The so-called pencil bush (Euphorbia tirucalli) is very popular as a houseplant with its exotic appearance and the relatively easy-care properties of a succulent plant. In principle, a pencil bush does not necessarily have to be cut, but in certain cases a cut can still make sense.

If the pencil bush gets too big, it can be cut back

Don't worry about "bare" specimens

If you have just come into possession of a pencil bush for the first time and it suddenly loses more and more of its relatively tiny leaves, this fact should not cause you to panic. The shedding of the already few and small-sized leaves of the pencil bush is quite normal and the real visual appeal of this popular houseplant lies in the evenly strong, thickened branches. These usually branch out by themselves into a very compact and dense growth habit. However, if your pencil bush is growing very tautly upright and rather slender, it may be reaching for the light. A Euphorbia tirucalli that is at least one year old prefers a full sun location with several hours of direct sunlight every day. Shorten the plant by about a third from the top during the sap-poor winter time and then place it in a sunnier location in time for spring.

Pruning properly for care and propagation

The winter months are a good time for a mere care cut, as then a little less of the toxic white milky sap escapes from the cut points of the plant. This “bleeding” from the pencil bush can also be made to clot more quickly and stop if hot water soaked cloths are applied. It is not necessary to thin out the pencil bush, which typically grows in a very "tangled" manner, since there are no leaves to interfere with ventilation and lighting, as would be the case with fruit trees with dense treetops. Material for the propagation of cuttings is ideally obtained in spring or early summer. Please note the following information:

  • use shoots of the pencil plant that are as mature as possible
  • use clean, sharp cutting tools
  • Cut cuttings about 12 to 15 cm long
  • Start cuts directly under a leaf node
  • Allow the cuttings to dry for 48 hours before placing them in the substrate
  • choose a warm and bright, but not full sun location for the cuttings

Precautions when pruning Euphorbia tirucalli

Since mere skin or mucous membrane contact with the white milky sap of the spurge family can lead to serious health problems, children and pets should not be around when pruning a pencil bush. Wearing gloves and immediately washing the milky sap off your hands or other parts of your body is strongly recommended. The cuttings that dry before further processing should also be kept in a safe place where inexperienced third parties cannot come into contact with them.

tips

If a densely branched pencil bush is cut back, it is not uncommon for a plant to remain with numerous cuts. So that the milky sap that gets into the respiratory tract through evaporation does not have a negative effect on your health, a room with a freshly cut pencil bush should be ventilated particularly extensively in the first few days after the cut.

Category:

Vegetable garden