why did my Euphorbia Tirucalli suddenly die?

7 years ago

I've had a Pencil Cactus (Euphorbia Tirucalli) since 1997 -- it was a clipping from a much larger tree. I have added some additional dirt over the years but it has never been repotted. It thrived for 19 years, and then suddenly a few months ago half of it died. It dried up from the bottom up. I cut the dead stuff away and the rest of the plant seemed to do ok for a while, until it too started shriveling from the bottom up. I tried to take clippings as soon as I noticed, but there was no white sap left inside so I assume I was too late.
I want to know why it died before I buy another one -- I'm afraid I will somehow kill a new one too. Does anyone have any advice?

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Comments (4)

Karen S. (7b, NYC)
7 years ago
Who knows?

I don't grow this, but have have helped care for one of these plants owned by someone else.

Sorry but hard to say w/ something we don't get to look at. I'd guess just adding dirt to it was insufficient care. Perhaps checking the roots from time to time & completely changing the mix every couple of yrs. would be the minimum care one should give a succulent.

A plant mentor of mine used to say that trying to diagnose a plant w/out unpotting it to check the roots is like trying to see while blindfolded.

Blind guess is it could have gotten some form of root rot which tends to happen from the bottom up & can cause the plant to collapse.
greenclaws UK, Zone 8a
7 years ago
Could have been any number of reasons why it died as stated above, we don't know what conditions you gave it...other than 'probably' poor soil.

My first thought would be starvation from being in the same pot/soil for o19 years. I assume by 'dirt' you mean potting mixture? I know in the US garden soil is referred to as dirt on occasions. Etiolaion could also cause total collapse. If it's been in the same pot for 19 years, either it was way overpotted to start with, or at its end it was too crammed in and rootbound as I'm assuming it had grown somewhat?

Was it ever fed, how often was it watered, did it get a teaspoon of water or a 5 hour soaking each time, did it have adequate light, had it been moved into a draughty area for some reason, where was it kept?

I know say it thrived but without pics we can't even be sure of that....have you any pics of the deceased?

There is a vast difference between someone's vision of a thriving plant and one that is actually only clinging to life in reality. If you decide to buy another one, best advice is to at least change its mixture more frequently than you did do.

However, please give us more info, only then 'maybe' we can guess better.

Gill
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hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
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1. The potting mixture might have deteriorated to the point where it became anaerobic sludge. This does happen with wood-based mixes.

2. Did any unusually cold weather affect it? It is not a cold hardy plant.

This is a common and easy plant. Since you kept the original alive so long, you should have little trouble with a new one.
coldeuphorb
7 years ago
It lasted 19 years and you are worried it will happen again? :D I usually feel that way when I get a plant and it dies in two weeks. I think if your new one lasts you 19 years you're still pretty good to go.

why did my Euphorbia Tirucalli suddenly die?

Comments (4)

Karen S. (7b, NYC)

greenclaws UK, Zone 8a

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coldeuphorb

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