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Why is my Euphorbia shriveling up?

If you notice your euphorbia is wrinkling and soft, it needs a drink!

Incredibly dry soil

While euphorbias are known to require very little water, they do will wilt if they get too dry too many times. Ill-timed waterings can create stress and cause your plant to have discolored leaves, leaf drop, and wrinkling. If the plant gets too dry for too long, the roots start to shrivel and die back. Then, once the plant is thoroughly watered, it cannot take up the moisture properly. If you’re noticing wrinkles on your euphoria your plant is very dry and a soak-watering is in order. It may seem counter-intuitive to give a desert plant a large drink, but you’ll be shocked at how your cactus will absorb the water and plump back up again.

Here’s how to soak-water your plant:

  1. Place your plant in your sink or tub without the saucer. Fill your basin up with about 3-4″ of water. Make sure the water isn’t hot! 
  2. Allow your plant to soak up water through the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot for at least 45 min. 
  3. Feel the top of the soil after your plant has been soaking–has the water reached the top 2-3” of soil?
  4. If not all the soil feels saturated, water your Cactus slightly from the top of the soil to help speed up the saturation.
  5. When your plant’s soil is evenly damp, drain the sink/tub and allow the plant to rest while it drains thoroughly. Place the plant back on its saucer and back in its proper spot.

Need more help?

We're confident your Euphorbia will be back to normal in no-time, but if you've followed the steps above and things just aren't improving you can contact us here.