Pencil Cactus Plant
Euphorbia tirucalli
Milk Bush Plant
A Pencil Cactus, Euphorbia tirucalli, is not a cactus plant at all but rather a member of the euphorbia family like a Poinsettia. This unique looking plant, native to Africa and India, is also referred to as Indian Tree Spurge, Naked Lady Plant, Aveloz, Milk Bush Plant, and Petroleum Plant. The green succulent stems of a Pencil Cactus, which are about the width of a pencil, branch upwards in an almost geometrical pattern. This is a very different looking plant that I wouldn’t call beautiful and lush, but it is quite a conversation piece. A Pencil Cactus grows quickly and can reach a height of 10′-15′ outdoors and up to 6′ in an indoor container. Although this is an easy care plant that just needs bright light and a little bit of water to do well, it does have a downside. All parts of these plants are considered poisonous and should be kept away from pets and children. Read more about common houseplants that are poisonous in Don’t Feed Me To Your Cat! A Guide to Poisonous Houseplants
Light
A Pencil Cactus plant requires very bright lightVery few houseplants should be placed in direct sun. High light refers only to bright indirect light since direct sun often burns the leaves of indoor houseplants. An area that is too hot and dry encourages Spider Mites and causes blooms to quickly fade. A northern exposure really doesn't provide enough light for high light plants. These plants need to be placed directly in front of an east-facing window, within 1-3 feet of a west-facing window, and within 5 ft. of a south facing window. A high light area has over 300 ft. candles of light. and can even handle direct morning sun.
Water
During the spring and summer allow the top 50% of the soil to dry out before watering. In the fall & winter water once a month. Pencil Cactus are very drought resistant, so when in doubt, do not water.
Fertilizer
Feed at the beginning of spring and the beginning of summer with a balanced 20-20-20 fertilizerPlants need fertilizer only when they are actively growing. Slow growing plants in low light require very little plant food. Too much fertilizer is worse than not enough. Most plants prefer a water soluble plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Plants that are in bloom or dormant should not be fertilized. Houseplant food contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). A fertilizer containing these elements in equal proportion is considered a balanced plant food. Nitrogen helps in photosynthesis and encourages the growth of leaves and stems. Potassium and phosphorus also help in photosynthesis and aid in root and flower development. Most fertilizers have trace elements of other minerals that are lacking in the soil but are necessary for good plant growth. Fertilizers have a high salt content. If a plant is not producing new leaves and doesn’t absorb the fertilizer, salts build up in the soil. These salts can burn the roots, discolor the leaves, and cause new growth to be small.
at 1/4 the recommended strength.
Temperature
Likes warm temperatures between 65°-70°F (18.3°-21.1°C) during most of the year. In the winter, when resting, a Pencil Cactus prefers cooler temperatures around 50°F (10°C).
Humidity
Basic household humidity
Pests
Mealy BugsLearn how to identify and treat Mealy Bugs, a houseplant pest that leaves sticky, white, cottony residue on houseplants., spider mitesLearn how to identify and treat Spider Mites on plants. This sucking plant pest causes yellow blotchy leaves with a red haze and a gritty feel to them., and AphidsSee a picture, learn to identify, and read about Aphid houseplant pests in the Glossary of Houseplant411.com.. Spray with my " green solutionIf you don't want to use a commercial chemical product to treat plant pest problems try the “Green Solution.” This is a mixture of water, alcohol, biodegradable liquid soap, and mineral oil. Always test any spray on one or two leaves to be sure it won’t damage the plant. Depending upon how severe the infestation is, you can use these ingredients in varying proportions. If there are only a few pests, dip a Q-tip in alcohol and gently swab them off. For a more widespread problem, start by using a spray of warm water mixed with a few tablespoons of biodegradable soap. If that doesn’t cure the problem, make a solution using 8oz. water & 8oz. alcohol, add two tablespoons of biodegradable soap and two tablespoons of mineral oil. Spray all areas of the plant. Use this solution on leathery leafed plants (except palms), never on fuzzy leafed plants like African Violets or Begonias. For palms, omit the alcohol from the Green Solution. Never spray a plant that’s sitting in the sun or one with very dry soil.
" (recipe in Glossary)
Diseases
Pencil cacti are susceptible to phomopsis which is a fungal disease that causes gray “wart like” growths on the stems and root rot due to over watering.
Soil
Use a quick draining succulentLearn the definition of a succulent plant and why they are called a "fat plant." or cactus soil to prevent over- watering.
Pot Size
A pencil cactus grows quickly and becomes quite a tall plant. It needs a good size sturdy pot and may need to be re-potted every year or two. Allow the soil in the pot to totally dry out before moving a Pencil Cactus to a new container.
Pruning
Aggressively prune a Pencil cactus to keep it looking full. Always wear gloves and a long sleeved shirt when pruning the plant to prevent the irritating sap from getting on your skin.
Propagation
A Pencil cactus is easily propagated using stem cuttings.
Poisonous Plant Info
Pencil Cactus are very poisonousPlants are a great addition to homes and offices, but it’s important to know whether your plants are dangerous to children, pets, or even adults. Some plants contain chemicals such as oxalates, solanine, glycosides, or alkaloid lycorine that may cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, swelling and redness of the mouth, throat, and lips, and trouble breathing. Touching parts of certain plants, especially the sap, may cause various skin irritations. The weight and age of the human or pet involved, and the part and amount of plant eaten determine how severe the reaction to the toxins will be. Although plants may be listed as non-toxic, they can still cause individual allergic reactions. If there is any question after a houseplant has been ingested or touched immediately call the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222 The Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants [Paperback]is an excellent reference to keep around if you have young children and pets. plants with a #4 toxicity levelThese are general guidelines that describe how poisonous certain houseplants are. It's possible for an allergic reaction to occur from contact with any houseplant, toxic or non-toxic. If there is ever a concern, call: Poison Control Center: ******1-800-222-1222******
Level #1: Houseplants with low toxicity, may be mildly irritating, especially the sap of the plant.
Level#2: Houseplants with medium to severe toxicity. Eating parts of these houseplants may result in vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, skin irritations, and breathing difficulties.
Level #3: These houseplants are very poisonous. When eaten, especially in large quantities, severe vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, skin irritations, and breathing difficulties can occur.
Level #4: These houseplants are extremely poisonous. Eating parts of these houseplants can be be life threatening.
Every plant listed in our Popular HousePlant guide has a section explaining whether or not it is poisonous and, if so, how poisonous. Amaryllis, alocasia, dieffenbachias, crotons, ivies, azaleas, lilies, and philodendrons are just a few of the highly poisonous plants we use in our homes and offices all of the time. If you don't know whether your houseplant is poisonous, go to Ask Judy on the HousePlant411.com website, send her a picture of your plant, and she'll let you know if the houseplant should be kept away from small children and pets.
See colorful pictures and get more information about poisonous houseplants in
Don’t Feed Me To Your Cat! A Guide to Poisonous Houseplants
. The stems contain an irritating sap-like substance that oozes out of any cut or break in the stem. Not only should you wear gloves when working with a Pencil cactus , but you should wash your hands thoroughly with soap after removing the gloves. You don’t want to risk getting sap in your eyes or mouth.
How do I propagate my Pencil Cactus Plant? When I use stem cuttings, the ends of the stem cuttings always get soft and mushy and die.
After taking a stem cutting from a Pencil Cactus Plant for propagationLearn how to propagate plants by plant division at https://www.houseplant411.com/glossary, dip the cut end of the stem in fresh water to stop the flow of the latex, sap. Allow the cut end of the stem to dry out for a week until it forms a callous on the tip. When the Pencil Cactus cutting is ready, pot the cutting in moist sand or in some cactus soil.
I re-potted my wonderful Pencil Cactus Plant and now it seems to be dying. What happened?
Repotting a Pencil Cactus Plant is a little tricky because of the danger of root rot due to over-watering. You should only re-pot a Pencil Cactus Plant when it is really necessary and then only during the warm months. Be sure the soil is very dry before you start, then gently remove the Pencil Cactus from its pot. Brush off the soil from the roots and remove any dead roots. If you accidentally make any cuts in the stems of the Pencil Cactus, immediately treat them with a FungicideFungicides are chemical compounds that are used to kill or inhibit fungi or fungal spores. Fungi can cause serious damage to your houseplants.. Put the Pencil Cactus in its new container and spread out the roots. Fill in around the roots of the Pencil Cactus with moist succulentLearn the definition of a succulent plant and why they are called a "fat plant." or cactus soil. Allow the soil in the pot to dry-out for a week or so, then begin to water lightly to reduce the risk of root rot. Since the Pencil Cactus is in a larger pot, it will take longer to try out.
The cute little leaves at the ends of the stems of my Pencil Cactus keep dropping off. Is this okay?
The leaves on the stems of a Pencil cactus Plant naturally fall off very quickly. You are not doing anything wrong. A Pencil Cactus usually just has its long thin cylindrical succulentLearn the definition of a succulent plant and why they are called a "fat plant." stems.
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