Monitor for mealybugs, aphids and spider mites. Excess water can cause root rot, and the sharp spines and milky sap require careful handling.
How to care for an African milk tree
Give African milk tree bright indirect light and a fast-draining cactus mix. Water after the top 1–2 inches dry, and handle its spines and milky sap carefully.
Plant coveredEuphorbia trigonaAfrican milk tree · Indoor container
Find a bright, steady position
Light and temperature
Give E. trigona bright indirect light indoors. Introduce stronger direct light gradually if you move it outdoors.
NCSU describes a warm 65–85°F (18–29°C) environment and good air circulation. Protect outdoor plants below 45°F (7°C), but treat that as an outdoor threshold rather than a hard indoor survival limit.
Check the mix, drainage and pot
Watering, drainage and repotting
Use a well-drained cactus or succulent mix and water only after the surface about 1–2 inches deep has dried. Overwatering increases root-rot risk.
Use a cactus or succulent potting mix with strong drainage. No fixed recipe or repotting interval is established for an indoor specimen.
Feed only during active growth
Fertilizer and active growth
Check the visible signs before changing care
Common problems
Use the verdict for this exact plant
Pet safety
Sources
- North Carolina State University Extension Gardener Plant ToolboxBright indirect indoor light; cactus mix; surface dry-down; 65–85°F; air circulation; pests; root rot; milky sap and spines
- Royal Horticultural SocietyFull sun or partial shade; loam/sand; well-drained; drought resistance; H2; harmful sap and pests
Pet-safety information for catalog plants uses ASPCA reference data where available. It is reference information, not veterinary advice.