How to care for an African Milk Tree Indoors
The African Milk Tree is a wonderful species for plant beginners!
That’s why I listed it in my Top 5 Impossible to Kill Houseplants.
Not only it’s extremely hardy and easy to care for; it is actually known as a “pest free” plant, which is a huge advantage for any plant parent, let alone the newbies!
Pests do not attack this plant because its milky sap, (hence the name Milk Tree), is quite toxic.
Like the Pencil Cactus, the African Milk Tree, (both Euphorbias), is extremely toxic to humans and pets if ingested. Its milky sap is also extremely irritating to the eyes. It is imperative that you handle this plant with care when repotting and pruning! The use of protective gloves and goggles is especially recommended when pruning for propagating purposes.
Keep out of your pet’s reach!
Native to Central Africa, the Euphorbia Trigona is a perennial plant that can grow up to 3 meters/ 10 feet in nature. For this reason, and for its columnar presence, it is quite popular as a landscaping plant in South America and the Mediterranean.
One of the biggest issues with these tall plants outdoors, is that they tend to fall over due to their small and shallow root system.
It’s interesting to know that the African Milk Tree is not actually a cactus, but a succulent.
I bought my African Milk Tree from a Buy & Sell Group on Facebook. Its previous parents could no longer care for it, so I came along.
It took me a while to figure out the difference between this plant and the Desert Candle that I’ve had for 18 years. I thought they looked quite similar, but since I started researching them both and digging into each plant’s characteristic, I can see they are quite different!
The African Milk Bush, differently from the Desert Candle, has a triangular section main stem with three ridges. Such ridges are punctuated by thorns and tear-drop shaped leaves, especially at the top, giving this succulent a spunky look!
Let’s now take a look at the African Milk Tree indoor needs.
african milk tree light
Like many other succulents, the African Milk Tree thrives in bright, indirect light.
Ideal locations for this plant are South facing rooms with a few hours of light morning sun, or Western facing rooms that are screened by sheer curtains that act as light filters.
Too many hours of direct sunlight, especially the scorching afternoon sunlight, can be damaging to the plant.
My African Milk Tree sits on the stair landing near a South facing window. It never receives direct sunlight and it has been enjoying this spot for over three years.
AFRICAN MILK TREE humidity & temperature
This succulents enjoys dry environments.
However, it is a very adaptable plant and it does quite well in any home’s average humidity. As long as it is not over-watered and it’s kept in a well draining pot with well draining soil, this plant will do well! (More on this later.)
High humidity and soggy soil can cause fungus’ growth and pests infestations.
Interestingly enough, this succulent can actually withstand brief periods of cold temperatures, to a minimum of -3C/27F.
It is otherwise recommended to keep it at room temperature and away from any drafts, whether they are cold or warm from A/C and heat vents, or doors and windows.
In this picture you can appreciate the tear-drop leaves at the top of the tree stems. Some of these leaves will actually develop into stems.
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AFRICAN MILK TREE water & fertilizing
As you may have guessed, the African Milk Tree is a drought tolerant plant, and as such, it doesn’t require much water.
The amount of water needed is always dependant on the amount of light the plant is exposed to, the humidity of the environment and the size and material of the pot.
However, this plant makes it really easy for you to know when it needs to be watered; simply let the soil dry out between waterings.
I water it approximately every two weeks, but it is really forgiving if I skip a week!
Fertilize this plant once a month from Spring to Fall with a liquid plant food. I generally use the Schultz Cactus Plus Plant Food, and every once in a while, especially when Fall starts or at the beginning of Spring, I use the Thrive by Plant Vitamins to give my plants that extra boost!
Three years later (compare to the first picture), you can see the growth of many more stems. The pot size has remained the same as well as the location. Consistency in watering and fertilizing has allowed the plant to grow and develop.
AFRICAN MILK TREE repotting & propagating
As mentioned before, the African Milk Tree root system is quite small and shallow; for this reason, the succulent doesn’t require yearly upsizing.
As a matter of fact, I’ve never upsized my plant’s pot in the three+ years I’ve had it.
However, it is important to replace any plant’s nutrients-depleted soil once a year, even if the pot remains the same.
It’s a great way to make sure your plant’s roots are healthy.
When repotting your African Milk Tree, make sure you provide a well draining soil; mix a succulent mix with perlite in a terracotta pot with drainage holes.
The perlite will help add drainage to the mix. Add one part perlite to four parts soil.
Terracotta is an excellent material for indoor plants as it is a very porous material and allows the soil to breath and dry out faster, avoiding excess moisture to water-log the roots.
Drainage holes are fundamental in providing an outlet for excess water.
Any water left in the saucer at the bottom of the pot, needs to be discarded within 2 hours of watering any plant.
It is not common to propagate the African Milk Tree as it is not one of those fast growing plants you want to prune and use its cuttings to root in water, nor one of those “envy” plants you propagate for your friends.
You can, however, propagate your plant if it is sick and you want to keep parts of it alive, or simply for pure passion and curiosity.
It is important you remember that the latex, (milky sap), of this plant is extremely toxic if ingested and irritating to the skin and the eyes.
Use protective gloves and proper eyewear when cutting its stems for propagating purposes!!!
- Simply cut the stems at their nodes, where they connect to other stems, by using sharp and sterilized scissors. (Make sure that stems are at least 2″ in length).
- Allow the cuttings to dry out and form the callous, (the scab), in a dark room for 3-7 days before planting them directly in soil to root.
- Plant them so that the end sits 1″ deep into the soil. (Plant them in tiny terracotta pots with drainage holes. Too much soil will retain too much moisture that can rot the stems).
- It will take approximately two months for the cuttings to root.
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