The firestick plant, also known as the pencil cactus or Euphorbia tirucalli, belongs to the succulent plant family. In addition to these names, the firestick succulent is also known as a pencil cactus, a stick cactus, a fire plant, and “sticks on fire.” The firestick plant’s name origin is depicted in pictures. The succulent has bunches of stems that resemble pencils and an orangey-red tint that appears to be on fire.
The Euphorbiaceae family includes the shrubby succulent known as the firestick plant. The cultivar “Fire sticks,” sometimes known as “Rosea,” of the typically very tall pencil cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli). With its magnificent stem color, it is a very ornamental plant to adorn any garden or manicured area.
The pencil cactus, often known as the firestick plant (Euphorbia tirucalli), has green stems (left). The stems of the “Rosea” cultivar, sometimes known as “fire stick” or “sticks on fire,” are reddish orange, especially in the winter when the hue is most vivid (right)
The fleshy stems of the firestick plant resemble small red, orange, yellow, or green twigs as they grow in clusters. The bushes of firestick plants mimic sea coral due to their amazing growth and primarily red colors. The little branches of the shrubby succulent are 0.27 (7 mm) thick.
The pencil plant, sometimes known as the firestick plant, is not a form of cactus, despite its common names of “pencil cactus” or “firestick cactus.” The firestick plant develops tiny, oval leaves, unlike cactus. Firestick plants are not cacti and do not belong to the same botanical family. Cacti are in the botanical family Cactaceae, but firesticks are a member of the succulent plant family.
You should always handle the firestick plant carefully since it possesses a deadly milky sap.
The firestick cactus is a succulent that requires little maintenance. Bright sunlight, warm temperatures, and low humidity are ideal for the firestick plant. Make sure the plant develops in a soil that drains effectively. When the soil becomes dry, water the plant only infrequently.
The article offers a thorough care manual for developing succulent firestick plants. It’s crucial to understand the cactus-like plant’s toxicity before examining how to water, reproduce, and cultivate it.
Euphorbia Tirucalli Cactus Indoor Care
Light: Because it thrives in direct sunlight, this plant is a great choice for a particularly sunny window situation. For even color development and balanced growth throughout the cooler months, rotate the plant frequently.
Water: During the growing season, the house plant has to be watered once a week. To prevent root rot, be sure to give well-drained soil and lots of drainage holes in the container. During the cooler months, reduce watering to one a month.
Temperature: Although this plant can withstand temperatures as low as 25 degrees and as high as 100 degrees, it loves temperatures between 50 and 70 degrees. The ideal temperature range for firestick plants is 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, so they thrive all year round indoors at typical household conditions.
Use cactus or succulent potting soil of the highest caliber that is well-drained and has a pH of about 6.0.
Fertilizer: You can either use a mild liquid houseplant food once per week or a controlled-release fertilizer to feed your finger plant periodically. A 20-20-20 fertilizer works nicely for mature plants. Lower nitrogen ratings are beneficial for younger plants. Some individuals give the pencil plant no fertilizer at all.
Tirucalli Sticks On Fire Cactus Outdoor Care
Light: The firestick plant thrives in both partial and direct sunlight outdoors. For balanced growth and coloration, it’s best to position this succulent shrub where it receives bright light exposure from all sides.
Water: Giving too little is preferable to giving too much. During the growing season and once every few months in the cooler months, deeply water this drought-tolerant pencil tree outside. These drought-resistant plants might survive on rainfall alone.
Soil: To enhance the aeration and drainage properties of your soil when planting outside, add some light, finished compost and/or loam.
Fertilizer: If you keep a worm composting bin, you’ll discover that the only fertilizer your ET needs is a layer of worm compost or worm castings placed over the surface of the soil once a year.
These plants are relatively resistant to pests thanks to their toxic sap.
For the most part, Euphorbia tirucalli is pest-free, but common succulent pests including plant mites, colonies of mealybugs, cactus scale, and aphids bugs on plants may be an issue for overwatered and fragile plants. [source]
Pencil Cactus Propagation, Transplanting, & Repotting
If you intend to move a milk bush, do so when the plant is still young. A tall Firestick pencil cactus is challenging to move because of its weight and brittle branches.
Wear safety goggles, gloves, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt if you plan to move an outdoor red pencil tree.
NOTE: Others people may react allergically to the poisonous white sap, and some may even develop severe responses. Keep the plant away from areas where young children might come into contact with it.
How much water are required by Firestick plants?
You don’t need to water these plants very frequently because they are well adapted to dry weather. The climate where you live has a big impact on how much water you need. My watering plan is adjusted to the arid circumstances of my environment because I live in a very dry climate. To give you an example, throughout the summer I water my Euphorbia Tirucalli as frequently as every 7 to 10 days, and perhaps more during a heat wave. When the weather gets cooler, I reduce my watering to every 10 to 14 days.
Watering should be reduced even more in the winter. Watering should only be necessary every three to four weeks or whenever the soil becomes dry. Since we get a lot of rain in my location throughout the winter, I mainly rely on rainwater and refrain from watering at all. But I water at least once a month to keep it from drying up if there is no rain at all during the winter.
In a humid environment, you won’t need to water as frequently. Additionally, if you keep your plants indoors, you might not need to water them as frequently, particularly if they don’t get a lot of light. For these plants, an excess of water and insufficient light is a prescription for disaster.
Checking the soil’s moisture content is an excellent way to determine when to water. Before you water again, the top inch of the soil ought to feel dry. It’s usually preferable to submerge and increase watering as necessary if you are unclear of how much or how frequently to water in the beginning. Pay attention to how your plant appears so you can alter the amount of water it receives.
Use instruments like hygrometers or moisture meters to check for moisture in the soil and air for additional assistance with watering tactics. These instruments are reasonably priced and useful, especially if you’re not sure when to water your plant again. Here on my resource page, I have reduced the options.
My Firestick plant is dying; why?
Taking care of a pencil cactus, properly known as Euphorbia tirucalli, may be a painless process with the right know-how.
However, there are some careless blunders that gardeners frequently do that could lead to this lovely Euphorbia shriveling.
Your pencil cactus is shriveling, why? Pencil cacti conserve water, thus drowning or overwatering can cause them to shrivel. Additionally, for the pencil cactus to avoid issues like root rot, which can result in shriveling, the soil must drain effectively. It might just require a new home if it has completely stopped growing.
The reasons why your pencil cactus, or firestick plant, as you may choose, is having problems, what to do about it, and other typical pencil cactus troubleshooting suggestions are covered in the sections that follow.
How frequently should a Firestick cactus be watered?
Watering this succulent requires relatively little effort. In the spring and summer, it only need watering every two to three weeks. In the fall and winter, cut back on watering to once a month. To minimize overwatering, it is recommended to allow the soil entirely dry out in between waterings.
When should a Firestick plant be repotted?
Every two or three years, repotter your Firesticks. More frequently than other kinds of succulents, this plant needs to be replanted into a larger container due to its rapid growth.
Make sure that the soil is dry before you repot your Firesticks. Wearing gloves, carefully take the plant from its pot and remove the old dirt. The Firestick Plant should then be placed in its new pot, which should then air dry for about a week.
Are succulents called “Firesticks” toxic?
Ingestion may result in discomfort, diarrhea, and stomach and tongue irritation. Poison control centers have categorized this plant as a chemical skin irritant. The plant’s scientific name is Euphorbia Tirucalli, and it is also known by the common names milk bush, firestick cactus, pencil tree, and pencil cactus.
How are fire sticks trimmed?
The ubiquitous indoor plant known as the pencil cactus, Euphorbiatirucalli, is a quick-growing member of the Euphorbiaceae family. Mature plants frequently resemble pine trees and can reach heights of up to 25 feet. They can be easily pruned, and doing so shouldn’t damage the plant. Here are some trimming pointers.
Avoid coming in contact with the sap’s white, latex-like surface if you can. This sap can occasionally cause significant skin and eye irritation. When it dries, it will turn black and stain your clothing as well. Additionally, these plants are not suitable for composting due to their sap.
Remove any branches that are infected, damaged, or dead. This will make the plant look cleaner and encourage new development.
Establish the desired height and shape for your plant. Then, by removing the branches above a node, shape the plant as desired using pruners or heavy, sharp scissors. Cut each branch at the base, where it originated, while pruning. Do not allow the stem to have a protruding stub.
You can further thin the plant if you’d like by removing any vertical branches that are overly numerous, weak, or thin. Once more, remove these branches at the source. Additionally, increasing air circulation around and within the plant by thinning enhances its general health.
Throw away the plant bits you removed with care. Alternately, gift them to friends who might be interested in having one of their own. Just make sure they wait a few days for the wound to heal and form a callus before putting the bottom few inches of the cuttings in the ground.
The optimal time to prune is in the spring when the plant has begun its active growing season and light and temperature levels have increased. Avoid removing too many branches all at once to avoid shocking the plant. In general, pruning should only remove around a third of the plant at a time. Also keep in mind that once something is cut off, it cannot be reattached. So you might only do a light pruning before determining whether it fulfills your needs. If not, continue pruning until the desired outcome is achieved.
What height do Firestick plants reach?
Recently, my fiance and I visited Home Depot in search of amazing plants in many sorts. We explored this magical green wonderland as we traveled down aisle after aisle.
We then moved into the succulent section. There are so many lovely desert plants that are ideal for both the climate in Downey and the whole of this desert region that we refer to as Southern California.
Despite being lovely, you instinctively know not to touch any of these plants because of the thorns or needles. When touched incorrectly, blood may begin to show. We then turned our attention to the following group of stunning desert-like flora as we had that thinking. We both focused our attention on the “flaming sticks
The fire sticks are a stunning plant; you almost can’t look away from them because it feels as though they are beckoning you and pulling you in like a magnet. Although the scientific name for fire sticks is Euphorbia Tirucalli, they are also referred to as Aveloz, Indian tree spurge, Naked Lady, pencil cactus, milk bush, and, in our language, fire sticks.
In places with little rain, fire sticks are an excellent plant to grow. They require relatively little water to develop. Forever, the branches can be cut, planted, and cut again. An unending garden of fire sticks can grow from a single plant. If it is properly supported, the plant can reach a height of up to 20 feet.
Fire sticks can also be used as a wall covering, a window covering, a burglar deterrent, and a barrier between houses. When not understood, this plant will rapidly make you comprehend, which is why we call it a wonderful burglar deterrent. The untrained in plant knowledge should not touch this plant.
Even just bumping into the plant will ruin the rest of your day. This plant produces a lot of lovely, tiny fingers, however these fingers are poisonous.
They are extremely delicate, and even a light touch at the tips will reveal a hot, milky fluid. As soon as this sap touches your skin, it will itch and burn. If you scratch yourself enough, it will get on your hands and fingers, and soon, you will play with your hair or rub your forehead unconsciously.
Before you realize it, a tiny amount will go from your forehead into your brows and then into your eyes with a little aid from a little bit of sweat. You start to truly despise life at that point. And if nobody is available to assist you, well, good luck.
It will be difficult for you to even open your eyes. The task of looking at your phone will be challenging. Additionally, you will require assistance, therefore you will require a phone to call a loved one. While lying on your back, you should continuously drain saline solution out of your eyes. In the worst-case conditions, this sap can cause blindness.
Because the sap dries transparent and serves as glue, it can be challenging to remove. Even if you think it’s gone, traces of residue can still have serious side effects.
It is crucial to wear complete body protection when removing larger plants because when you cut them, the sap will literally spray at you as though the plant is defending itself.
This plant is present in great abundance in all of my family members and friends. All of us have had to learn how to cope with this plant the hard way. Even our pets have gone through things. We now know how to handle it.
But most people have to learn the hard way. We thus want Home Depot and all other nurseries to start labeling these plants with warnings.
You might remember an incident where McDonald’s faced legal action after someone got burned by hot coffee. Despite the fact that everyone is aware that hot coffee may burn, McDonald’s was compelled to mark their coffee cups with “WARNING: HOT!
Fire sticks are hot, sticky, and can result in blindness even though they don’t have thorns or needles. Where is their label of caution?
Michael Chirco is a Downey resident and active member of the neighborhood. He oversees a number of social media accounts, including South of Downey and Where’s the Party Downey.