Re: Pencil plant -- houseplant junction

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 22:16:25 11/02/01 Fri
Author: Cena
Subject: Re: Pencil plant
In reply to: Liz 's message, "Pencil plant" on 18:24:54 11/02/01 Fri

One of the few easy rooting Euphorbs, IMO. Mine is about four feet high now, and about five years old. They will bloom, but don't hold your breath. It is sooooo tiny I needed a magnifying glass to make sure it WAS a bloom! When they have plenty of water, they will have small leaves less than 3/4 of an inch long. As the plant dries so do the leaves, then they fall off. Either or, makes no difference to the plant.

This is one of the more toxic Euphorbias. The sap can cause problems with skin contact, and has been reported to be Not GOOD for the eyes. Any damage will cause the plant to weep white latex sap. Water will often stop the flow. Either dunk or spray.

Speaking of spraying, do NOT treat this plant with alcohol for mealies! Mine is potted in the top of a strawberry pot. I was madly spraying away, preventive maintenance for the plants in all the pockets. The next day I noticed the plant looks like it had been whitewashed... This light grey color will not scrub off even with a toothbrush and a bucket of water. Oh well.

I recently found one in the neighborhood I have lived in for 16 years, that I pass weekly and never knew it was there. The 'branches' are so thick on this plant I can't even describe it! The plant is at the faaaaaar corner of a gravel liquor store lot. I am SURE it gets no irrigation and we only get rain from November to April and not much at that. It was obvious that this tree had been backed into, hacked at, carved on, and was still making me proud to see it there, against all odds. Thick enough you could not see through to the other side!

Good luck and enjoy a most unusual plant.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> [> Re: Pencil plant -- Liz, 23:59:11 11/03/01 Sat [1]

Thank you, Cena. I've seen that whitish effect on a cereus cactus I put alcohol on. Lucky me it's going away.

You seem to know a lot about succulents and stuff. Could you tell me how often to water the pencil thingy? I have a trigona, would it want the same treatment as it? Do you know how cold a cereus cactus can tolerate? I've got one that I don't know where to put it if I bring it inside. If I keep it from freezing do you think it would be OK?

Thanks again. You're a real dear to help me out here.

>One of the few easy rooting Euphorbs, IMO. Mine is
>about four feet high now, and about five years old.
>They will bloom, but don't hold your breath. It is
>sooooo tiny I needed a magnifying glass to make sure
>it WAS a bloom! When they have plenty of water, they
>will have small leaves less than 3/4 of an inch long.
>As the plant dries so do the leaves, then they fall
>off. Either or, makes no difference to the plant.
>
>This is one of the more toxic Euphorbias. The sap can
>cause problems with skin contact, and has been
>reported to be Not GOOD for the eyes. Any damage will
>cause the plant to weep white latex sap. Water will
>often stop the flow. Either dunk or spray.
>
>Speaking of spraying, do NOT treat this plant with
>alcohol for mealies! Mine is potted in the top of a
>strawberry pot. I was madly spraying away, preventive
>maintenance for the plants in all the pockets. The
>next day I noticed the plant looks like it had been
>whitewashed... This light grey color will not scrub
>off even with a toothbrush and a bucket of water. Oh
>well.
>
>I recently found one in the neighborhood I have lived
>in for 16 years, that I pass weekly and never knew it
>was there. The 'branches' are so thick on this plant
>I can't even describe it! The plant is at the
>faaaaaar corner of a gravel liquor store lot. I am
>SURE it gets no irrigation and we only get rain from
>November to April and not much at that. It was
>obvious that this tree had been backed into, hacked
>at, carved on, and was still making me proud to see it
>there, against all odds. Thick enough you could not
>see through to the other side!
>
>Good luck and enjoy a most unusual plant.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Re: Pencil plant -- Sharon Klundt, 20:31:41 04/24/02 Wed [1]

Hi, last year we had a super Walmart open up and right off there was a pencil plant like i had seen in Lousiana, so i bought it. It is comming along real good. How big does it get before i transplant it in a larger pot? Right now it is in about 3/4 to 1 cup size.The lady's i saw in Lousiana was like a tree about 4 feet high. I thought it was the cutes thing i had ever seen. Thank You!
Sharon
sklundt43@mit.midco.net

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> ? Re: Pencil plant -- NANCY SPEARS, 21:17:44 05/11/06 Thu [1]

Hello I have a pencil plant for 3 years and she stands ,as of today 5-11-06 58 inchs. I treat it as a catus , I have tryed to get info on her but not to many people know of this plant. Now I do bring her in during cold times. Water her once a month,she goes out during late spring, summer and middle of sept I bring her in , I live in okla . Not to much info on web aout this plant what I have learned about it , it can get as tall as a tree. My town is Shawnee , last year I entered her in our county fair and won first premium, this year I want grand prize so can you give me info to help . Also whenI break off a branch the tips turn white. Can you help

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> :-) Re: Pencil plant -- lisanne zabka (happy), 23:38:21 07/10/07 Tue [1]

I have had a pencil plant for about 10 years, and it is now quite tall and getting gangly looking, with many long offshoots that are starting to drag it down. I want to propagate it to make more plants but do not know how. It oozes white stuff when I cut a branch, which I understand can be toxic and to keep away from my eyes, but when I stuck a piece in water for a couple of weeks, nothing happened. Do I plant it in dirt? Any suggestions would be welcome. Many thanks.

Lisanne

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]