This is a rooted piece of plant that a coworker would like me to bring into better health & appearance, but I have NO idea what it is!! He called it a Gibraltar cactus, but I think might be just a family nickname for it, because that doesn’t yield any likely results in an internet search. Will you help identify it please?
Thanks!
Hi Lisa,
Your plant looks like a Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii)
Crown of Thorns Plant
Here are some care tips:
A Crown of Thorns Plant needs as much bright indirect light as you can provide, but no direct sun.
When a Crown of Thorns Plant is actively growing, usually from late spring to early fall, water well and then allow the top 50% of the soil to dry out before watering again. Reduce the amount of water when a Crown of Thorns Plant is not producing new leaves and flowers, but never allow the soil to totally dry out. A Crown of Thorns Plant can get severe root damage if the soil gets too dry.
Feed monthly when it is actively growing with a water-soluble fertilizer at ½ the recommended strength. Use a plant food low in nitrogen and high in phosphorous to limit leaf growth and encourage blooms.
A Crown of Thorns Plant likes to be warm and does well in temperatures between 60-96 degrees F. It may lose leaves if the temperature goes below 55 degrees
This is is a desert succulent plant, so average to low humidity is sufficient.
A Crown of Thorns Plant produces colorful bracts in red, yellow, and pink surrounding tiny flowers in the early spring through late summer. Under the right conditions, the Plant will bloom all year.
A Crown of Thorns Plant is a poisonous houseplant with a level #2 toxicity. Broken or damaged leaves and stems ooze a milky latex substance that may cause blistering and pain if you have any open cuts. If a child or pet eats part of the plant, severe mouth irritation, gastro- intestinal problems, and even hemorrhage can occur. Read more about common houseplants that are poisonous in Don’t Feed Me To Your Cat! A Guide to Poisonous Houseplants.
