A firm but not compacted root ball. White roots that do not show any signs of rot. A dense cluster of roots that hold the soil. Roots that extend to the edge of the container but do not circle around the inside of the container.
The plant should stand upright and not look wilted. The color should be uniformly green, except on older plants where the trunk is brown and looks similar to bark. The plant should be free of insects and plant damage.
Plants between 3 inches (7. 6 cm) and 2 feet (61 cm) tall will grow in a 4 inches (10 cm) deep container. Taller plants will do well in containers that are between 6 and 10 inches deep.
Use a basic potting soil mix for container grown Pencil Trees. In the landscape, the plant will grow in eroded soils, saline soils and other difficult growing conditions.
Cover plants grown in the landscape with an old sheet. Place stakes around the plant and drape the sheet over the plant so that the sheet does not touch the plant. Bring container-grown plants indoors or cover the plants with a sheet.
Insert a stick into the soil near the trunk of the plant. Loosely tie the main stem (the trunk) to the stick. Adjust the tie and the supporting stick as the plant grows.
Wear gloves to protect your hands from the milky latex. [5] X Research source Cut a stem near a point where the stem branches from the main branch.
Plant the cut end of the stem in a small container of potting soil. Water the soil so that the soil is soaked. Allow the plant to slightly dry out (but not completely) while it is growing roots.
