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A drawing of a pencil cactus with green and orange stems on a beige background.

Pencil Cactus

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Euphorbia tirucalli

KNOWN AS: Indian Tree Spurge, Pencil Tree, Milk Bush, Fire Sticks, Sticks on Fire, Aveloz

CLIMATE (LOCATION): Africa & India | Tropical (semi-arid)

DESCRIPTION: This plant looks like it belongs in a coral reef. It has a lot of stems and branches that are all the same thickness. This is why it is called pencil cactus. But another name for it is fire sticks. This is because the stems can change color from green to yellow, orange, and pink!

Easy difficulty & pet toxic

Pencil Cactus Plant Care

Lighting

Light Requirement: Full Sun (Bright Direct Light) & High Light (Bright Indirect Light)

Pencil cacti thrive in bright, indirect light. They can tolerate some direct sunlight, especially during the morning hours when the light is not as strong. However, too much direct sunlight can scorch their leaves and cause damage. To provide the ideal light conditions for your pencil cactus, place it near a bright window with filtered sunlight, such as a south or west-facing window with a sheer curtain. Alternatively, you can use a LED grow light to supplement the natural light, especially during the winter months when the sunlight is weaker.

Discover Our Grow Lights

BEST SELLER
White Soltech Aspect Gen 2 Hanging over Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant with a Teal background.
White Soltech Aspect Gen 2 Hanging over Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant with a Teal background.
Aspect™ Gen 2 LED Growlight
$290.00 CAD

Color:

White Black
A white Soltech Vita displayed against a yellow background with a wicker object and a green leaf in the backdrop.
A white Soltech Vita displayed against a yellow background with a wicker object and a green leaf in the backdrop.
Vita™ Grow Light
$123.00 CAD

Color:

White / Wide (60°) Black / Wide (60°)
A white Soltech Highland on the Highland Track Light System mounted on a rail, with a backdrop of an orange wall and green foliage.
A white Soltech Highland on the Highland Track Light System mounted on a rail, with a backdrop of an orange wall and green foliage.
Highland™ LED Track Light System
$333.00 CAD - $1,071.00 CAD

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White / 1 light / Narrow (36 Degrees) Black / 1 light / Narrow (36 Degrees)
A Black Soltech Grove positioned on a table with a plant in the background, illustrating the product's use for indoor plants.
A Black Soltech Grove positioned on a table with a plant in the background, illustrating the product's use for indoor plants.
Grove™ LED Grow Light
$189.00 CAD

Color:

Black White

Watering

Quick Tip: Allow soil to completely dry out before watering.

Wait until the earth is completely dry before watering a pencil cactus. Give the plant a thorough soak in water up until water begins to drain out of the pot's bottom. Use a pot with drainage holes to let any extra water to drain. Before watering again, let the soil entirely dry up. Depending on the temperature and humidity in your home, this could take one to several weeks. Reduce watering even more in the winter because the plant is dormant at this time. A plant's leaves or stem should not be exposed to water as this could cause them to rot. It's preferable to err on the side of caution and submerge if in question because pencil cactus are tough plants that don't require a lot of water and are more likely to die from overwatering than from underwatering.

Temperature

Preferred Temperature: 60º - 85º

The pencil cactus is a succulent plant that grows in tropical and subtropical areas. It does best when the daytime temperature is between 60 and 85°F (16 and 29°C) and the nighttime temperature is at least 50°F (10°C). It can handle higher temperatures, but you should keep the plant away from temperatures below 40°F (4°C) or it could get hurt. Pencil cactus likes it dry and can handle low humidity, but it's important not to overwater it because it can get root rot if you do. It's also important to give the plant bright, indirect light instead of direct sunlight, which can burn the leaves.

Humidity

Preferred Humidity: 30 - 40%; Low Humidity

Pencil cactus plants do best in dry places, so too much moisture can actually hurt their growth. Having said that, keeping humidity at a moderate level can be helpful, especially if you live in a dry area or are growing your pencil cactus inside. To do this, you could put a small humidifier near your plant or spray its leaves with distilled water from a spray bottle. Just don't do too much because too much water can cause mold and other problems. Drainage is another important thing to think about. Pencil cacti don't like getting too much water, so it's important to make sure their soil drains well and that any extra water can flow out of the pot. This can help stop root rot and other problems caused by too much water. Think about where you want to put your pencil cactus. These plants do best in bright, indirect light, so putting them near a sunny window or under a grow light can help them grow well. Just make sure to keep the plant away from direct sunlight, which can burn the leaves and hurt the plant.

Additional Plant Care

Propagation
Pencil cactus plants can be propogated through stem cuttings. Take a healthy stem from the parent plant and let it dry out for a few days before planting it in potting soil that drains well. First, put on gloves to protect your skin from the poisonous sap of the plant. Then, cut a stem that is at least 6 inches long from the parent plant with a clean, sharp knife or pruning shears. Let the cut dry in a warm, dry place for a few days, until a callus forms on the cut end. Then, put the stem cutting in a pot with soil that drains well and bury the cut end about an inch deep in the soil. Give the soil a lot of water and put the pot where it will get indirect sunlight. You should only give the cutting a little water until it grows roots, which should take a few weeks to a month. After that, you can treat it like a full-grown pencil cactus plant.
Toxicity
"The pencil cactus is toxic to both plants and animals if ingested, or if its sap comes into contact with the skin or eyes. Direct contact with the sap may lead to skin irritation, redness, itching, and, in some cases, dermatitis. This plant must be handled with care, and the necessary precautions must be taken. If ingested, the toxic compounds in the pencil cactus can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. In severe cases or with large ingestions, it may lead to more serious health effects. It's essential to seek immediate medical attention if ingestion occurs or if severe symptoms are experienced. Pets will experience similar symptoms after ingesting the pencil cactus or coming into contact with the sap. If you suspect your pet has ingested the pencil cactus or is experiencing any concerning symptoms, it's best to contact a veterinarian for guidance."
Repotting
Pencil cactus plants need to be repotted when they have grown too big for their pot or when the soil has packed down. When the plant is growing well, in the spring or early summer, is the best time to repot it. To start, choose a pot that is one size bigger than the one you have now and has holes in the bottom for drainage. Fill the new pot with a cactus or succulent soil mix that drains well. Carefully take the pencil cactus out of its current pot, and if the roots are tightly packed, gently pull them apart. Place the plant in the middle of the new pot and backfill with soil, making sure to pack the soil around the roots to get rid of any air pockets. Give the pencil cactus a lot of water and let it drain before putting it somewhere bright and sunny. Wear gloves when you touch the plant, because the sap can irritate your skin.
Pruning
For pencil cactus, the best way to prune is to use clean, sharp pruning shears to cut back any stems that are weak, overgrown, or broken. It's important to wear gloves and stay away from the milky sap, which can irritate your skin. When pruning, make clean cuts and try not to tear or hurt the nearby tissue. Pencil cactus can also be shaped from time to time to help it grow in a fuller, more compact way. To do this, cut off the tips of the stems just above a leaf node to encourage branching. Also, Pencil cactus can grow very tall and thin, so it's important to prune it to keep it at a size that's easy to care for. With the right pruning, pencil cactus can look healthy and nice for many years and continue to grow and thrive.
Fertilizing
Pencil cactus plants shouldn't be fertilized very often, and using too much fertilizer can hurt it. Choose a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer with a low concentration of nitrogen and dilute it to one-quarter or one-half the recommended strength. Before you put fertilizer on the plant, give it a good drink of water. Then, use a watering can or spray bottle to put the fertilizer on the soil around the plant's base. Make sure you don't get any on the leaves or stem, because it will burn. During the growing season, which usually lasts from spring to early fall, apply the fertilizer every two to three months. Don't give the plant fertilizer when it's sleeping in the winter. If the plant looks healthy and isn't growing, it might not need any fertilizer at all. If the plant starts to show signs of being over-fertilized, like yellowing leaves, cut back on how often or how strong you fertilize it.
Soil
The pencil cactus is a succulent plant that needs soil that drains well. The best kind of soil for pencil cactus is a sandy, porous mix that lets water drain away quickly and doesn't keep water for long periods of time. For pencil cactus plants, a mix of cactus or succulent soil, perlite, and sand can work well. It is important not to use regular potting soil because it can hold too much water and cause the roots to rot. Also, pencil cactus plants like to grow in soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5.

Hanging Heights

Pencil Cactus Lighting Requirements: Full Sun (Bright Direct Light) & High Light (Bright Indirect Light)

Chart showing recommended hanging heights for Soltech Aspect and popular plants for each range.

Aspect Hanging Heights - Pencil Cactus

-

Soltech's Recommendation -

12" to 36"

-

VIEW ASPECT GROW GUIDE

Vita Hanging Heights - Pencil Cactus

-

Soltech's Recommendation -

36º Narrow Beam Vita : Not Recommended

60º Wide Beam Vita : Not Recommended

-

VIEW VITA GROW GUIDE

Highland Hanging Heights - Pencil Cactus

-

Soltech's Recommendation -

36º Narrow Beam Highland : 18" to 42"

60º Wide Beam Highland : 12" to 30"

-

VIEW HIGHLAND GROW GUIDE

Grove Hanging Heights - Pencil Cactus

-

Soltech's Recommendation:

  • Not Recommended

-

VIEW GROVE GROW GUIDE

Lighting guide for plants with Soltech Aura and potted plants on a neutral background

Aura Light Distances - Pencil Cactus

-

Soltech's Recommendation:

  • 0" to 8"

-

VIEW AURA GROW GUIDE

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