How Should I Prune My Devils Backbone Before Winter?

I have had my DB plant for 3 years. It has grown more this year than ever, and it bloomed for the first time. It is too big to bring in for the winter, but I read that the milky substance it secretes is poisonous. So how do I shape it for another winter inside?

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1 Comment To "How Should I Prune My Devils Backbone Before Winter?"

#1 Comment By GKH_Susan On 11/17/2025 @ 12:51 am

Yes, the milky sap can cause contact dermatitis on your skin or cause temporary or permanent damage to the cornea if it gets in your eyes. Wear gloves to prune it and protective eyewear. You can cut it back to make it manageable indoors. Just make the cuts above a node. Remove any dead leaves or stems. Repot if needed. Here is more:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/devils-backbone/devils-backbone-plant.htm ^[1]

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/5-things-you-should-always-do-when-bringing-houseplants-back-indoors-after-summer ^[2]

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/euphorbia-tithymaloides ^[3]

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URLs in this post:

[1] https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/devils-backbone/devils-backbone-plant.htm: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/devils-backbone/devils-backbone-plant.htm

[2] https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/5-things-you-should-always-do-when-bringing-houseplants-back-indoors-after-summer: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/5-things-you-should-always-do-when-bringing-houseplants-back-indoors-after-summer

[3] https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/euphorbia-tithymaloides: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/euphorbia-tithymaloides

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