Repotting guide

When & how to repot Euphorbia lactea 'White Ghost' (Euphorbia lactea 'White Ghost')

Also called white ghost euphorbia, ghost cactus.

More about euphorbia lactea 'white ghost'

About Euphorbia lactea 'White Ghost'

Euphorbia lactea 'White Ghost' · also called white ghost euphorbia, ghost cactus · houseplant

Euphorbia lactea 'White Ghost' is a near-albino cultivar prized for its ghostly white, candelabra-branched stems with faint grey marbling. Lacking chlorophyll in much of its tissue, it grows slowly and needs strong light to survive. Treat it as a desert succulent: gritty soil, sparing water, and warmth above 10C year-round.

Mature size: Up to 1-1.5m tall over many years indoors, though usually kept much smaller; grafted specimens stay compact.

Watch for — Stem rot from overwatering: Soft, blackening or yellowing stems signal root and stem rot, the most common cause of death. Cut back water drastically, repot into dry gritty mix, and remove any mushy tissue.

How to tell euphorbia lactea 'white ghost' needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For euphorbia lactea 'white ghost', watch for these signs:

Roots growing out of the drainage holes, or the rootball lifting the plant proud of the rim.
Soil that has shrunk away from the pot sides and no longer holds water.
The pot is unstable because the plant has grown top-heavy.
Old, compacted, broken-down mix that stays wet too long — for a succulent that is a rot risk, so refresh it even if the pot size is fine.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot euphorbia lactea 'white ghost'

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Euphorbia lactea 'White Ghost''s growth habit — slow-growing, upright shrubby succulent with flattened, crested or candelabra-like branching stems in chalky white with grey marbling; often grafted onto a green euphorbia rootstock to supply energy. — sets the pace. Euphorbia lactea 'White Ghost' is a near-albino cultivar prized for its ghostly white, candelabra-branched stems with faint grey marbling. Lacking chlorophyll in much of its tissue, it grows slowly and needs strong light to survive. Treat it as a desert succulent: gritty soil, sparing water, and warmth above 10C year-round.

What size pot to step euphorbia lactea 'white ghost' up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Euphorbia lactea 'White Ghost' stores water and rots in a large pot of slow-drying soil. A tight terracotta pot that dries fast is far safer than a generous plastic one. Never up-pot a succulent by several sizes.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot euphorbia lactea 'white ghost'

Spring or summer, while euphorbia lactea 'white ghost' is in active growth and warm, is best — roots recover fastest then, and the plant is not sitting in cool damp soil. Avoid repotting a succulent in winter dormancy.

Step-by-step: repotting euphorbia lactea 'white ghost'

Repot dry. Do not water euphorbia lactea 'white ghost' for several days first. Working with dry roots and dry mix dramatically lowers the rot risk for a succulent.
Pick a snug, fast-draining pot. Choose terracotta one size up at most, with a drainage hole. Have gritty free-draining cactus and succulent mix ready.
Tip it out and clean the roots. Slide the plant out, crumble off the old soil, and trim any black, mushy or dead roots with clean snips.
Pot into dry mix. Set euphorbia lactea 'white ghost' at its original depth in dry gritty mix, firming gently. Do not bury the stem deeper than it was.
Wait a week before watering. Leave it completely dry and out of harsh sun for about 7 days so any damaged roots callus. Only then water lightly.

Aftercare

Keep euphorbia lactea 'white ghost' completely dry and out of fierce sun for about a week so any nicked roots callus before they meet moisture; watering a freshly repotted succulent is the classic way to rot it. Then resume the normal lean, dry rhythm. Do not fertilise for about 3 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for euphorbia lactea 'white ghost'

Euphorbia lactea 'White Ghost' wants free-draining cactus and succulent mix. Use a gritty cactus compost cut with extra perlite, pumice or coarse sand (about one-third grit). The medium must drain fast and dry quickly; a terracotta pot with a drainage hole helps wick excess moisture. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting euphorbia lactea 'white ghost' — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot euphorbia lactea 'white ghost'?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for euphorbia lactea 'white ghost'. Repot euphorbia lactea 'white ghost' every 2–3 years into a snug pot of free-draining cactus and succulent mix, ideally in spring or summer. Let it sit in dry soil and do not water for about a week afterwards so any nicked roots can callus. Over-potting and watering straight away is what rots succulents.

What size pot does euphorbia lactea 'white ghost' need?

When is the best time of year to repot euphorbia lactea 'white ghost'?

Should you water euphorbia lactea 'white ghost' after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot euphorbia lactea 'white ghost' into dry mix and wait about a week before the first watering so any damaged roots callus over. Watering a freshly repotted succulent is the single most common way to rot one.

Should you fertilise euphorbia lactea 'white ghost' after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting euphorbia lactea 'white ghost'. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.