African Milk Tree with Bacterial Canker? Rare but Treatable
Euphorbia trigona
Serious bacterial disease affecting stone fruits and tomatoes caused by Pseudomonas syringae or Clavibacter michiganensis. Creates sunken lesions that ooze sap.
ð Symptoms
- âĒ Sunken water-soaked lesions
- âĒ Dark cankers with raised edges
- âĒ Amber sap oozing
- âĒ Branch dieback
- âĒ Brown vascular streaks
â Possible Causes
- â Pseudomonas syringae bacteria
- â Contaminated tools
- â Rain splash
- â Cool wet weather
ð Treatment
Quick Fixes
Emergency pruning
Remove all infected branches immediately
Copper application
Heavy copper spray coverage
Organic Treatment
Prune infected areas
Cut 15cm below visible infection
Apply copper spray
Spray entire plant with copper hydroxide
Remove debris
Clean all fallen material
ðĄïļ Prevention
- â Sterilize pruning tools
- â Prune in dry weather
- â Remove infected debris
- â Improve air circulation
ðą Care Guide: African Milk Tree
ð§ How to Water
Water only when soil is completely dry, typically every 3-4 weeks. Reduce watering in winter. Wrinkled leaves indicate thirst. Yellowing or browning may signal overwatering and root rot.
âïļ Lighting
Prefers bright indirect light to direct sunlight. Can tolerate some direct morning or afternoon sun. Avoid harsh midday sun which may cause scorching. Also adapts to medium light conditions.
ðŠī Ideal Soil
Use well-draining sandy or cactus mix. A 2:1:1 blend of cactus soil, perlite, and coarse sand works well. Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot.