Thirsty Thursday: African Milk Tree

African Milk Tree:

Euphorbia trigona

The African Milk Tree goes buy many names: African milk bush, friendship cactus or candelabra cactus. Looks can be deceiving with this plant. I had mine for years before even thinking of looking up what "kind of cactus" it was. I was very surprised to find out it was not a cactus at all but a succulent native to Central Africa! This plant is a very attractive plant. It is very easy to grow and propagate. Right now I have about 20 small Euphorbia that are between a few months old to just beginning to take root. I love it!

Cuttings of the African Milk Tree that are just starting to root.

SUN

As a houseplant the Euphorbia trigona really loves light. It would prefer to sit in a window all day and soak up as many rays as it can! A south facing window would be a prime spot for this plant. If this plant doesn't get enough light it will become soft and droopy and may fall over. If you notice the ends of the arms of your plant becoming drooping or leaning over, it may need a bit more light. 

WATER

The African Milk Tree likes to have the top one inch of soil dry out between waterings but does not like to get too dry and will begin to get soft (similar to what happens with not enough light). I use the "ice cube" method of watering. Take a few ice cubes to a handful, depending on the pot size, and drop them around the top of the pot and as the ice melts the plant is watered gradually. This will allow more water to soak into the soil. This method especially helps when propagating small cuttings of plants that can be more susceptible to root rot. This plant doesn't like to get too dry but it really doesn't like to keep wet soil. (When drenching this plant be sure to do it in growing season and remove the dish to let it drain. )

REPOTTING AND FERTILIZING

This plant will do best being fertilized every other week during the growing season. That is usually between April and October! Use a balanced fertilizer or a succulent mix for best results. 

The African Milk Tree likes to be repotted every year and it is best to do it during the peak of the growing season in June or July. (1)

This plant is said to do the best in sandy soil with peat or a succulent mix. I have always used regular potting soil with mine and have had great luck. I make sure to use pea gravel at in the bottom of my pots to allow for extra water drainage from the soil. 

BLOOMING!

This plant has deciduous leaves. If it is healthy and loves where it lives then it will sprout these pretty leaves! 

Leaves of the African Milk Tree.

**WARNING!**

This plant is toxic! When the plant is damaged it leaks out a white latex-sap that can cause irritation and allergic reactions. Take care if you have this plant around children or pets. When cutting, pruning, or repotting take care to wear thick gloves and even protective eyewear! (2) I have touched the sap and haven't had any discomfort but I accidentally had some residual sap make it to my lip somehow and my lip tingled and lost feeling for around an hour! 

(1) http://homeguides.sfgate.com/care-african-milk-tree-42497.html

(2) http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/a/african_milk_bush_poisoning/intro.htm

Thirsty Thursday: Spider Plants

SPIDER PLANT, Chlorophytum comosum

Spider plant in a hanging basket.

     Whether it was in our grandmother's hanging baskets or even at the grocery store, chances are that you have seen this plant. Chlorophytum comosum, native to Southern African is most commonly know as Spider Plant, Airplane Plant, or Ribbon Plant. They are most distinguished by their long branched inflorescence that grow up to 30 inches long, and produce plantlets. Plantlets can be rooted and will eventually grow into another spider plant! 

Spider Plant plantlets or spiderettes.

    These plants are extremely easy to grow and propagate and is definitely one of my personal favorites to have around the house. This would make a great plant to use to teach kids how to take care of and propagate plants! It is also a plant that will help the air quality in your house and in addition to all these awesome qualities: it is non-toxic to humans, cats, and dogs!!!!!*

CARE & WATERING:
Sun 
I have read many recommendations on the sun for spider plants. I have found that they get by just fine in indoor fluorescent light if natural light isn't available. The spider plant prefers getting filtered sun throughout the day and the more sun it gets the better it grows. If left outside during warmer months you should take precautions to acclimate it to the sun gradually to prevent sunburn.

Watering
Once established the spider plant can stand drought conditions better than some other house plants. When watering your established spider plant water until it runs out of the bottom of the pot. I take my hanging baskets down and sit them in a tray and let them soak for about 30 minutes before removing the tray. I normally do this about once per month in the winter and about once per week in the summer. In peak growing times (Spring and Summer) my larger basket gets a drink every few days in addition to the soakings.

You do want your soil to dry out completely in the top of your pot in between waterings. If you don't let it dry out it makes the plant more susceptible to pests in and around the soil. (that being said be careful not to let it dry out too much as it could cause brown tips)

You may have noticed the brown tips and leaves on the pictures of my spider plants. This is from hard minerals in the water and were present when I brought this plant home. After 6 months of using rainwater and distilled water on this plant he still has brown tips! So if you want your plant to be very nice and green this plant prefers distilled water or rain water. (Placing a mason jar of water in in sun in your window for a full 24 hours will be just fine if you don't want to buy special water!) 

Re-potting & Fertilizing
You will be most happy with your spider plant if you re-pot it every spring with a good potting soil. It prefers to stay root bound so you can keep it in the same size pot or you can split up your plant into several smaller plants! (Take care not to damage the roots when separating.) 

Fertilize once per month in the Spring and Summer with a balanced fertilizer according to the label for best growth. Take care to only fertilize the soil and do not over fertilize!

*Although the Spider Plant is listed as non-toxic to dogs and cats I have found some places online that have said it induces vomiting if consumed by dogs. According to the University of North Dakota this plant has mild hallucinogenic properties to cats and I have found personally that my cat likes to take a few bites of this plant on occasion!