is, should I...

a) plant them straight out, given my conditions are now mild enough to do so, in the hope they bulk up enough to provide the shade for the foliage of some geums, as planned,

or

b) grow them on in pots until they bulk up (maybe for a season?) and find something else to temporarily shade the foliage of the geums, which I understand can frazzle in hot sun like mine.

If anyone grows E. Polychroma, or any other euphorbias, I would really appreciate a steer.

TIA

UpNorth

Hi Nollie.   I would definitely nurse them along for three to six months before even considering planting out and yes next year maybe a better plan.  Although that does depend if you think you will be able to attend to them!   should they be more like my Eurphorbias, and much more upright in growth...maybe that's a different growth habit.

i wonder if they're just cuttings growing on?  if so the soil might be low in nutrient  ....maybe it's time to see what roots they have and provide a more balanced soil, free draining ( a quick read says this variety is pretty drought tolerant)

i have done three cuttings myself this year of Wolfeneii (full sun) and two remain okay and currently being helped with some bottom heat...but it's stems are very much more upright than yours....and i have all the Robbiae we can handle, it spreads by rhizome like mad.

if anyone has any E. x pasteuriii or E. Mellifera experiences please discuss, i'm keen to get hold of these two but unclear on their requirements (full sun/sandy soil okay?)

Nollie

Thanks upnorth, these are the original 9cm pots from the nursery, topped up with some fresh compost to replace the stuff spilt all over the packaging. They have been grown from plug plants and potted on as I could see the mesh surrounding the plugs inside the pots, so yes probably struck from cuttings. There are roots growing out of the bottom, so they definitely need potting on into larger pots with a gritty compost at the least.

They are meant to be low, dense cushion form, not upright like your Wolfeneii, but I have no idea how slow or otherwise they will fill out...

Loxley

They're probably not going to provide much shade for your geums, as they're cushiony sort of things. They also fade a bit after flowering. If you can think of a good permanent home for them I'd stick them in the ground now, you could plant something that will take over from them later in the season.

Nollie

Hmm, thanks Will, I might have to rethink then. I believe it is just the foliage that is in danger of crisping and the flowers are ok in full sun (they are short ones, Geum Fire Storm) and I thought the 30cm but reasonably dense height of the euphorbias would do it, but probably not anytime soon by the look of them! 

The bed is orange and lemon colours, oh dear, what to plant there that will grow fast enough...