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African Milk Tree Care
Euphorbia trigona
Basic African Milk Tree Care
Although they look like cacti, African Milk Trees are actually succulents! They are easy to care for and grow really quickly so you’ll fall in love with this plant in no time…
Bright Indirect Light
I love the sunshine but too much direct light will damage my leaves.
Water Infrequently
I can be quite sensitive to root rot so be careful not to overwater me.
Low Humidity
I grow best in pretty dry environments so don't try and increase the humidity.
Draining Soil
I like a mix that includes peat moss and perlite as these prevent my roots from becoming water-logged.
Detailed African Milk Tree Care Information
Whether you're looking to make sure your African Milk Tree is in it's perfect conditions, or looking to see if one could work for your space. We've got you covered.
Some direct light is okay
The ideal environment for African Milk Trees is bright but indirect light. They can tolerate some direct light but you want to be careful this doesn’t burn the plant.
Let the potting mix dry out between waterings
It’s important that you leave enough time between waterings for the potting mix to dry out fully. African Milk Trees are sensitive to root rot so you don’t want the potting mix to be too soggy.
African Milk Trees can tolerate high temperatures
You don’t need to worry too much about hotspots with African Milk Tree as they thrive in warm temperatures. Make sure that you keep them away from cold drafts as the cool air will be damaging to the plant.
Keep the humidity level low
As African Milk Trees are succulents, you will want to keep the humidity level low and never mist the tree. This can cause the leaves to become soft and mushy.
Feed lightly in summer
If you do choose to feed your African Milk Tree then use a water-soluble fertiliser at weak strength a few times during the warmest months of the year.
Propagate by using a cutting
It really couldn’t be easier to propagate an African Milk Tree. All you need to do is take a cutting and leave it for a few days to let it callous. Then pot into succulent potting mix and it will start to grow roots.
Make sure to wear gloves when propagating your African Milk Tree as the sap can cause skin irritation.
African Milk Trees are toxic and cause skin irritation
Keep your African Milk Tree well away from pets or children as they are toxic and can cause skin and stomach irritation.
The sap is also toxic to wear gloves when handling your plant.
Pruning your African Milk Tree
You may choose to prune your African Milk Tree to change the shape of your plant or to remove any part of the plant that is showing issues.
It’s can also become important to prune your African Milk Tree when it starts to become too tall. This can stop it from toppling over because they tend to have quite shallow roots.
It’s very important that when you prune an African Milk Tree that you wear gloves as the sap is toxic and can cause skin irritation.
African Milk Tree FAQs
Quick and simple answers to the most common questions we see about the African Milk Tree.
Keep your African Milk Tree well away from pets or children as they are toxic and can cause skin and stomach irritation. The sap is also toxic so wear gloves when handling your plant.
Like most succulent types, the African Milk Tree is fairly easy to care for. As long as they aren’t overwatered and get enough sunlight, they’ll be happy! This makes them perfect for beginner houseplant parents.
African Milk Trees are quite slow-growing, like many other succulent plant types.
African Milk Trees can reach 6-7 feet in height. They are slow-growers though so it will take many years for them to reach this.
It’s important that you leave enough time between watering your African Milk Tree so that the potting mix can dry out fully. African Milk Trees are sensitive to root rot so you don’t want the potting mix to be too soggy.
The ideal environment for African Milk Trees is in a spot with plenty of bright but indirect light. They can tolerate some direct light but you want to be careful that this doesn’t burn the plant.
Yes, African Milk Trees are toxic to cats. If ingested by your cat or kitten, it can cause vomiting as well as mouth and stomach irritation. If your cat comes into contact with the sap in any way it can cause irritation, particularly in the eyes so be wary of that.
Unfortunately, African Milk Trees are toxic to dogs and can cause stomach irritation and vomiting if ingested. It’s also important that you make sure your dog doesn’t come into contact with the sap from the stems as this can be quite harmful.
African Milk Tree Care Starter Kit
We've put together this great little starter kit that includes all of the equipment and information you'll need to take proper care of your African Milk Tree.
Common Problems with your African Milk Tree
Here are some common issues that you might run into. It's important to diagnose any issues early to give your plant the best chance of bouncing back.
It is totally normal for your African Milk Tree’s leaves to fall off, it’s simply the natural process of the plant ageing. They will regrow quickly so don’t worry!
If the stems of your African Milk Tree are soft and brown then this indicates that your plant has been overwatered. Replace the potting mix if waterlogged and cut back on how much you water your plant moving forward.
If the stems on your African Milk Tree have become dry and crispy then your plant may be receiving too much direct sunlight or not enough water.
If your African Milk Tree has started to look quite droopy, then there might be an issue with watering. Drooping leaves indicate your African Milk Tree is either being overwatered or underwatered. Check how much moisture is in the soil and inspect the roots to see if they are mushy or crispy.
Once you have figured out if too much or too little water has caused your African Milk Tree to droop down, adjust your watering schedule moving forward and make sure to check how much moisture is in the potting mix before you water.
It’s not that common for African Milk Trees to develop curling leaves, but it does indicate either a lack of water or too much sunlight. Monitor the environment your African Milk Tree is in, and check the potting mix to see if the roots look healthy and this should help you establish the cause of the curling leaves.
If watering is the issue, increasing how much water you give your African Milk Tree each time should reduce the occurrence of curling leaves. If sunlight is the issue, move your African Milk Tree to a slightly shadier spot during summer.
Simple African Milk Tree Care Requirements
It sometimes helps to take caring for your plants back to the basics, here's the key considerations that you should take into account when caring for your Euphorbia trigona.
These simple points should give you all you need to keep your plant happy and healthy for years to come.
| Common Name | African Milk Tree |
| Latin Name | Euphorbia trigona |
| Light | Bright Indirect Light |
| Water | Water Infrequently |
| Humidity | Low Humidity |
| Soil Type | Draining Soil |
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Here are some other plants that will work in similar conditions, or have some matching qualities.
