I left my African milk tree outside when the temperature dropped. Now some branches have turned brown.
What can I do?
Answer
Suddenly browning branch ends occur when the African milk tree (Euphorbia trigona) is exposed to cold temperatures. This can happen when it is left outdoors in the cold, in a cold draft from a window or air conditioning vent, or from a cold micro-climate near a window in winter. While the brown parts have died, the plant may recover.
Return the plant to the proper bright, steady environment and let it stabilize for a day or two. If there is any green remaining on the plant, follow the pruning instructions in our Guide to African milk tree taking care to protect yourself and using sterile tools. Cut off each of the brown sections until you hit live, green growth.
The plant may or may not recover depending upon its state of health before the injury, the extent of the damage and the time of year it takes place. Pruning of limbs heals more reliably on a healthy plant, with limited damage in the spring or summer when it is in active growth.
Courtesy of NYBG Plant Information Service
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