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fire succulent

fire succulent Pencil Cactus

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Description

fire succulent 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. 

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L
LG
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 4
Nicely made and easy to read
Format: Hardcover
This arrived well packaged, but despite this, the two top corners of the book were somewhat smashed and there was more significant damage at the bottom of the spine where it was smashed. There is also some damage on the spine itself at about the level where Crossway is printed. The book appears well made and the paper is a good quality and thick. The print is of a nice size. One will most likely never access all the information enclosed in this commentary. In addition, one will most likely not agree with everything written, which should be expected of all commentaries. Commentaries are simply that and not authoritative. One hopes that by reading they might learn something new or be prompted to look more closely at a subject or issue. Let's look at Leviticus 11, for example, where the dietary guidelines are given to the Israelites. In the comments regarding pigs being forbidden, it is noted that the Philistines raised pigs for food. Knowing that, one can come to a conclusion that this may be why they were forbidden, so as to make a difference, or distinction, between the two peoples and not necessarily that pigs were bad to eat. In addition, throughout the commentary the reader is taken not just to other Old Testament passages, but where applicable the New Testament is referenced. Again using Leviticus 11, at the end of the chapter the commentary brings up the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 when they issued the four requirements for Gentiles. It is noted that, "The Jerusalem Council agreed on four nonnegotiables to bring Jewish and Gentile believers to the same table, drawn in large measure from Leviticus's laws on holy living for the resident alien."
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Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2025
D
Dave V.
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 5
The Final Volume of An Excellent Commentary Series Does Not Disappoint
Format: Hardcover
After 7 years, Crossway has completed their ESV Expository Commentary set. Ironically, Vol. 1, was the last of the twelve volumes to be completed. It fully lives up to the standard the other eleven set. Like the other volumes, it focuses on a passage by passage commentary of each book, followed by a ‘Response’ section that is usually some form of practical application of belief or behavior. For example, in my copy, the ribbon marker was already in Exodus 17:1-7’s ‘Response’ page, and it discussed the question of ‘Why Does God Test His People?’. Jay Sklar’s response includes this wisdom: ‘testing not only gives us an opportunity to show faithfulness; it also helps us to to become more faithful.’ (pg. 578). While I have not yet read the whole thing, Crossway seems to have balanced some well-known scholars with other lesser known ones. Genesis in this volume is covered by Iain Duguid, noted OT scholar currently teaching at Westminster Seminary. Exodus is examined by Covenant Seminary Professor of Old Testament, Jay Sklar, who is a well-known expert on all five books of the Pentateuch. I had not heard of Christine Palmer (Leviticus) or Ronald Bergey (Numbers) before, but Crossway has earned my trust, and I presume their contributions will live up to the standards of others in this series. The commentary is pretty beefy, and the hardcover binding (if my previous volumes are any indication) will need to be handled with care - especially if you are like me, and sometimes try to photocopy pages so you don’t have to carry the whole commentary to a coffee shop or library! All in all, if you are a pastor, Bible student, or lead a Bible study, this series, and this volume, will be a benefit to you.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2025
L
Lori A Alsdorf
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 5
Excellent, Readable Bible Commentary
Format: Hardcover, Format: Hardcover
I feel more than a little inadequate writing a review of this first volume of the Expository Commentary which uses the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Holy Bible. The ESV has become my favorite Bible translation due to its excellent readability and reliability, thus influencing my decision to order this commentary. Just as readability influences my choice of Bible translations, this commentary also does an excellent job of maintaining readability across all four authors, each one having authored one complete book- Genesis through Numbers. This is a scholarly work and as such it uses references to a large body of additional scholarly works, more than three full pages worth, and lists abbreviations for each with those abbreviations noted throughout the text of the commentary for each book in the volume. These references include ancient as well as more contemporary works, most have English titles and a number are works grounded in the original Hebrew. Another help for any expositor are the ongoing references to other Bible passages that relate to the text of the commentary. Each of these references, and there are thousands of them, are listed in a Scripture Index organized from Genesis to Revelation that require nearly sixty pages at the very back of the volume. Though I’ve not read all 1392 pages, I’ve found editing to be excellent, though I did find one error on page 34 that had no consequence for understanding the meaning. I know many prefer the ease of using digital resources for study due to quick access, portability, and easy storage (I found this resource is also available digitally). I can easily recommend this resource without reservation.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2025
J
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JustinHoca
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 5
Helpful and informative
Format: Kindle
Four Views on the Book of Revelation (Counterpoints: Bible and Theology) edited by Stanley N. Gundry and C. Marvin Pate I read this book after previously reviewing Revelation in Context: John’s Apocalypse and Second Temple Judaism. That book was helpful for me to understand Revelation as apocalyptic literature, one example of the genre with similarities to others from the first and second centuries. Interpreting Revelation as apocalyptic literature is itself a choice, and some approaches to Revelation, such as classic dispensationalism with its emphasis on grammatical-historical hermeneutics are skeptical of that approach. As Thomas writes in his chapter “To understand any passage of Scripture in a nonliteral way violates principles of grammatical-historical interpretation unless contextual features signal a need to interpret otherwise” (p. 244). I found Revelation in Context helpful for introducing various apocalyptic books of the age in providing greater context for Jewish thought up to and after John wrote Revelation. The editors of Four Views provide a good overview of the four views presented as well as a good introduction to Revelation. The four authors and their positions are: Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr. (preterist) Sam Hamstra, Jr. (idealist) C. Marvin Pate (progressive dispensationalist) Robert L. Thomas (classical dispensationalist) Each author made a case for his position and responded briefly to points by the other authors. Thomas is the most insistent in his argument and spends the most time critiquing the others’ positions. The differences stem entirely from their hermeneutics, each has a different approach to the book and each calls “foul” with the others’ misuse or lack of consistency of their own hermeneutics. For me, the winner was the preterist position, as I’d never truly been exposed to this paradigm. The author allows it to speak for itself, and I found it appealing because of how well the events of 68-70 AD as described (mainly) by Josephus line up eerily well with the words of Revelation. In some cases, it seems Josephus is quoting Revelation, which made me wonder whether the authors had taken liberties with the actual translation of Josephus’ works. After reading Gentry Jr.’s view, reading Revelation with a preterist’s viewpoint in mind made it a completely different book for me. Whether the position is correct or not, it allowed me to read Revelation again for the first time, so to speak– that was a gift. Thomas drove home for me that classical dispensationalism demands a special place for the ethnic people of Israel including a rebuilding of the temple along with its sacrifices. Babylon on the Euphrates is literally the Babylon of old and must also be rebuilt, which he interprets to be a Persian/Iranian empire that will come to fruition again. I think I can see how this view is at long last falling out of favor. Some of the writers may be somewhat heterodox. Gentry, for example, leaves open some possibilities for partial preterism or has some reasoning other preterists don’t have. Thomas is appalled at progressive dispensationalism’s “now and not yet” mentality as violating rules of grammatical-historical interpretation. Pate leaves the door open to Revelation having an earlier authorship and more sections being fulfilled in the first century than Thomas allows. Hamstra is in a field of his own, the “idealist” position sees Revelation as purely symbolic and not specific to any time period– everyone undergoing persecution is experiencing the spirit of the Antichrist, etc. Since reading this book, I’ve been checking out podcasts on preterism while pondering how covenantalists I know seem to sound like progressive dispensationalists. I am glad this book was published and will check out similar works in this series. Five stars.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2026
A
Verified Purchase
Andrew A. Carr
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
A Little Gem
Format: Paperback
This little book is a wonderful resource for teachers, pastors, and all who want to gain a better understanding of the book of Revelation. The introduction by Marvin Pate is a real gem. It gives a helpful (and sometimes humorous) overview of the various positions expounded in the remainder of the book, and it offers a valuable apology for the study of prophecy. He points out that neither fanaticism nor the neglect of biblical prophecy is a healthy option for the follower of Christ. The heart of this volume is the presentation of four common interpretations of the book of Revelation. Kenneth Gentry does a nice job of presenting the preterist position, which is normally linked to postmillennialism. This position found a resurgence in the late 1980’s and 90’s after being on the brink of extinction. Gentry gives a good deal of historical information from Josephus’s Jewish War to bolster his interpretation of Revelation, yet questions remain. Do the atrocities of which Josephus writes reach the global proportions mentioned in Revelation? In addition, do the many passages quoted in support of a glorious earthly kingdom really affirm a postmillennial kingdom? Finally, the preterist position articulated by Gentry necessitates a pre 70 AD date for the composition of Revelation. While this is not impossible, it is improbable, as most NT scholars hold to a post 70 date. The idealist view is ably defended by Sam Hamstra. The idealist view is often associated with amillennialism and has a long history stretching back to Augustine. It sees Revelation as a representation of the ongoing battle between good and evil. It denies a chronological and literal reading of revelation. The real value of this position is that it excels in bringing out the timeless theological truths which are embedded in Revelation. These truths can provide hope and encouragement for saints of any time or place. However, it does seem questionable whether Revelation was intended to be read in a nonchronological manner. The other difficulty is that it tends to strip Revelation of historical specificity. By saying that the prophecies of Revelation can apply to any age in general, one comes close to saying that they apply to no age in particular. The final view is that of premillennialism, which is represented by both a classical dispensationalist and a progressive dispensationalist. The two views have much in common as they both read Revelation more literally than the other two positions, and both see chronological progression in the book of Revelation. Robert Thomas defends the classical dispensationalist approach by stressing a literal hermeneutic and a chronological reading of Revelation. Marvin Pate represents progressive dispensationalism which synthesizes many of the positive features of the other three views while still maintaining a distinction between Israel and the church. One of the key elements of progressive dispensationalism is the emphasis on “pattern prophecy”. This understanding of prophecy allows for the repetition of prophetic events throughout history with escalating levels of fulfillment. Classical dispensationalist writers include John Walvoord, Dwight Pentecost, and Charles Ryrie. Progressive dispensationalism is represented by Darrell Bock and Craig Blaising. While dispensationalism is grounded in biblical soil, some would question whether it does justice to the highly symbolic and figurative language of biblical prophecy, and whether those prophecies should be seen as referring to actual future events that will occur in a chronological progression. This book is especially helpful when comparing eschatological systems and how they influence the interpretation of the book of Revelation. If one is looking to study the book of Revelation, this is a great place to start.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2013

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