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Garden Clinic Cacti & Succulents House Plants

Is there a way to save my African milk tree?

4 years ago

My African Milk Tree is about 2.5 - 3 feet tall. It got knocked of its table tonight and got a cut on the stem. It’s not all the way through and I don’t even think it’s have way through.

Is there a way to save my plant without having to cut it all the way off?!

PLEASE HELP!!! This plant is VERY important to me. My grandmother gave it to me 7 years ago and it’s the last cutting from the original plant!!

Featured Answer

Emily (5b)

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Can you post a photo of it in the comments?

Succulents are very resilient though, and can take a lot. If the cut isn't too big, like you say, it could callus and heal itself, although there will still be a scar where it was damaged

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Comments (10)

mermaiddemily
Original Author
4 years ago
I don’t have a picture of the cut and I have covered it with tape for support. Or do you think the tape will stop it from callusing?
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If this was my plant I would leave it alone it's beautiful :) it does need a bigger pot tho. Make sure you replant it in a fast draining soil. I love when these guys get huge! If you have the room I would let it grow. If you wanna prune your plant make sure to protect your skin and eyes. When propagating the plant put the cuttings under running cool water to stop the plant from oozing that toxic sap. Put the cuttings in a dark cool place to callous over. When they are calloused over you can plant. Good luck:)
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Thank you so much for your fast replies, it is truly appreciated. Yes it has been repotted a few times throughout the past 3 years. I was actually planning on repotting it this weekend. I'm now curious to see if rootbound is the "problem", as it has been the dormant period, but maybe it's waking up now :-) I just thought it was odd that new leaves would start developing at the top and then half way grown they just curl up and die, and then new leaves started again and same thing happened, half way through they curled up and died... I also noticed today that some of the grown leaves have tiny tiny dry holes on them.
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Emily (5b)
4 years ago
The air might help it callus, but I don't think the tape would stop it. People put tape on cactus grafts to keep them together, so I think it should be alright here
mermaiddemily
Original Author
4 years ago
How long does it normally take to start callusing? Is there anything I can give the plant to aid it while it heals?
cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
4 years ago
No, but as noted a picture will be invaluable to us to help you save the plant, so get one, please. It sounds like it's definitely salvageable, but please be careful when handling the plant (if it's what I think it is, it's a Euphorbia of some species, perhaps E. trigona or E. ingens) - the sap can be an irritant or worse to mucous membranes.
Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I will add you should make sure the Euphorbia’s environment is dry and warm. Idk what tape you used, but if you can’t see thru the tape. It might be best to take the tape off so you can see if any rot happens. Plus you would want the wound to dry out as quickly as possible. Just a thought.

If you need stability you can use like some sort of skewer/stick or I’m sure you’ve got something around the house to use as a brace.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years ago
you should try to propagate the broken part .. if you start a new plant or two... IT WILL STILL BE GRANDMAs plant ... link below ...

imo.. you should always do this.. when you have beloved heirloom plants ... just in case there is an accident or something ....

we do need a pic ... plz ...

if you cleanly cut it off.. there is probably no reason the part below.. cant recover and thrive ... i worry that in trying to save the above ... on the plant.. you might do further damage to the whole plant ...

just remember.. if you start a piece of that plant.. the new piece.. IS the mother plant ... or in this case.. the grandmother plant .... and if you get more than one.. perhaps you can gift it on to some other family member .. or a great grandchild ....

change is good.. and your plant is going to change in appearance ... thats ok.. its still the same plant ...

ken

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=African+Milk+Tree+propagation&t=ffcm&iax=videos&ia=videos
Susan Hohman
last year
My top broke clean off. Can I just stick it back in the soil & it will grow?
cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
last year
Depends on where you are, Susan. If you're in the Northern Hemisphere and nights are getting cool, you might want to prop the cut in a pot and plant it in the ground in the spring. But yes, that is how most cuttings are started. Don't water it until you see new growth, other than spritzing the cutting now and then.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last year
susan. directly above your post.. is my post.. with a link on how to propagate the plant..

watch some of the videos...

its usually not very hard.. but it usually not a simple as sticking it in the ground ....

start your own post.. and add some pix of what you have ... and we can offer some guidance ...

ken

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