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Pruning & repotting large Euphorbia tirucalli

Treegeek Z6a (Boston)

6 years ago

The local greenhouse had this large (58" tall!) specimen outside in late fall. After a renovation of their historic greenhouse space they didn't have room to bring it indoors for the winter after having it for years and years, and were going to have to let it die. Long story short I parted with $10 and took it home.

As you can see it is overgrown, has a bad lean (two stakes), and probably needs a refresh on the soil.

I'd like some tips on: soil to use/make, can I get it back to being upright, and how hard I can prune this back? Taking all of the side stems off back to the root ball would make it aesthetically pleasing.

Side note.... After pruning I'm more than happy to give the large branches to anyone in the Boston area who wants to propogate them for their own plant.

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Comments (8)

stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
6 years ago
Pruning for looks is up to the pruner. I can advise,you do it outdoors and with a water hose to wash of the running latex ( that will dry otherwise like spilled milk) and stop the bleeding.
Treegeek Z6a (Boston)
Original Author
6 years ago
This plant is overgrown and unhealthy. Yes I will make it more aesthetically pleasing, but this needs a pruning for health and structure.
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Hi Greeneye, What you're asking is tricky, because to pot diff. plants together, they need to have the same (or similar) cultural requirements (watering, light & mix requirements). I've grown both these plants (got rid of a nice size E. leuconeura a yr. ago, it got too big for the space & honestly, I got bored w/ it). But the E. leuconeura liked a lot of water, esp. in summer, but really all yr. long. Wayyyyy more water than I'd ever give an Xmas cactus. The same will be true it you throw some Jade cuttings in there, likely to rot the Jade. But of course you can try & see for yourself. Maybe the thing to do is get more of the same plant, or another Euph. which will also like bright light & generous watering (like one of the Miliis, or maybe even the Thai hybrids)?
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Ian - Indeed that is wet haydite. I should snap a pic of it dry for comparison. I find it quite attractive in my mix and have used it for top-dressing on a couple of "dressed up" plants that I know have sharp draining soil below. I used to use Turface, which is also an excellent grit, just not as attractive. NY - Trying to ship 40lb sacks might get expensive. I suggest that you let your fingers do the walking! Start with your local parks and recreation dept. Get a number for the dept. that maintains the ballfields. Where you find baseball, you will find turface or haydite. Also, haydite has a website that will assist you in finding the closest retail dealer. Here's a couple of addys to read up on it. www.haydite.com www.youkoubonsai.com/haydite.htm SnB gave you the reason why these type products are so desirable in soil mixes: "this type of top dressing tends to suck up the water more than straight grit. This may make it easier to see when there is still moisture in the soil, which can be handy with winter growers. It will also make the soil dry out faster since there will be continual evaporation from the surface instead of it drying out and trapping moisture." And what it does as top dressing it does throughout the soil when used in your mix. It's smooth and uniform, allowing for quick drainage but holds a tad of moisture for the plant to draw on. It dries quickly and is very is to "read", though as Ian pointed out, it is not 'the soil' that needs water but 'the plant'. HTH - Jo
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When I first pruned this thing I knew not to get the sap in my eye but i didn't realize how important it was to keep it off the skin. I got the stuff all over my arms and felt sick for a few days so yeah pruning is an ordeal. The plant was much larger about a year ago as I have taken many very large arms off in an attempt to contain it. I have probably given 400 lbs of cuttings away. Any one in San Diego want a cutting, give me a shout. I have found that it can take a very long time for these to decide to put out some roots. I would re-pot and try again with continued patience.
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It turns out even transparent roofs shades a lot of sunlight, Tracy. Before I installed the panels on my pergola I had to double the bug screen where I have my semi-dormant winter growers. After the roof installation I then had to remove the extra screen. Gladys' hoop house looks like it has double-wall polys so while it is bright, that's still a lot less harsh than direct sun. I should've warned you, sorry. Every time I get plants from Arid Lands I email them back to find out if they have been in a hoop house or under direct Arizona sun. Pagan
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laticauda
6 years ago
It being tall is really nice. You could always cut the larger stems in half and repot all the stems in the same pot for a shorter but bushier plant.
Karen S. (7b, NYC)
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Are you aware this one has potential irritating sap? Pls do searches to read on these before handling, IMPORTANT!!

The sap from this plant has caused folks serious eye problems. Pls do a search here for Euph tirucalli regarding serious danger of skin irritation from the sap, BEFORE you do anything pls. Not kidding around, pls read first to see.

Fellow readers: C&S & Houseplant Folks: why don't any others of you sound this alarm, why is it only just me?
Treegeek Z6a (Boston)
Original Author
6 years ago
Not looking to reduce the height, I will prune for health and structure. The co-dominant stems and lean need to be corrected.

Yes, fully aware of the toxicity of this one. You guys must get a lot of stay at home parents here with no clue about horticulture or arborculture? I appreciate the concern though!

Anyone want a giant stem off this to propagate?

Soil suggestions?
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
Personally, I wouldn't prune it at all. The plant looks perfectly healthy, there is no issue with it having "co-dominant stems" and the lean can be adjusted (maybe not fully corrected) just by restricting its light source to the side opposite the lean. These tend to grow in a rather large jumbled mass unless growing as trees in their native environment. But any pruning is always the grower's choice :-)

For a soil mix, you want something very fast draining - a cactus mix with added grit or perlite/pumice or the "gritty mix" referred to on the Container Gardening forum.
Sugi_C (Las Vegas, NV)
6 years ago
I think it looks perfectly striking as-is. I’m not seeing what is unhealthy about it. What a great find!
Debbie Riesen
3 years ago
My pencil cactus is 6 feet tall. Love it

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