The Euphorbia tirucalli, which belongs to the spurge family, is also known as the pencil bush with its very special look, the branches the thickness of a pencil and the characteristically confused growth habit. Like other spurge species, this plant is not frost hardy, but it is relatively easy to propagate with good care.

The pencil bush can be propagated by cuttings

Care should also be taken when caring for the pencil bush

In general, there is a certain duty of care when handling spurge plants, since the milky plant sap is relatively highly toxic in most cases. A certain degree of caution is therefore also advisable if children or pets are temporarily unattended in the living areas. Since Euphorbia tirucalli is usually propagated by cuttings, the plant sap logically escapes from the thick, fresh green branches of the shrub. Be sure to wear gloves when cutting the cuttings to avoid coming into contact with the caustic and poisonous plant sap. Otherwise, skin reddening or blistering can quickly occur in sensitive people. If the plant sap gets on mucous membranes, in open wounds or in the stomach, the consequences can be even more threatening.

Properly pruning pencil bush cuttings

In order for optimal root formation to occur, the cuttings of the pencil bush Euphorbia tirucalli should be cut in spring or early summer, if possible. In addition, the following parameters have proven to be favorable for successful propagation:

  • Length of the cutting: about 12 to 15 cm
  • Cut just below a leaf node
  • After cutting, allow the cutting edges to air dry for about 48 hours
  • warm, bright location without direct sunlight

While a full-grown pencil bush prefers to thrive in full sunlight, cuttings should be placed in a slightly shaded location because their roots have not yet developed and the resulting limited moisture absorption.

Suitable substrate for the rooting phase

After drying, the cuttings can be placed in a lean substrate. This can consist of cactus soil, for example, or contain sand and coconut fibers. During the first four weeks it is important that the cuttings are not watered too often. However, covering them with foil or growing them in a greenhouse can ensure that the cuttings do not dry out during this time. After about four weeks, fresh shoots should show whether the rooting of the cuttings was successful.

tips

In contrast to many other houseplants such as the colored nettle, you cannot root the offshoots of the pencil bush in the water glass. As offshoots of a succulent plant, the cuttings would otherwise rot rather than root.

Category:

Vegetable garden