African Milk Bush Indoor Plant

April 21, 2024 Post a Comment

African milk bush indoor plant

African milk tree likes bright, indirect sunlight. A southern-facing window works well for indoor growing, as does an outdoor spot that receives partial sun. An area that receives full sun is suitable, as long as the summers are not consistently hot.

How do you care for an indoor milk cactus?

When it comes to growing and caring for the African milk tree, it's all about watering sparingly, keeping bugs away, and fertilizing.

Choose a terracotta or clay pot.
Use well-draining soil. ...
Give the plant ample sunlight and air circulation. ...
Water sparingly. ...
Keep an eye out for pests and disease.

Is African milk tree a succulent?

African milk tree care is super straightforward and rewarding. Although this plant may look like a cactus, it's actually a succulent and is very easy to grow. Below is everything you need to know about growing the African milk tree, otherwise known as euphorbia trigona.

How do you repot an African milk plant?

Grasp the base of the African milk tree and begin to slowly and carefully pull the plant out of the pot. If you are repotting a tall plant, lay the plant on its side and get one or two other people to help support the plant as you work it out of the pot. Work gently and carefully to avoid damaging the plant.

How do you take care of an indoor African Milk Tree?

African milk trees are bright light plants and worship the sun and require at least 6 hours of sunlight every day. While they will tolerate partial shade and indirect light you will find they thrive in a bright sunny location. Sunny, south facing windows usually allow for the best lighting.

Can you keep Euphorbia indoors?

Euphorbia are plants that want warmth; south- or west-facing windows are the best place for them inside (four or more hours of direct sun shining on the plant), though they can also be grown in very bright indirect light.

Should you mist indoor cactus?

No, it's never a good idea to spray a cactus with water. They have very low humidity needs, and moisture left sitting on them can cause rot and other diseases.

How do I make my indoor cactus bloom?

Cacti need dormancy to bloom. The rest period usually takes between two and four months when the temperature is under 15c. During this time, withhold water or fertilizer and move the pot to a cool place with plenty of sunlight. Place the cactus in a bright position where they can get plenty of sunshine.

How poisonous is the African milk tree?

This plant has high severity poison characteristics. A succulent shrub with milky latex. This is a highly toxic plant; it may be fatal if eaten and also causes severe skin irritation.

How often should African Milk Tree be watered?

Be sure to check whether the soil of your Milk tree is dry before you water your plant. This will generally take a little longer during the winter. On average, you'll water your plant every 2-3 weeks.

How long does an African Milk Tree live?

Another interesting use of the African Milk Tree is in tropical Africa, where this plant is used ceremonially and is planted as part of some rituals. African Milk Trees can live to a very old age. They've even been known to still be able to flower at 60 years old!

Can you propagate African Milk Tree in water?

It should not be rooted in water or it will rot. To propagate this plant, you can take a stem cutting in late spring or early summer. Protect your skin and eyes when making cuttings, as the sap can cause irritation or an allergic reaction to some people.

Can I cut the top off African milk plant?

Your plant is called a Euphorbia Trigona, also called an African Milk Tree or Cathedral Cactus. It looks like a cactus but really isn't one. It is a deciduous succulent from western Africa. You can't trim any of the stems, but you can totally remove some to make the plant more manageable.

Why is my African Milk Tree turning brown?

Curled leaves and dried brown edges are the result of too little water and over-exposure to the sun. Although this species can naturally do well in sun-filled locations, those that haven't acclimatised to the harsh rays will show signs of sun-scorch and environmental shock.

Why is my African Milk Tree turning red?

Why is my African milk tree turning red? If your African milk tree is turning red then you probably have the Royal Red variety. They will turn red when exposed to intense, direct light. This is completely normal and nothing to worry about, just sit back and enjoy their beautiful red tips.

Why is my African Milk Tree turning purple?

This is part of the natural life cycle of the African Milk Tree. Also, if your plant is looking happy and healthy but turning a light purple-reddish color, you likely have the euphorbia trigona 'rubra' variety which produces the color from the more sun it gets.

How big does an African Milk Tree get?

African milk trees can grow to 10 feet tall given favorable conditions. Indoors, it often grows to 6 feet or so.

What happens if you touch a Euphorbia?

Euphorbia, also known as spurges, is a genus of over 2000 different flowering plants. These plants contain a milky white sap that can be very irritating to the skin, eyes, and mouth. If someone is exposed to spurge sap, it is important to decontaminate the exposed area.

What will happen if you touch Euphorbia plants?

If you get the sap on your hands, it can cause painful inflammation. Alys Fowler, horticulturist, says: “Euphorbia sap causes skin to become photosensitive: so, if you handle it with bare skin in the sun, it can cause blisters.” If you get sap on your skin, you should wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.

Do Euphorbia like small pots?

Container size determines how many spurges to include in a single pot, but most varieties can quickly fill a container so planting single plants works well. Select a container two to three inches larger in diameter than the base of the spurge. Use only containers with at least one bottom drainage hole.