A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The House Plant Forum Cacti and Succulents Indoors have I killed my pencil plant?

I have (had) a beautiful pencil plant approx. 3 feet tall/wide. Due to house guests, I put it on top of a spacious corner fireplace mantel and pushed it as far back as possible. I checked all the time to feel and see if it felt too warm, and it never did. Today I walked into the den and the first thing I saw was my beautiful plant shriveling up before my eyes. The back side that was closest to the corner is dried up and I swear it looks as if more of the plant has dried up just in the time since I got home. I have watered it and removed it from the mantel. Any suggestions as to how to save the plant so I don't lose it all? I am sick.

Annie

I am not sure if you have actually killed it although you have not been kind, I guess. Pencil plants love desert conditions here so it may yet recover. Give it some time And see what happens now that it is back in its happy place. If any parts actually blacken, cut them off and discard them.
Welcome to the forum.

Hi Annie and Welcome to the forum.....
I have grown Pencil cactus(plants) for a long time,,,,.
It could be there wasn't enough air circulation in the corner,, as why they backside isn't happy right now,,,, I've never had that happen so I'm trying to picture how it may look,,,,,, I don't know what area you live in either, so I can't say to take outside,,,, But I wouldn't water it too much,, ( I don't know how wet is was before you watered it today )
You didn't say if any of it was very soft ,, l But.,.
Any branch that is almost "Mushy" should be cut off,, be careful the milky liquid can me toxic,, wear gloves while cutting,,. Just in case, :wink:
Make sure there is enough air ciculation and sunny place for it to heal,,





I wouldn't say you've not been Kind,,,,,
In fact you were being kind to it in considering a safe place to put it while company was there,
One thing to remember,, Air circulation is important to all plants .
Can you take A picture of it so I can see,, then maybe I could assess the problem better>???/

Angelblossom is right, my statement doesn't look too nice standing alone like that. I had meant to light-heartedly reassure you that you were probably not a pencil plant murderer. They are fairly forgiving plants and you obviously have taken good care of yours to get it to 3X3. I think you will be able to bring it back.
And again, welcome to The Garden Helper.

Thanks for the warm welcome and the comments as to my poor pencil plant. I think I will let it recover for a few days before I decide how to best heal
this plant. The top of the thickest stalk is okay, I believe. However, from that point downward, the "arms" or whatever they are called are brown and dried up. The additional two stalks that come from the momma stalk are fine. They were facing the room and not in the corner of the mantle. Should I cut those dried up arms off to the stalk? Thanks for the caveat about the milky stuff.

BTW, putting the plant outside is not a good idea as I live in Indiana and the wind chill today is 2. It's cold.

Oh dang,,,,,,,, Wind Chill at 2,,,,,,,, I guess not then

I would go ahead and cut off the brown dead limbs,, So it won't use energy to try to restore what can't be restored. :wink:

Sounds Like it's going to be fine,,,,, as long as the main stocks are good it's Good!