Desert Candle
Common Name(s)
Desert Candle
Latin Name
Euphorbia Abyssinica
Care Level
Perfect For Beginners
Light
Bright indirect light is needed for good growth as with any cactus
Water
Water these cacti sparingly, allow the plant to completely dry between watering. The plant should not be watered from October to March
Humidity
Regular household humidity is fine
Temperature
This plant requires warm temperatures of 18°-25°C.
Fertiliser
You can use diluted cacti fertiliser once a month or during the summer months. Too much plant food causes excess salt build up in the soil that can result in damage to the plant so take care with this.
Toxicity
Due to the toxicity and irritant nature of the milky sap contained within the stems these plants should be handled with care.
Why is my cactus turning brown?
It's incredibly important that these plants are not watered from October to March. Browning cacti and loss of structural integrity is a sign your plant is rotting from the inside. If this isn't too bad, you could chop the top half, allow it callous over and re-pot. Unfortunately, by the time the browning begins it may be too late for the plant.
Why is the growth on my plant lopsided?
This is a result of un-even light exposure. To overcome this, you should rotate your plant 90 degrees every so often to ensure even exposure to light and to avoid it leaning to one side
