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flame plant succulent Buy 'Pencil Cactus - Euphorbia tirucalli Firesticks' Care and Growing Guide

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Description

flame plant succulent Buy 'Pencil Cactus - Euphorbia tirucalli Firesticks' Care and Growing GuideIntroducing the Pencil Cactus, botanically known as Euphorbia tirucalli Fire Sticks (also called Sticks on Fire), a striking succulent prized for its sea coral like appearance and vibrant, loosely branching pencil thin stems that develop brilliant shades of green, orange, and red. Native to Southern Africa, this unique succulent belongs to the Euphorbiaceae (spurge) family, not the cactus family (Cactaceae), though it is commonly referred to as Pencil

Introducing the Pencil Cactus, botanically known as Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Fire Sticks’ (also called Sticks on Fire), a striking succulent prized for its sea coral-like appearance and vibrant, loosely branching pencil-thin stems that develop brilliant shades of green, orange, and red.

Native to Southern Africa, this unique succulent belongs to the Euphorbiaceae (spurge) family, not the cactus family (Cactaceae), though it is commonly referred to as “Pencil Cactus” because of its cactus-like form and upright growth habit. It is also known by several other common names, including fire sticks plant, sticks on fire succulent, fire plant, red pencil tree, milk bush, and Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Rosea’.


When exposed to direct sunlight, the tips turn red, which is why they are also called firesticks.

This fast growing evergreen succulent can grow up to 30 feet tall and 10 feet wide, forming a thicket of brilliantly colored vertical stems with loose branches.

The unusual stems of this firestick plant, which are as thin as pencils, have a reddish-golden hue that becomes yellow in the summer and red again in the winter.

The pencil cactus flowers boast vibrant yellow, pink, or orange blooms in the summer and spring, making them a true showstopper in any garden.

The pencil cactus is extremely drought tolerant and hard to kill, and as a result, is a great, low-maintenance, easy-care plant for your home or garden.

You can grow your pencil cactus indoors year-round as a houseplant. If planting outdoors, it's best to do so in the spring when temperatures are warm and stable. This cactus grows faster than many other cacti, making it a striking addition to your garden or home.

If you cut your pencil cactus, be careful—the thick, white sap is toxic and can cause skin irritation, burns, or severe eye irritation if it gets into your eyes. While highly irritating, some cultures have historically used it in traditional medicine for treating growths like warts and tumors, though it is not safe for home remedies. Always wear gloves when handling the plant and wash your hands thoroughly if you come into contact with the sap.

When and How to Water Your Pencil Cactus 

This pencil cactus firestick plant can withstand droughts and doesn't need to be watered frequently to survive. Watering these perennial succulents should be done every 3–4 weeks or when the soil feels dry. Let the soil completely dry out between waterings, and if in doubt, give your fire plant a little more time before watering again.  Less water is needed for humid locations and indoor spaces. Pay attention to how the pencil cactus looks and adjust the watering accordingly.

Remember that succulents in the desert can go for weeks or even months without water, so water them sparingly during their rest phase and moderately during their active growing season.

Pro Tip

Most people like to see the red tips that give this Euphorbia tirucalli its firestick name. Note that it is stress that causes the tips to go red. So, the art is to stress the firestick plant a bit, but not too much. So, give it a lot of light and water it less than other succulents, so it is thirsty but not dying of thirst.

Overwatering can also cause the Euphorbia tirucalli 'Firesticks' tips to turn red, but it can also lead to root rot and other problems. So, if your pencil cactus is not turning red in full sun, it's possible that it's not experiencing enough stress to produce the anthocyanin pigments or that it's receiving too much water.

Light Requirements - Where to Place Your Pencil Cactus 

Like most succulents, indoors, the Euphorbia tirucalli firesticks need bright, indirect sunlight to thrive, so choose the brightest area in the house.

Potted indoor pencil cacti require four hours of direct sunlight, which can be achieved by locating them on a sunny south or west-facing windowsill. 

If you are growing these firestick succulents outdoors, make sure that they receive at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.

Partial shade may be tolerated as long as your pencil cactus gets the majority of the sunlight that it needs when it's planted outside. This succulent plant won't thrive if left in the shade for a long time. Its colors become more vibrant the more sunlight it receives.

In order to avoid sunburn, it is preferable to acclimatize your pencil cactus first before moving it outdoors or increasing the amount of sunlight it receives.

Optimal Soil & Fertilizer Needs 

The firestick Euphorbia is a succulent plant that likes very airy, porous, nutrient-rich soil with a pH of 5.5–6.5. Succulents require fast-draining soil that dries completely between waterings. Ideally, you want to use our specialized potting mixGo to soil cactus mix blend 1 gal 4 qt cacti succulent dirt compost growing media that contains 5 natural substrates and organic mycorrhizae to promote the development of a strong root system that helps your Euphorbia firesticks Pencil Cactus to thrive. 

When it comes to fertilizing your pencil cactus plant, it only needs a small amount of fertilizer applied once a year in spring. Cacti prefer a fertilizer with lower doses of NPK, with a maximum ratio of 5-10-5 that is higher in phosphorus than nitrogen.

Hardiness Zones & More 

When growing indoors as a houseplant, the Euphorbia firestick can tolerate temperatures between 65 °F and 75 °F. Your Euphorbia firestick plant performs well in temperatures above 30 °F. However, it can withstand temperatures below that, but only for short periods of time.

In the United States, the Euphorbia tirucalli is mostly an indoor plant, but if you live in southern Florida or Hawaii then you can cultivate it outdoors in USDA zones 10 -11.

Growing these pencil cacti in containers is the best option if you live in an area with harsh winters.

By doing this, you can bring your Pencil Cactus indoors during the winter or any time there's a chance of frost or snow. Normal house humidity is fine for this Euphorbia, but it prefers dry conditions. 

Wildlife - Euphorbia tirucalli Attracts the Following Friendly Pollinators

The Euphorbia tirucalli flowers attract a variety of pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, with their bright colors and sweet nectar. These pollinators play a crucial role in the ecosystem by helping to fertilize plants and promote biodiversity.

Butterflies
Bees
Hummingbirds
Lady Bugs
Multi Pollinators
Other Birds

According to ASPCA, the Euphorbia tirucalli 'Firesticks' is mildly toxic to humans and pets. It can irritate the skin, eyes, and gastrointestinal tract. However, it is safe to touch as long as precautions are taken to avoid contact with the sap. Wear gloves when handling this plant to prevent any potential skin irritation.

How to Propagate Your Pencil Cactus

When it comes to pencil cactus propagation, one common method is through stem cuttings. Simply take a cutting from a healthy pencil cactus, let it dry for a few days, and then place it in well-draining soil. Another method is through division, where you carefully separate the offsets or side shoots from the main plant and plant them individually.

Key Takeaways

  1. The stems of firesticks are as thin as pencils (hence the name) and turn a fire-red in the winter.
  2. Euphorbia Firesticks is a stunning variety that changes color with the seasons, turning bright red or orange tips in cooler temperatures or full sun.
  3. This succulent has a rapid growth rate, reaching up to 30 feet tall when grown outdoors, with a branching, upright form.
  4. During the spring and summer, the yellow flowers bloom in clusters on the end of the branch, usually for just a few days.

The Bottom Line

Overall, the pencil cactus (Euphorbia Firesticks) is a unique and striking succulent plant that adds a touch of elegance to any space. With its slender, pencil-like stems and vibrant green color, this sticks-on-fire cactus can truly be a showstopper. However, it's important to remember that the pencil cactus is not a true cactus but rather a succulent. It requires minimal care, preferring bright light and well-draining soil. By providing proper pencil cactus care, you'll have a beautiful and unique Euphorbia firestick plant that will thrive for years to come. 

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4.4 ★★★★★
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cookieman108
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 4
A stylish, intimate remake of a French Classic
William Friedkin (The French Connection) brings us exotic locations and gripping story in Sorcerer, a remake of Henri-Georges Clouzot's 1953 thriller Wages of Fear. The first hour of this movie seems to be comprised of random events involving four individuals that have absolutely nothing to do with each other. The only commonality is that they are all men of dubious character. Probably the most recognizable actor in this film is Roy Schieder, who plays a low level New York gangster participate in a robbery that goes bad, and forces him to flee the country due to the fact he managed to step on some pretty well connected toes. The second man, a French businessman, escapes from the threat of prosecution due to some shady business dealings. The third man, a Middle Eastern terrorist flees his captors after being caught participating in a bombing, and the fourth man is a shady assassin type apparently on the run from repercussion from his last hit. The key is all four men end up in a South American rat-infested stink hole of a town called Vera Cruz. After awhile, they find their sanctuary has become more of a prison and all begin a desperate search for a way out, but that involves money, a commodity that's in short supply, with the only work available in the area is provided by an oil company that runs a well and is building a pipeline for the bubbling crude. Dangerous work, and the pay is so low that it would take years to earn enough to leave. Salvation for the men comes in a catastrophic disaster, an explosion damaging the well and causing the oil to burn. The only way to close the well proper for repairs is to blow it up, and the only explosives available are 200 miles away. Turns out the explosives, sticks of nitro, haven't been tended very well, and, in turn, are highly unstable. The company decides to hire four men to drive two trucks to carry the dangerous materials through 200 miles of dangerous jungle, including prehistoric rope and wood bridges, treacherous mountain passes, deadly bandits and swampy roads laden with fallen trees. The suicide mission draws the four men, as the money would allow them to escape the oppressive town. The most intense scenes for me involved the men trying to traverse a rickety, rotting wooden rope suspension bridge over a raging river during a heavy rainstorm. There were times when the truck on the bridge was at such an angle, I thought it would flip right off. And all the actors performed most all their own stunts, adding to the realism of the movie. Do they make it? See the movie and find out. I especially liked the very end. A very nice touch that reminded me of an ending of a certain Alfred Hitchcock movie. Which one? I won't say, as it would give it away. The movie runs just under two hours, and I would highly recommend it to anyone. Friedkin and the actors do a wonderful job in developing tensions between the characters and the environment and the between the characters themselves. The pacing is a bit slow, but it's deliberate, cranking the suspense up, notch by grueling notch. There are sparse special features, including pretty thorough productions notes and a trailer. If you enjoy thrilling adventure, you will most likely like this movie. I would have happily given this movie five stars but it is only available in the full screen format. Something I didn't understand is the title for the movie. I wasn't able to figure out what it had to do with the movie.... Cookieman108
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Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2003
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Todd7
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 5
Forgotten Classic
Sorcerer (1977) is, for the most part, a forgotten classic. First the forgotten: this film got kicked around by moviegoers when first released, probably because the title is misleading (nothing to do with fantasy), and they probably weren't in the mood for this film due to the sudden stratospheric success of another film that debuted at the same time (Star Wars). With Star Wars cementing the advent of the summer blockbuster, suddenly moviegoers wanted stuff more on the surface and eye candy for good measure. As a result, Sorcerer never got its footing, and was a major box office failure. If this film had debuted just a few years earlier, it would've done well, because it would've fit in with the other films of the time. The truth is that Sorcerer is an adaptation (not a remake) of The Wages of Fear from 1953. Now the classic: Sorcerer has since generated the respect it deserves, and is one of the best films of the 1970's. This film has it all: action, suspense, breathtaking and iconic scenes (the bridge scene being one), organic acting and a sort of 'raw' feel in terms of a lot of the settings; dwellings are dilapidated, and the machinery rusty. Even the actors are dirty, sweaty, and have visible wounds throughout the film. I particularly like the restraint on the dialogue, as Friedkin chooses to tell the story more in a visual sense. I also like the uniqueness of the characters being kept at a distance from the audience; this makes them sort of mysterious and seems to work in this film. This film was a very ambitious project, one that has been rewarded with the passage of time (thankfully). The care that went into many scenes and accompanying special effects are obvious, and first rate. Overall, Sorcerer is a must-see. This blu ray has excellent picture and sound quality, so it was worth the wait in that regard. One last thing: it's extremely rare for a blu ray disc to not include any special features; in the case of Sorcerer, it's unfortunately true. Perhaps this fact tells us just how much of a beating this film took over the years. I guess we should feel grateful that it has even made it onto blu ray.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2017
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glenn
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 5
Sorcerer (1977) (BD)
This is a different version, which can happen after the initial film with different editing and ending. I don't remember the political emphasis at all, and the ending of the other version was with Roy Scheider getting through the rough parts with his eyes glowing as he drove the truck alone, a real Sorcerer, after performing the miracle. This version continues after the completion to another ending altogether. I think both are great films, but each with a separate focus. This was all done without CGI which seems impossible. The scenes are still amazing and the camera work and editing top-notch.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2026
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Dylan
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 3
Good but not Wages of Fear
The much maligned Sorcerer is in fact a good well crafted thriller that if seen without refrence to the Original Wages of Fear would have faired far better at the hands of the critics. That's not to say the film is perfect. The opening scenes that fill the viewer in on the charecters back stories, are pointless and actually work against the tension that is built up later in the film. Knowing exactly why the characters are desperate makes their reasons for taking on the deadly task seem a bit lame and looses the exestential angst that creates such a hopeless atmosphere. Once in South America the oppresive nature of their stay in the village is also diminshed by knowing too much about them. Having said all that there is still an air of desperation and mounting frustration, it's just not as clausterphobic as it could have been. Once the journey begins the tension is turned on, the only problem is that by knowing the original so well there is not quite the frisson of that classic. This is an unfortunate by-product of re-making any well respected film. Friedkin however has a fair go and if this is the film you see first you will wonder why it was so slated on original release. The film moves at a well constructed pace that is aided by a cracking score from Tangerine Dream. The cast perform well and Roy Scheider is reasonably well cast but does not deliver the subtly nuanced performance he is capable of, for this you need to look towards (obviously) Jaws and to a lesser extent the minor role he playes in Naked Lunch. All in all a good film, though not great, and as the review starts by saying, not Wages Of Fear, but it deserves a better reputation than it so unfortunatly has and will be a good addition to anyones collection of interesting 70's films (the best decade for American Filmaking by a long long way).
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Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2005
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L. Freytag
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 5
Harrowing Cult Classic!
If you are considering this film, no doubt you know that it is a remake (or hommage to) the classic French thriller Wages of Fear. Chances are everyone is also familiar with the outlines of the plot--a group desparate men agree to transport cargoes of unstable dynamite through 200 miles of South American jungle to put out an oilfield fire. Of course the drivers know they have voluneered for a suicidal job and the odds are against the survival of any of the truck drivers. That alone puts Sorcerer (along with Runaway Train & Sam Peckinpaw's The Wild Bunch) into the rarest category of films: the big-budget Hollywood existential! My view, a distinct minority view, is that William Friedkin's remake surpasses the orginal as an exercise in suspense and harrowing, relentless action. Like many other fans of this movie, my introduction came during the 1980s on cable movie channels. Few people saw Sorcerer on the big screen. The film was initally panned by critics and cited as a prime example of a young director with too much ego, power and money creating yet another Hollywood box-office disaster. Gradually, the film acquired an audience and a legacy through word of mouth. Today many critics see Sorcerer as the last great product of the seventies generation of young Hollywood film-makers. It is no accident that Sorcerer and Star Wars opened the same day!In many ways, the film marks the transition from the courageous experimental Hollywood of the seventies to the family blockbusters and action franchises of today. Fans of Sorceror appreciate the director's commitment to the story of desperate men risking everything to escape a very realistic, modern version of hell on earth. The opening backstory sequences show us how a small-time New Jersey criminal, a disgraced French banker, a Mexican assassin, and an Arab terrorist find themselves driving old trucks that can (and will) explode at any moment. The film has a hypnotic, dreamlike feel and the viewer will be drawn into a dark journey that can only end one way. The score by the German band Tangerine Dream is at once seductive and chilling and contributes to the growing atmosphere of susense and dread. If you like stylish action and relentless story-telling, you should not miss this film. The DVD quality is OK but perhaps we might hope for a remastered director's cut with better special features at some point.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2010

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