how do you take care of euphorbia tirucalli

How do you kill Euphorbia Tirucalli?

• Cut straight through the main stem using lopping shears or a pruning saw, a few inches above soil level. You may need to...
• Spray cool water on the exposed cuts to stop or delay the sap flow.
• Place the cut plant on a firm surface away from the soil for one or two days to allow the sap to drain and the wound to...

Full Answer

How do you take care of Euphorbia pencil cactus?

Euphorbia plants are quite adapted to limited fertility environments, and care of pencil cactus requires only one fertilization in spring. Full sun and temperatures of at least 65 F. (18 C.) or warmer are necessary when learning how to care for a pencil cactus. Pencil cactus is easy to grow.

What is Euphorbia tirucalli?

Euphorbia tirucalli, or pencil cactus, is a tropical plant that may become 30 feet (9 m.) tall in habitat. The stems are slender and slightly toothed with no obvious foliage.

How do you care for a firestick plant?

Firestick Plants do best in full sun or partial shade when grown outdoors. When grown indoors, these plants are definitely considered high-light plants. Firestick plant should be placed next to a south-facing or west-facing window when grown indoors. To ensure that all of the stems are receiving sun exposure, rotate the pot every couple of months.

How do I know if my Euphorbia is a firestick?

If your Euphorbia tirucalli remains green when exposed to a season of direct, summer light, you have the green type of Firestick. This is good to know because Euphorbia tirucalli matures into a tree while Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Rosea’ grows into a bush. Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Rosea’ needs exposure to sunlight to turn orange/red.

How do you grow Euphorbia Tirucalli?

Euphorbia Tirucalli needs plenty of sunlight to survive and thrive. When growing the plant indoors, choose the brightest area in the house to place your plant. Generally speaking, a plant like this that requires a lot of light will do well in a south facing window where it can get the most sun.

How do you prune Euphorbia Tirucalli?

0:403:02How to Prune a Pencil Cactus : Gardening With Flowers & SucculentsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you're going to want to go around your plant. And do that and it also grows very densely in theMoreAnd you're going to want to go around your plant. And do that and it also grows very densely in the middle. So you so you might want to thin it out in the in the middle.

Can a pencil cactus survive indoors?

Pencil Cactus is easy to care for, both in the garden and as a houseplant.

How tall does Euphorbia Tirucalli grow?

20-30' tallEuphorbia tirucalli, commonly known under a large number of common names including Indian tree spurge, milk bush, pencil tree, finger tree, aveloz or petroleum plant, is a dioecious, single to multiple trunked, succulent, cactus-like, milky-sapped tree that typically matures to 20-30' tall with a spread to 10' wide.

Can I cut the top off my cactus?

Almost all the material you remove is salvageable except for diseased or dead stems and leaves. Pads will root if laid on top of soil and develop into a new plant of the same species. Cut stems and trunks should be allowed to callus at the end for several days and then can be planted to create new cactus.

When should I trim my fire stick?

Best time to trim euphorbias is during the dry season. After winter and spring rains, the plants may become engorged with sap that may squirt when limbs are cut.

Do pencil cactus like to be root bound?

It should be about 1 to 3 inches wider than the circumference of the root ball. The pencil cactus thrives when it is slightly pot bound, according to Master Gardener Linda MacPhee-Cobb of Herself's Houseplants.

How do you know when to water a pencil cactus?

If the soil feels slightly moist and you are unsure whether or not to water, the safest bet is to wait and check back in a few days. The Pencil Cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli) — also commonly called milk bush due to its thick, white sap — is native to semi-arid tropical regions of Africa and India.

How do you make a pencil cactus turn red?

If you give your Pencil cactus more water than it needs then it doesn't turn red. Your plant also doesn't turn red if it doesn't get enough sun. Try to put your sun in bright, intense sunlight. Just water your plant only when it demands some.

How poisonous is Euphorbia tirucalli?

tirucalli is extremely irritating to the skin and mucosa and is toxic. Exposure to it can cause temporary blindness. Skin contact causes severe irritation, redness and a burning sensation. If ingested, it can cause burns to the mouth, lips and tongue.

How do you care for a Euphorbia plant?

How to Plant EuphorbiaChoose a well-draining location. As a plant that needs sufficient water drainage, euphorbia grows best where water runs downhill. ... Plant euphorbia in the spring. ... Use sandy, well-draining soil. ... Plant euphorbia in ample sunlight. ... Choose a clay pot.

What happens if you touch a Firestick plant?

Skin contact can cause swelling, severe burning, itching and a serious rash that can result in blisters causing the skin to peel off. If your skin comes in contact with Pencil Plant sap, you should sluice the area with cool water right away. Take great care not to wash the sap onto another part of your body.

Can I cut back a pencil cactus?

Conclusion: Pencil Cactus grow fast and are forgiving when it comes to pruning. You can prune them lightly or heavier as I did. Just mind the sticky sap and give your pruners a good cleaning before and after pruning. They're easy to grow and are a fun plant to have in your collection!

How do you cut fire stick plants?

1:132:47How-to Propagate Firesticks - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd what you're going to do is simply take a cutting. I'm using garden scissors. Make sure you don'tMoreAnd what you're going to do is simply take a cutting. I'm using garden scissors. Make sure you don't use kitchen scissors and once you wash them first because these will drip a milky white SAP.

How do you prune a pencil Bush?

0:221:33Sky Pencil Holly , Pruning technique - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIs you go inside the center you see all the stops in the middle. You go in here. And you cut themMoreIs you go inside the center you see all the stops in the middle. You go in here. And you cut them out like this you don't want to cut the top off. You just want to go inside the shrub.

How do you cut a pencil cactus?

Propagating the Pencil CactusUsing pruning shears, take a cutting of a green branch around 6 inches long.Dip it in fresh water to stop the flow of sap.Then, allow the cutting to dry for about a week and form a callous over the cut end before potting it in a moist succulent or cactus potting mix.More items...•

How to Propagate Pencil Cactus

You can propagate Pencil Cactus from stem cuttings. Take a cutting that is 4-5 inches (10-12 cm) long from a healthy stem using a sharp and sterilized knife. Gently remove the lower leaves, making sure you have a bare stem of about 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long. Wipe the bottom layer with powdered rooting hormone and let it dry for a week or so.

How to Grow & Care for Pencil Cactus

In the garden, Pencil Cactus takes full or partial sun. Mine gets full sun in the summer but in late fall & early winter is shaded by 2pm. Indoors this is a high light plant – it needs sun & all the natural light you can give it. Make sure it has a south or west exposure.

Pencil Cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli) FAQ

The Pencil cactus succulent, found across San Diego County, is toxic to humans, dogs, and cats worldwide and can cause serious intestinal and skin injury, according to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

How to propagate Euphorbia tirucalli?

Propagating Euphorbia tirucalli. Firesticks can be propagated via stem cuttings. Wear gloves and eye protection when taking a cutting from your Firestick Plant as the milky sap within the stem is a skin irritant. To propagate your Firestick Plant, select a branch comprised of young, healthy growth that is at least six inches long.

What kind of soil should I use for Euphorbia tirucalli?

Best Soil For Euphorbia tirucalli. Like other succulents, Firesticks need to be grown in gritty, well-draining soil. A good soil mix for Firesticks would be comprised of two parts sand, two parts potting soil and one part perlite.

What is the difference between a firestick and a Euphorbia tirucalli?

If your Euphorbia tirucalli remains green when exposed to a season of direct, summer light, you have the green type of Firestick. This is good to know because Euphorbia tirucalli matures into a tree while Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Rosea’ grows into a bush. Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Rosea’ needs exposure to sunlight to turn orange/red.

How cold can firesticks grow?

Firestick plants can also withstand temperatures as high as 100°F for several days.

What is a Calathea medallion?

Calathea roseopicta 'Medallion,' which is commonly referred to as Calathea Medallion, is a houseplant prized for its beautifully patterned, round leaves. Although Calatheas in general...

How to propagate firestick plant?

To propagate your Firestick Plant, select a branch comprised of young, healthy growth that is at least six inches long. Younger stems will have a more intense red color. Make a clean cut with a sharp knife. Run water over the cutting until the flow or white sap stops.

Where does Euphorbia tirucalli grow?

Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Rosea’ is a cultivar of Euphorbia tirucalli. Euphorbia tirucalli is a succulent that grows in semi-arid climates. This plant grows in black clay soils within Africa with Euphorbia tirucalli being prominently present in northeastern, central, and southern Africa.

How much sun does a pencil cactus need?

Euphorbia plants are quite adapted to limited fertility environments, and care of pencil cactus requires only one fertilization in spring. Full sun and temperatures of at least 65 F. (18 C.) or warmer are necessary when learning how to care for a pencil cactus. Pencil cactus is easy to grow.

Why is eye protection necessary for pencil cactus?

Even eye protection is necessary because the pencil cactus plant produces a toxin that can cause an anaphylactic reaction. In most cases it can be cleared up with antihistamine but occasionally more severe reactions occur and are difficult to clear.

Why is the pencil cactus called Milkbush?

The pencil cactus plant is in the Euphorbia family of succulents. Another common name for the plant is Milkbush due to the cloudy sap it releases when injured. Be cautious when caring for a pencil cactus; the sap is toxic and may cause problems in some people. The pencil cactus needs high levels of light and moderately low moisture.

Is a pencil cactus a good houseplant?

The pencil cactus needs high levels of light and moderately low moisture. It is an excellent houseplant and provides an interesting silhouette. Let’s learn how to grow pencil cactus in your home.

Can pencil cactus be neglected?

A pencil cactus needs very little care and can even be neglected if it’s planted and situated correctly. The soil must be slightly gritty and well draining. The container to use could be an unglazed pot which will allow excess moisture to evaporate.

What is the toxin in Euphorbia?

The toxin in the white sap of the euphorbia is urushiol which is found in a number of related plant species including poison sumac, poison oak, poison ivy, and the Chinese lacquer tree. In Japan and some other Asian countries urushiol oil is used to produce darkly colored lacquerware.

What kind of soil do pencil trees need?

The Pencil Tree lives in poor soils. The Pencil Tree tolerates all types of soils. Use a basic potting soil mix for container grown Pencil Trees. In the landscape, the plant will grow in eroded soils, saline soils and other difficult growing conditions.

How to keep pencil tree from getting too big?

As the Pencil Tree grows, prune the plant to keep it at a desired height. Wear gloves to protect your hands from the milky latex. Cut a stem near a point where the stem branches from the main branch.

How to grow a pencil tree?

Here's how to propagate a Pencil Tree: Plant the cut end of the stem in a small container of potting soil. Water the soil so that the soil is soaked. Allow the plant to slightly dry out (but not completely) while it is growing roots.

How to protect plants from freezing?

During periods of freezing temperatures, the plant will need some protection. Cover plants grown in the landscape with an old sheet. Place stakes around the plant and drape the sheet over the plant so that the sheet does not touch the plant. Bring container-grown plants indoors or cover the plants with a sheet.

Is pencil tree drought tolerant?

This ornamental plant makes an unusual accent as a container plant or when planted as a small hedge. The pencil tree requires little maintenance, is drought tolerant and grows in poor soils. Be careful where you place this plant. Its milky sap irritates the skin and can be toxic when ingested.

Can pencil trees survive without water?

Allow the soil around the roots to dry out before watering. The Pencil Tree is drought tolerant and survives with infrequent watering. Areas with low rainfall are perfect for the Pencil Tree. When this plant gets too much water, the roots will rot.