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Pencil Cactus

4.8 out of 5 (20 experiences)

Fast grower

Survivor

About Pencil Cactus

Plants in the Euphorbia genus have poisonous, milky, white, latex-like sap so be sure to keep them far from curious pets and children ⚠️ You may hear them referred to as cacti, but they're actually completely unrelated! They belong to a group of plants known as spurges.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Euphorbia tirucalli

Genus

Euphorbia

Family

Euphorbiaceae

Order

Malpighiales

Also known as

Red Pencil Tree, Sticks on Fire and Firesticks

How to care for Pencil Cactus

💦 Water

How often to water your Pencil Cactus

Pencil Cactus needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Pencil Cactus in your home

Pencil Cactus love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Pencil Cactus does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Pencil Cactus in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Pencil Cactus

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Pencil Cactus: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Pencil Cactus after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Euphorbia

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Pencil Cactus is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

Common Pencil Cactus Problems →

💦 Water Needs

Pencil Cactus thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Pencil Cactus Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Pencil Cactus requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Pencil Cactus is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. Pencil Cactus is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

Is Pencil Cactus Edible? →

Pencil Cactus Toxicity to Cats →

Pencil Cactus Toxicity to Dogs →

Pencil Cactus Toxicity to Humans →

💨 Humidity

Pencil Cactus enjoys lots of humidity. Provide humidity for your plant by watering regularly and thoroughly, since plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves. They may also benefit from being placed next to a humidifier.

🪴 Soil

Pencil Cactus is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!

What Are Healthy Pencil Cactus Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Pencil Cactus grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Pencil Cactus to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.

🌎 Native Region

Pencil Cactus is native to Worldwide.

🌸 Flowers

Yes, you may see your Pencil Cactus bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.

Is Pencil Cactus an Annual Plant? →

Is Pencil Cactus a Perennial Plant? →

Common Pencil Cactus Flower Problems →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Pencil Cactus grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Pencil Cactus Lifecycle →

Pencil Cactus Size Guide →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Pencil Cactus can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Pencil Cactus Hardiness Zones →

Is Pencil Cactus a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Pencil Cactus can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

Common Bugs Affecting Pencil Cactus →

What Eats Pencil Cactus? →

😖 Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Pencil Cactus. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

Care Summary for Pencil Cactus

Pencil Cactus

Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 12 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Fast grower 10

Survivor 9

Easy to propagate 5

Large, lush leaves 1

Blooms easily 1

@@dana.yelee

4 Plants

74 XP

Auckland

11/28/2021

This little guy is a trooper! Grows so easily and very easy to maintain

Fast grower

Easy to propagate

Survivor

Pencil Cactus plant photo by @dana.yelee named Fury on Greg, the plant care app.

@@AshinByAlex

66 Plants

4,630 XP

Vallejo, CA

07/14/2021

Stuck a stick in the dirt and it gave me more sticks.

Pencil Cactus plant photo by @AshinByAlex named Lebron on Greg, the plant care app.

@@lesliemalkowski

20 Plants

306 XP

Nashville, TN

06/03/2021

Easy to care for.

Pencil Cactus plant photo by @lesliemalkowski named Spike Leaves on Greg, the plant care app.

@Matt

8 Plants

91 XP

Wrightsville Beach, NC

06/01/2021

Shit is dope son

Large, lush leaves

Survivor

Fast grower

Pencil Cactus plant photo by Matt named Reef on Greg, the plant care app.

@@egotopia

66 Plants

9,716 XP

Jacksonville, FL

05/19/2021

Give this guy the light it needs and it’ll be growing little baby fingers in no time

Fast grower

Pencil Cactus plant photo by @egotopia named Euphorbia tirucalli “Pencil Dick” on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Joel

4 Plants

100 XP

East Lansing, MI

02/12/2021

I have had experience with many different varieties of pencil cactus. They are all extremely hardy. Sometimes it can be tricky to figure out the best propagation method, but once you have that down, you can multiply your plant without limit. With a proper pot and lighting, it will grow as large as the room you keep it in. My oldest plant reached the ceiling (about 8’) from a 3” propagation after about 8 years. I have a variety of other pencil cactuses. One is about 18 months old and about 3 feet tall. They don’t grow much in the winter unless you have a grow light. There is such a thing as too much light, but they are usually happy in spurts of direct sunlight. They don’t need much water, but they can handle quite a bit as long as they have proper lighting. Repot whenever the growing lulls during the growing season to keep it happy.

Easy to propagate

Fast grower

Survivor