Question
Our plant was yellowing from the bottom up.  We were told to cut all the healthey parts off (with a few inches in between), let them dry over night and replant.  We did just that - and used new cactus soil that we bought.  The soil seemed moist and now is dry.  Some of the stalks do seem to be yellowing at the base again.  If we cut - how long does it need to dry before replanting?  When we replant, how many inches down do we plant the stalk?  Should the soil be dry/moist?  When do we water it?  

thankyou.

Answer
Dear Kiki,

Euphoria's are a little tougher to propagate by cutting, however your friend was incorrect about one thing. You must let it dry for a minimum of a week, maybe even longer. Also, if a Euphorbia is rotting from the base up, you will need to examine the cut and look for any brown or black spots.

If there are, make another cut an inch or so above and look again. Make sure to sterilize the knife between each cut. Euphoria's have a fluid in them called latex (which in some varieties can burn your skin or are very poisonous, so be careful). The latex unfortunately spreads rot very quickly throughout the plant.

But, if after you make a cut and there are no dark spots, and the cutting is at least a few inches long, it should be ok. At least an inch of the plant will need to be in the soil and the cut area needs to be very firm or even hard before replanting. Wet the soil and let dry between waterings and keep out of direct sunlight. Be patient as it may take a month or two to start growing. Good luck!

Sincerely,

Greg