After All These Years… I Finally Learned How to Grow Euphorbia Obesa Right 🌵⚾
Have you ever had a Euphorbia Obesa—also known as the Baseball Plant—for years and it still doesn’t look like that perfectly round, rust-speckled gem you see in collector posts?
Same here.
Until recently, I didn’t realize I was doing it all wrong. Growing Euphorbia Obesa isn’t hard—but growing it right, with that iconic plump, perfectly-striped body and those mesmerizing "rust spots", takes a little know-how. And today, I’m sharing all of it. Let’s level up our Obesa game! 💪
What Is Euphorbia Obesa, Anyway?
Euphorbia Obesa is a rare succulent from the Euphorbiaceae family. It's a single-stemmed, spherical plant with:
- A greyish-green surface crisscrossed by reddish-brown stripes
- Soft, rounded ribs with tiny, brown tooth-like notches
- Tiny yellow-green flowers in summer (Yes, it blooms!)
- Male and female plants (the females are slightly more flattened; males are more cylindrical)
The Secret to a Perfectly Round Baseball 🌐
Let’s get one thing straight: the round, chubby shape comes down to genetics. If your Obesa has the "round genes", you're halfway there. But if it’s looking a bit… squashed or uneven, then lighting and care play a huge role.
Here’s the trick:
Controlled sun exposure is the secret sauce.
- Bright light helps it stay plump and firm.
- Keep rotating your plant once a week if it’s on a windowsill or balcony—otherwise, it will lean and grow lopsided toward the light. Plants are little sun chasers, after all.
Let’s Talk About Those Gorgeous “Rust Spots” 🌞
This might blow your mind:
The spots most people call “rust” are not a disease. ❌
They're actually scars left by flowers. After Euphorbia Obesa blooms, the flower site scars over, creating what we lovingly call the “rusty texture.” The more sun it gets, the more pronounced (and beautiful) these patterns become.
So if you’re chasing that rare, aged look?
☀️ Give it more sunshine. It’s all about embracing the scars.
Pro Tips for Happy, Healthy Euphorbia Obesa 🔧
- Sun: As much as possible without burning it. A bright south-facing spot works wonders.
- Rotate weekly: Keeps it growing symmetrically.
- Root pruning: If you're repotting, use a precision blade (like an X-Acto knife). Trim all fine roots, and if you find thick ones, leave just 0.5–1cm to encourage new growth.
- Don’t overwater: This is a desert plant. Treat it like one.
Grow Your Obesa, Grow Your Joy 🌱
At the end of the day, growing Euphorbia Obesa is a journey. From understanding its real needs to celebrating the unique marks of its growth—every scar, every stripe tells a story.
So here’s to your next chapter with Euphorbia Obesa:
Rounder, tougher, and more beautiful than ever. Shop Here: Happy growing, plant friends!