Pencil Cactus is from the Euphorbiaceae family of plants. This may not make much sense but the latin names for plants are often used to group them. It is a specific type of Cacti so can be repotted in a similar way to your other type of Cacti you may have.
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How to repot Pencil Cactus
Read on for a simple yet effective three step process for repotting and growing your Pencil Cactus.
First of all, get prepared for repotting Pencil Cactus
Plan out how and when you’ll get your Pencil Cactus loose to repot it. Consider how much water your Pencil Cactus needs before repotting and look at the bloom time which is in Spring, summer and soil ph which is Acidic, neutral to ensure the repotting process goes well.
Second of all, Take your Pencil Cactus out of the original pot
Pencil Cactus can be removed simply by loosening up with a few bangs on the side of the pot and the be turned upside down very carefully so as to not harm your Pencil Cactus as it comes out.
Third and finally, repot Pencil Cactus to a new pot
Achieving success in repotting Pencil Cactus would be more likely if you used the ideal soil type of Sandy, well-drained soil. Fill in any air pockets in the new pot of your Pencil Cactus with this soil and give it a final water afterwards. Perhaps even get your hands on more similar plants like Panda Plant so you can repot this and make use of any leftover soil afterwards.
How to care for Pencil Cactus
After the repotting process for Pencil Cactus is over, it is important that you are clued up on how to take care of it into the future.
What should you expect if you have repot Pencil Cactus correctly?
Achieving the desired height of 20–30 ft. tall, 6–10 ft. wide (outdoors), up to 6 ft. tall, 1–3 ft. wide (indoors) which is what you can expect after the right care for your Pencil Cactus should also come with Yellow blooms at Spring, summer time. Check out Pearl Plant for another example of a plant that blooms around the same time.
After repotting Pencil Cactus, should you keep inside or out?
To answer the question of if you should plant or repot your Pencil Cactus outside or inside, you should look at the ideal environments for the plant. consider that Pencil Cactus is native to Africa, Asia and then take into consideration whether your area has a similar climate based on your knowledge.
Another thing that you should consider is that Pencil Cactus is in the 11–12 (USDA) hardiness zone in the United States. Visit this website to work out what zone you live in and make the right decision.
A guide on the long term care for Pencil Cactus after repotting
When you repot, it’s important to make sure the repotting process is effective and your Pencil Cactus grows to how tall it can get in its new pot which is 20–30 ft. tall, 6–10 ft. wide (outdoors), up to 6 ft. tall, 1–3 ft. wide (indoors). Pencil Cactus should also be kept in an area where the sun exposure is ideal and it gets Full exposure in its new home.
This shouldn’t be a big issue if you are growing your Pencil Cactus in the recommended area of the US which is in the hardiness zone: 11–12 (USDA). With the right care and some common sense of the fact Pencil Cactus is usually found in Africa, Asia, it should grow well.
All about Pencil Cactus and it’s family
First of all, once fully grown, Pencil Cactus is toxic to people and toxic to pets. When trying to find out more information about it so you can take better care of it, you may want to be aware of the other types of names and the fact that your Cacti is in the Euphorbiaceae family of plants.
Can Pencil Cactus be called anything else?
Your Pencil Cactus may have other names you could call it. Consider the botanical and scientific names for the plants below. You may need this information when considering what soil type to buy or to get more specific on how to take care of it.
| Scientific name | Pencil Cactus Euphorbia tirucalli |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Euphorbia tirucalli |
For a different plant in this family, check out Tatsois which will provide a nice contrast. Alternatively, to find a plant that is can be repotted in a similar way, maybe Paddle Plants are a good fit as they are in the same family.