SKU: 9021115134
fire stick vs pencil cactus

fire stick vs pencil cactus Pencil Cactus

$26.95 $29.95
Save 10%
No.2 Bestseller on parroquiadesanalbertomagno.com >

Pay in installments of $7.49 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Aug 8 - Aug 13

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

fire stick vs pencil cactus Pencil CactusIntroducing 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. 

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 9021115134

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell fire stick vs pencil cactus

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.3 ★★★★★
Based on 19 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
A
Verified Purchase
A. H. Wagner
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 5
A very painful but highly illuminating must-read on how racism took root and persists in the US
Format: Kindle
About halfway through reading this book, I realized I was highlighting almost every single page and had to start color-coding my highlights so as to make a little more sense of why certain passages struck me—a visual testimony of how illuminating Stamped from the Beginning is. With a primary focus on racism toward African-Americans and people identified as Black, this book is a thoroughly researched, sweepingly comprehensive survey of racism from its first traceable roots in ancient Greece when Aristotle said Africans had “burnt faces” to the start of the African slave trade in 15th century Europe, to the first recorded slave ship arriving in colonial America in 1619, all the way through the Civil War, the Jim Crow laws, the 1960s Civil Rights movement, and up to the present day. In order to help readers navigate this extensive timeline, author Ibram X. Kendi divides the book into five parts, featuring one historical figure as a sort of tour guide or anchor for each part. Very few individuals or institutions mentioned in this book come off as completely free of racist thinking; even many abolitionists and civil rights activists are revealed to have held racist ideas that contradicted their cause. This made me realize the extent to which racism has ensnared the United States in its pernicious roots. In Stamped from the Beginning, Kendi presents two main ideas about racism that helped me understand its influence and progress over the centuries. First, he explains that “Hate and ignorance have not driven the history of racist ideas in America. Racist policies have driven the history of racist ideas in America.” The author admits, “I was taught the popular folktale of racism: that ignorant and hateful people had produced racist ideas, and that these racist people had instituted racist policies. But when I learned the motives behind the production of many of America’s most influentially racist ideas, it became quite obvious that this folktale, though sensible, was not based on a firm footing of historical evidence.” As Kendi explains further, “Racially discriminatory policies have usually sprung from economic, political, and cultural self-interests, self-interests that are constantly changing.” Now that I understand self-interest—not hate or ignorance—has been the driving factor behind racist policies, I can better understand why racism hasn’t died out with the Emancipation Proclamation or desegregation or any of the Civil Rights Acts passed in this country. Tragically, racism persists and continues to evolve according to the current self-interests of people and institutions in power. It’s why, after slavery was abolished, segregation and the Jim Crow laws rushed in to replace it, and long after segregation has been outlawed, African-Americans continue to be oppressed by disproportionate mass incarceration as well as disadvantaged by fewer, inferior housing and employment opportunities. Second, Kendi points out that racism is not simply a debate between those who support racist ideas and those who oppose racist ideas. Throughout history, three–not two–viewpoints on racism have persisted: “A group we can call segregationists has blamed Black people themselves for the racial disparities. A group we can call antiracists has pointed to racial discrimination. A group we can call assimilationists has tried to argue for both, saying that Black people and racial discrimination were to blame for racial disparities.” As much as I would like to believe I am firmly in the antiracist camp, reading this book made me realize I have held a lot of racist ideas from an assimilationist viewpoint that I need to correct. Kendi gives many examples of well-meaning civil rights activists, including some African-Americans, who upheld assimilationist ideas. Some persisted with these ideas their entire lives, others realized their error and later self-corrected to an antiracist viewpoint, and still others upheld both antiracist and assimilationist ideas, often not realizing the contradiction. Thus, a tragic pattern that has repeated itself throughout American history is the persistence of many assimilationists in seeking to abolish racist policies and ideas with the same flawed strategies that never work. Indeed, the African-American author admits, “Even though I am an African studies historian and have been tutored all my life in egalitarian spaces, I held racist notions of Black inferiority before researching and writing this book.” I think it’s crucially important that Kendi tells readers about his mistaken notions of race—not to make readers feel better about their own ignorance, but to demonstrate how deeply racist ideas have taken root in American culture. Hopefully this admission on the author’s part will ease readers out of their defensive mode and open their minds to the disturbing truth that racism is a lot more pervasive among us Americans than we would like to believe. If you want to understand exactly how racism took root in the United States and why it has persisted through the present day, if you are prepared for a very sobering, very painful, and often highly disturbing look at the many flaws, hypocrisies, and atrocities in the American notions of democracy, exceptionalism, and “liberty and justice for all,” then Stamped from the Beginning is a must-read. Ultimately, what the author conveys with copious examples is that “Black Americans’ history of oppression has made Black opportunities—not Black people—inferior.” An absolutely necessary emendation to the traditionally accepted canon of American history.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2017
J
Verified Purchase
James H. Lee
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
Painful but excellent exploration of racist ideas in American history
Format: Kindle
Professor Kendi's fine study, which deservedly won a National Book Award, illuminates in a new way the history of racism in the US. Focusing on ideas rather than government policy, he documents the tenacity of an outlook that has stained the 400 year history of the American people. He begins with a simple, and I think unimpeachable, definition of racism: any argument or idea that attributes to an entire ethnic group intellectual or moral superiority or inferiority. Racists invariably explain these differences between ethnic groups as a product of biology, in an effort to shelter behind a scientific patina ideas that cannot survive rigorous scientific investigation. He organizes the book around five American thinkers, Cotton Mather, Thomas Jefferson, Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. Dubois, and Angela Davis. In each section, he also discusses the ideas of contemporaries of these individuals, dividing people into one of three groups: segregationists (racists who blamed blacks for their own plight); assimilationists (whites and even some blacks who attributed inequality partially to environment but still accepted the racist idea that all blacks shared some responsibility for discrimination); antiracists, who rejected the notion that any type of inferiority could be associated with all African Americans. Kendi has written an angry book, as would any author sensitive to the devastating impact of America's original sin. He shows how racist ideas, like the villain in contemporary horror movies, never suffer a final defeat. As soon as one explanation for alleged racial differences falls out of favor, a different one emerges from the (so far) undrainable swamp of prejudice to take its place. This resiliency demonstrates that racism does not stem from ignorance, but reflects the self-interest of those who benefit from the privileges conferred by supression of ethnic equality. The author's anger does not target any specific group. Few of his subjects (including himself) escape unscathed from his sharp analysis. Probably the most surprising revelation of this book is the extent to which even fierce defenders of black equality sometimes accepted some of the insidious ideas of racism and blamed African Americans for the discrimination they experienced. Thus the real target of Professor Kendi's anger is racism itself, the pervasiveness of which does not exempt even black Americans from its influence. Even this fine work of scholarship is not, in my opinion, free of flaws. In his evaluation of historical figures, he seems to judge them by their conformity to our values and standards. To judge Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass for their failure to measure up to this generation's views of racism may accurately pinpoint some of the shortcomings especially in Lincoln's attitudes. But to criticize a 19th century president, caught in the impossible pressures of a savage civil war for having mixed motives in his emancipation policy displays a willful refusal to evaluate his behavior according to the context of the times in which he lived. (Absurd comments to the effect that Lincoln was "scared to death" when Lee threatened Washington during his invasion of the north in 1862 reveal more about Kendi than they do about the president.) But even if I have correctly identified flaws in the book, this is an important and exceptionally fine work of scholarship, which anyone concerned about the future of race relations in the US should read.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2017
S
Verified Purchase
Stephanie
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
Essential reading
Format: Audiobook
I wish I’d learnt this history decades ago. This book illuminates how the world has, for many of us, come to be seen through a white supremacist lens. It provides religious, political, technological, sociological context over centuries and Millenia. It explains the justifications used to treat our fellow humans as ‘less than’ - the sort of thinking that we in the ‘western’, white, colonial world have inherited, that persists through literature, philosophy and mythology, and that continues to fuel bigotry and oppression today. Eye opening. Can’t recommend more highly (book, kindle, audiobook).
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2026
M
Verified Purchase
Martin Firestein
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Perhaps too ambitious for its own good
Having just finished Dr. Kendi's magnum opus on the history of American racism, I can confidently say that this is a very ambitious work. It attempts to describe the political, social, economic, philosophical, and cultural development of racist ideas throughout American history while at the same time, offering biographical sketches of 5 Americans who were/are representative of their time and place (Cotton Matther/Colonial America, Jefferson/Revolutionary era, William Garrison/Civil War and Reconstruction Era, W.E.B. DuBois/Jim Crow era, and Angela Davis/Civil Rights and Black Power era). Perhaps it's a bit too ambitious, though. The amount of ground the book tries to cover prevents it from being able to cover anything in great detail. Thus, the biographies of the 5 individuals are incomplete, and the racist or assimilationist ideas in each time period are discussed superficially. Dr. Kendi's book also jumps around a lot from one subject to another, which can be a bit jarring or disrupt the flow of the narrative. Don't get me wrong. The book does a very good job explaining how a lot of what has passed for antiracism in US history was really assimilationist thinking, and it also convincingly argues that racism and racist policies flow from the political, economic, or social advantages that one group gains by the persecution of the other. However, I am left with the distinct impression that Dr. Kendi should've narrowed his focus to something that could've been more manageable. Perhaps he should've focused exclusively on the difference between antiracism vs assimilation. Perhaps instead of attempting biographies of 5 individuals, he should've devoted each chapter (or section) of the book to discussing the racist or assimilationist ideas of that time period, and how they developed or changed over time. Overall, my best advice would be to get this book and read it, because it's very timely with what's going on right now in America, but for those areas that aren't covered in a lot of detail, I would try to supplement it with other literature.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2020
T
Verified Purchase
Taylor
Chelsea, US
★★★★★ 4
Interesting and important read, but less objective than I expected.
Format: Hardcover
I feel this book has received higher review ratings than it probably deserves. Yet, it's still an overall good read and it discusses an important societal issue of U.S. history. This review will include both positive and negative feedback of this book. The author, Ibram Kendi, has done a great job at making this book accessible to readers. It's not overly infused with academic jargon. The chapters are also quite short, which makes it easier to read. The substance of the book is pretty informative too. Kendi's frequent usage of quotes really exposes the racist attitudes and ideas that were (and still are) present in American society. Although this book contains an abundance historical quotes, many of them lack sufficient explanation and context. As a student of history, I appreciate deeper, rounded discussions of historical figures. I felt that Kendi mostly includes short bits of statements from historical figures, then hastily shows how those statements equal racism in the person being discussed. I guess Kendi's style is OK. It just doesn't quite feel dedicated to historians craft. Another, less important critique is about the book title's usage of the term "Definitive." I'm surprised that this work was labeled as definitive. To be definitive, it would need to include racial histories of ALL ethnic/racial groups throughout both the American colonial and U.S. eras. Alternatively, this book's title may have been more appropriate as "The Definitive History of Racist Ideas Towards Peoples of sub-Sarahan African Descent in America." Overall, I'm glad I purchased and read this book. It boldly explains certain sides of history that much of our society has missed. I did not grow up in a "racist" household. Yet, this book helped me reflect on my own attitudes, which have been influenced by racist ideas to some degree. I hope others (especially other Americans) can read this book with an open heart and mind.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2018

recommand products

Red Velvet Tiger Lily
27.52
2-3 ft. - Jacaranda Tree
22.65
Anouk Spanish Lavender – Plant Detectives
26.45
Lavandula 'Anouk' Tree
27.71
Tea Tree Lavender Mint Moisturizing Liter Duo Set 33.8oz / 1L
23.88