How to Grow the Pencil Cactus? A Detailed Guide to Pencil Cactus Cultivation Techniques
The pencil cactus, also known as the green milk bush or Indian tree spurge, is a succulent with a peculiar shape. The whole plant has few flowers and few leaves, and once mature, the flowers and leaves fall off, leaving only densely growing branches and stems, like a tree stuck full of sticks. Below, let us take a look at its cultivation techniques.
Growth Habits
The pencil cactus prefers a warm environment and tolerates drought and dry conditions, but it needs well-drained soil. It is native to the African continent, where the climate is arid and hot with no rain year-round. In such an environment, to adapt and avoid dying of drought caused by water evaporation from its leaves, the pencil cactus evolved over a long period of growth until its leaves became fewer and fewer and finally disappeared, which is how it came to look the way it does today.
Cultivation Techniques
The pencil cactus is drought-tolerant and dry-tolerant. If grown in a warm climate, it will grow extremely fast. It can be planted outdoors in warm southern regions, while in the north it needs to be moved to a greenhouse in winter. During cultivation, we mainly manage it in terms of light, watering, fertilizing, pruning and pest and disease control.
1. Light: The pencil cactus has a high demand for light. Its branches contain a large amount of chlorophyll, which replaces the leaves in photosynthesis. Lack of light will lead to poor growth and may even cause death.
2. Watering: The pencil cactus is very drought-tolerant, and it should not be watered too much at ordinary times. Excessive watering makes the roots prone to rot. Water only when the soil is dry, and water thoroughly once it has dried out. In summer, the weather is hot and temperatures are high, so be careful to avoid heavy rain pouring down right after exposure to the sun during the day, which can cause leaf drop. When the temperature reaches above 30 degrees, the plant will enter a semi-dormant state, and watering should be controlled at this time.
3. Fertilizing: The pencil cactus has a low demand for nutrients. During its growth period, applying 1 application of a well-rotted, thin liquid fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is enough. Be sure not to make it too concentrated. Never fertilize when the temperature is too low, as it easily causes root rot.
4. Soil changing: When grown in pots, repot once a year and replace the soil with fresh, loose sandy soil. At the same time, as it grows, it should be repotted, generally once every two to three years.
5. Diseases: The main diseases are anthracnose and leaf spot. They can be sprayed with a 1000-fold dilution of thiophanate-methyl wettable powder. If indoor ventilation is poor, the stems and leaves are prone to scale insect damage, which can be killed by spraying with a 1000-fold dilution of omethoate emulsifiable concentrate. Excessive watering easily leads to root rot, so pay attention to drainage and ventilation.
6. Pruning: You can start by pruning the root system, cutting off some necrotic, rotten and weak roots. If the root system is relatively dense, you can prune and tidy it yourself. Next are the stems and branches: cut off some diseased, weak and damaged branches, and then prune for overall appearance. Some branches can also be cut off and replanted.
During pruning, be sure to prevent the sap from contacting the skin, especially the face and eyes. Take protective measures when pruning, and you can wear a face veil and gloves.
The above are the cultivation techniques for the pencil cactus. Through the content above, I believe everyone has gained some understanding of how to grow the pencil cactus. The pencil cactus has a wide range of uses; it is not only ornamental but can also be used for petroleum production.