Pencil Cactus Care - Fiddle & Thorn

Basic Pencil Cactus Care

Though known to be quite toxic, the Pencil Cactus is an incredible succulent that is really easy to care for. They are often mistaken for the Mistletoe Cactus but the main difference is that the Pencil Cactus grows upwards more like a tree.

Bright Direct Light

I thrive in bright areas of your home so am best placed near a window.

Water Infrequently

I can be quite sensitive to root rot so be careful not to overwater me.

Low Humidity

I grow best in pretty dry environments so don’t try and increase the humidity.

Draining Soil

I like a mix that includes peat moss and perlite as these prevent my roots from becoming water-logged.

Detailed Pencil Cactus Care Information

Whether you’re looking to make sure your Pencil Cactus is in it’s perfect conditions, or looking to see if one could work for your space. We’ve got you covered.

Pencil Cacti need bright direct light

The Pencil Cactus love the sunshine and thrives off direct light. Make sure to pop them near a window to make use of all that natural light.

You don’t need to water them very often

Pencil Cacti are low maintenance and a lot of that stems from their lack of need for much water. Once every few weeks is totally enough and they are very drought tolerant. Hold off watering much at all during winter, around once a month or every 6 weeks is all.

Pencil Cacti need warm temperatures

As with most succulents, the Pencil Cactus thrives in warm environments and will struggle in rooms lower than 65F / 18C. Keep them away from drafts as the cool outside air can shock the plant.

They prefer dry environments

The worst thing you can do for a Pencil Cactus is to increase the humidity. They like dry environments so don’t put them in the kitchen or bathroom where the natural humidity level is higher than other rooms.

Use a cactus-friendly potting mix

When potting your Pencil Cactus you want to make sure you are using a cactus potting mix as this contains ingredients which help with drainage and soil aeration.

Pencil Cactus are very toxic

The one major concern when caring for a Pencil Cactus is that they are toxic to touch and ingest. We always recommend wearing gloves when handling them and keeping them well away from pets or children who may try and ingest part of the plant. Seek medical advice if you think you or anyone else has ingested or had a reaction to the sap.

Propagate using a stem cutting

It’s super easy to propagate a Pencil Cactus as you can just do it from a stem cutting. Place the cutting in water first to stop the toxic sap from leaking out the plant. Then leave the cutting out for 5 days to dry and callous over before potting in cactus/succulent friendly potting mix.

Pencil Cactus FAQs

Quick and simple answers to the most common questions we see about the Pencil Cactus.

Is the Pencil Cactus toxic?

How much water does a Pencil Cactus need?

Can a Pencil Cactus tolerate direct sunlight?

Is the Pencil Cactus easy to care for?

Pencil Cactus Care Starter Kit

We’ve put together this great little starter kit that includes all of the equipment and information you’ll need to take proper care of your Pencil Cactus.

Common Problems with your Pencil Cactus

Here are some common issues that you might run into. It’s important to diagnose any issues early to give your plant the best chance of bouncing back.

Why does my Pencil Cactus have dry brown leaves?

Why is my Pencil Cactus drooping?

Why is my Pencil Cactus turning grey?

Simple Pencil Cactus Care Requirements

It sometimes helps to take caring for your plants back to the basics, here’s the key considerations that you should take into account when caring for your Euphorbia tirucalli.

These simple points should give you all you need to keep your plant happy and healthy for years to come.

Common Name	Pencil Cactus
Latin Name	Euphorbia tirucalli
Light	Bright Direct Light
Water	Water Infrequently
Humidity	Low Humidity
Soil Type	Draining Soil