Pencil Cactus Care Guide

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Genus: Euphorbia

Botanical Name: Euphorbia tirucalli

Difficulty: Very low-maintenance

Light

Your pencil cactus will thrive in full sun. They need at least 6 hours of sunlight a day, but they will tolerate a little bit of shade throughout the day. They’re ideal home would be in your brightest window!

Water

Don’t panic if you can never remember to water your plants. These guys only need to be watered a few times a month during the growing season and only once a month during the cooler months.

Climate

Your cactus will want to be kept in a warmer area that stays around 65°-75°F and should not drop below 50°F. Despite their love for warmer temperatures, they prefer lower humidity levels.

Soil

Keep them in a sandy, well-drained soil to keep their roots healthy. They don’t need a very nutrient rich soil, so you can fertilize your pencil cactus annually in the spring.

Pests and Diseases

They don’t usually have problems with pests or disease, but can become infested with mealybugs or get root rot from overwatering.

Tips

• Prune off dead stems as needed to keep your cactus looking nice and healthy.

• Their sap is considered toxic, so wear protective gloves and watch your eyes when working with them.

• Don’t trim the layer too much or your plant might tumble over.

Signs your cactus is unhappy

• Red tips: too much sun

• Soggy soil: too much water

How to Propagate

Before you start going in with scissors, you should put on a thick pair of gloves to protect your skin from the sap of your pencil cactus. Then, you can choose a section of new growth (about 4-6 inches long) and snip it off at where it meets the stem with a pair of sharp, sterilized scissors. Rinse off any sap that may ooze out, and then leave it out to dry until callouses have formed on the end. Once you notice these callouses, you can just plant it into a little pot of damp sand or cactus mix. You will want to keep the potting mix moist until it starts to show new growth.

Fun Facts

· Pencil cacti kept outdoors can grow up to 30 feet tall!

· If kept inside, they can grow up so 6 feet tall.

· This cactus is actually a type of shrub.

· They are VERY fast growers.

· They’re nicknamed “sticks of fire” because their tips can turn pink in the winter.

Hardiness Zones

Before you move your plant outside, be sure to check the hardiness zone to save yourself some grief and the loss of a beloved plant.

The hardiness zones Pencil Cacti are : 9a-10a

If you live in Tennessee, here’s a hardiness map to help you decide if your plant can survive outside!