Plant Care African Milk Bush

African Milk Bush

About African Milk Bush

African Milk Bush is a relatively rare houseplant 🌿 that is isn’t challenging to grow and needs very little water to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light ☀️ and should be less than 1 foot from a window.

African Milk Bush likes soil that is extremely well-draining. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.

African Milk Bush belongs to the Euphorbia genus, and is native to South Sudan to Burundi and Tanzania.

⚠️ African Milk Bush is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. These plants are not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

Taxonomy

Euphorbia umbellata
Euphorbia
Euphorbiaceae
Malpighiales

How to care for African Milk Bush

💦 Water

How often to water your African Milk Bush

Water needs for African Milk Bush
0.5 cups
every 12

African Milk Bush needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of African Milk Bush

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for African Milk Bush in your home

Light needs and placement for plant African Milk Bush: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

African Milk Bush love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

African Milk Bush does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of African Milk Bush in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize African Milk Bush

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for African Milk Bush: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your African Milk Bush after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Euphorbia
💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

African Milk Bush is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow African Milk Bush →

Benefits of Growing African Milk Bush →

Common African Milk Bush Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for African Milk Bush →

Outdoor Care Guide for African Milk Bush →


💦 Water Needs

African Milk Bush thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

African Milk Bush Water Frequency →

African Milk Bush Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

African Milk Bush requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

African Milk Bush Light Requirements →

African Milk Bush Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

African Milk Bush is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. African Milk Bush is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

Is African Milk Bush Edible? →

African Milk Bush Toxicity to Cats →

African Milk Bush Toxicity to Dogs →

African Milk Bush Toxicity to Humans →


💨 Humidity

African Milk Bush enjoys lots of humidity. Provide humidity for your plant by watering regularly and thoroughly, since plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves. They may also benefit from being placed next to a humidifier.

African Milk Bush Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

African Milk Bush is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for African Milk Bush →

Best Pots for African Milk Bush →

When and How to Successfully Repot African Milk Bush →

What Are Healthy African Milk Bush Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

African Milk Bush grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize African Milk Bush →


❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for African Milk Bush to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.


🌎 Native Region

African Milk Bush is native to Worldwide.


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

African Milk Bush grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

African Milk Bush Lifecycle →

African Milk Bush Size Guide →

How and When to Prune African Milk Bush →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors
🌱 Propagation

African Milk Bush can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

  • Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
  • To get the cutting to root, you can either:
    • Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
    • Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

How to Propagate African Milk Bush →


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


😖 Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with African Milk Bush. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


Care Summary for African Milk Bush

African Milk Bush

African Milk Bush


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 12 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

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