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African Milk Tree needs help

15 years ago

Several branches of my well established tree have just fallen over...but not off. Is this do to under watering or overwatering?

Comments (18)

  • 15 years ago

    Might you pls. provide a Picture? I'll look up its botanical name.

  • 15 years ago

    Well, it's apparently Euphorbia trigona. Sorry, but without a pic, I'm going to guess that branches falling over but not off are due to overwatering & the onset of rot down below.

    If it were mine, I'd turn it out & check the roots being careful to remember the sap from this plant CAN & MAY be a skin irritant. It's considered especially important to not touch any parts of your face (or mucuous membranes) before washing & DO wash well after handling this plant.

  • 15 years ago

    How do I attach a picture?

  • 15 years ago

    I don't know what's wrong with it but that is an absolutely beautiful plant! I only hope mine gets to be as big as yours! How old is it?

  • 15 years ago

    You don't say how often you water your E. trigona, but it could just be a case of getting too top heavy. I have an E. trigona which is about 5 feet tall, and though branches have not begun to lean over, the whole plant needs more support as it grows. If it were me, I would get some sturdy string and tie up those leaning branches. And always remember the golden rule for watering succulents; When in doubt, don't!

    Christopher

  • 15 years ago

    Euphorbia trigona can easily lose branches if it is not in full sun and grown 'hard', any time it gets windy. I have not seen your plant yet, but you sure it's not a Euphorbia triangularis? That one normally drops its branches.

  • 15 years ago

    Yes, it is an E trigona, and from the looks of it, it's being grown indoors and obviously not 'hard'. You are going to have to just cut off those branches, though I have had luck tying them back up and wrapping a cloth or rope around the whole plant. However, your plant is getting too top heavy with all those leaves on those weak branches. You can also 'top' all the tall branches and that will make them less top heavy... however, it will also probably make them branch at the cut point... may not be a good look after a while. Maybe you could put this plant in a corner and make some artful support for it so these taller branches do not continue to fall over (but they still will to some degree). This is a sun-loving species. Not sure what climate you live in, but here in So Cal, these do a lot better when grown in mostly all day sun (they get a bit blanched some times) and if not watered too much grow a nice tight, strong, sturdy clump that is resistant to this 'branch droop' syndrome.

  • 8 years ago

    Hi, I have two huge African Milk trees which are grown outside but over the past year they have been getting covered in this scaley brown stuff. Does anyone know what it is please? Worried I'm loosing them

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Is there way you could post a pic;)? Hard to help without one. Could be harmless scars or something else.

  • 8 years ago

  • 8 years ago

    It seems to be taking over all the new growth though which is a worry

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Oh that pic is a different story. New growth shouldn't be getting that. Has anything changed like being exposed to cold temps or moisture;)?

  • 8 years ago

    No nothing has changed I'm going to repot, which is not a easy job, someone has mentioned fungus, which I think it possibly could be. Can I use shield Rose and ornamental spray on a Milk Tree?

  • 8 years ago

    I saw this happen to dry hot sunny conditions. I don't think it's fungus however, I see no harm using ornamental spray on it as long as you don't over do it. Mine are starting to cork at the base now. It must be hard as wood, if not, it may be something else.

  • 8 years ago

    It has been a wet winter here, but it's in a big pot under the eves

  • 8 years ago

    Have you checked for pests? There's some visible webbing, which might belong to regular spiders (which you shouldn't worry about), but could also be spider mites. Not sure if mites cause that kind of damage, but they do like to feed on new growth.

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