Crown of Thorns Plant

Euphorbia milii

Christ Plant

A Crown of Thorns Plant (Euphorbia milii), a bushy slow growing succulent plantLearn how to grow and care for succulent plants at Houseplant411.com native to Madagascar, is an easy- care flowering houseplant that thrives on neglect, blooms throughout the year, grows indoors or outdoors, and is very easy to propagate. According to legend, a Crown of Thorns Plant got its nickname after it was associated with the Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus. Under ideal conditions, a Crown of Thorns Plant can reach a height of 3ft and a width of 2ft. Crown of Thorns plants have sharp 1/2” thorns that grow on fleshy dark brown stems, and clusters of bright green tear shaped leaves that often last only a few months. Like a Poinsettia plant, also a kind of Euphorbia, the most beautiful part of a Crown of Thorns plant is the bright colorful bracts that surround very small flowers. The bracts of a Crown of Thorns plant may be red, yellow, or pink and appear at the ends of 2” stalks; the stalks are covered in a sticky substance that gets on your hands when you touch the plant.

These plants are considered poisonous and should be kept away from pets and children. Read more about common houseplants that are poisonous in Don’t Feed Me To Your Cat! A Guide to Poisonous Houseplants

Light

A Crown of Thorns Plant needs as much bright indirect lightVery few houseplants should be placed in direct sun. High light refers only to bright indirect light since direct sun often burns the leaves of indoor houseplants. An area that is too hot and dry encourages Spider Mites and causes blooms to quickly fade. A northern exposure really doesn't provide enough light for high light plants. These plants need to be placed directly in front of an east-facing window, within 1-3 feet of a west-facing window, and within 5 ft. of a south facing window. A high light area has over 300 ft. candles of light. as you can provide, but no direct sun.

Water

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.

Fertilizer

Feed a Crown of Thorns Plant monthly when it is actively growing with a water-soluble fertilizerPlants need fertilizer only when they are actively growing. Slow growing plants in low light require very little plant food. Too much fertilizer is worse than not enough. Most plants prefer a water soluble plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Plants that are in bloom or dormant should not be fertilized. Houseplant food contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). A fertilizer containing these elements in equal proportion is considered a balanced plant food. Nitrogen helps in photosynthesis and encourages the growth of leaves and stems. Potassium and phosphorus also help in photosynthesis and aid in root and flower development. Most fertilizers have trace elements of other minerals that are lacking in the soil but are necessary for good plant growth. Fertilizers have a high salt content. If a plant is not producing new leaves and doesn’t absorb the fertilizer, salts build up in the soil. These salts can burn the roots, discolor the leaves, and cause new growth to be small. at ½ the recommended strength. Use a plant food low in nitrogen and high in phosphorous to limit leaf growth and encourage blooms on a Crown of Thorns Plant.

Temperature

A Crown of Thorns Plant likes to be warm and does well in temperatures between 60-96 degrees F. A Crown of Thorns Plant may lose leaves if the temperature goes below 55 degrees F.

Humidity

A Crown of Thorns Plant is a desert succulent plantLearn how to grow and care for succulent plants at Houseplant411.com, so average to low humidity is sufficient.

Flowering

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, a Crown of Thorns Plant will bloom all year.

Pests

A Crown of Thorns Plant is very pest resistant. Mealy BugsSee a picture, learn to identify and treat Mealy Bugs, a houseplant pest that leaves sticky,white, cottony residue on houseplants. and AphidsSee a picture, learn to identify, and read about Aphid houseplant pests in the Glossary of Houseplant411.com. are the main plant pests that could bother a Crown of Thorns Plant.

Diseases

Plant Mildew and Plant Fungus are two plant diseases that can develop if a Crown of Thorns Plant is kept too moist or if the humidity is too high. Plant diseases often appear on a Crown of Thorns Plant if the room is cool and the light inadequate so always provide good air circulation and warm temperatures.

Soil

Use a sandy well-drained soil that is 2/3 cactus or succulentLearn how to grow and care for succulent plants at Houseplant411.com potting soil and 1/3 perlite or coarse sand for a Crown of Thorns Plant. The soil of a crown of Thorns Plant should drain quickly to prevent root-rot.

Pot Size

A Crown of Thorns Plant needs re-potting about every two or three years.

Pruning

You can prune and shape a Crown of Thorns Plant after it has finished blooming.

Propagation

Propagate a Crown of Thorns Plant in the spring and early summer using 3”- 4” stem tip cuttings. Be sure to wear gloves to protect your hands from the latex flow that comes from the cuts and the sharp thorns on the stem of a Crown of Thorns Plant. Dip the Crown of Thorns stem tip cuttings in cold water and spray the trimmed areas on the Mother plant with cold water to stop the oozing milky sap. Allow Crown of Thorns plant clippings to dry out for a few days and form a callus before planting them.

Poisonous Plant Info

A Crown of Thorns Plant is a poisonousPlants are a great addition to homes and offices, but it’s important to know whether your plants are dangerous to children, pets, or even adults. Some plants contain chemicals such as oxalates, solanine, glycosides, or alkaloid lycorine that may cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, swelling and redness of the mouth, throat, and lips, and trouble breathing. Touching parts of certain plants, especially the sap, may cause various skin irritations. The weight and age of the human or pet involved, and the part and amount of plant eaten determine how severe the reaction to the toxins will be. Although plants may be listed as non-toxic, they can still cause individual allergic reactions. If there is any question after a houseplant has been ingested or touched immediately call the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222 The Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants [Paperback]is an excellent reference to keep around if you have young children and pets. houseplant with a levelThese are general guidelines that describe how poisonous certain houseplants are. It's possible for an allergic reaction to occur from contact with any houseplant, toxic or non-toxic. If there is ever a concern, call: Poison Control Center: ******1-800-222-1222****** Level #1: Houseplants with low toxicity, may be mildly irritating, especially the sap of the plant. Level#2: Houseplants with medium to severe toxicity. Eating parts of these houseplants may result in vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, skin irritations, and breathing difficulties. Level #3: These houseplants are very poisonous. When eaten, especially in large quantities, severe vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, skin irritations, and breathing difficulties can occur. Level #4: These houseplants are extremely poisonous. Eating parts of these houseplants can be be life threatening. Every plant listed in our Popular HousePlant guide has a section explaining whether or not it is poisonous and, if so, how poisonous. Amaryllis, alocasia, dieffenbachias, crotons, ivies, azaleas, lilies, and philodendrons are just a few of the highly poisonous plants we use in our homes and offices all of the time. If you don't know whether your houseplant is poisonous, go to Ask Judy on the HousePlant411.com website, send her a picture of your plant, and she'll let you know if the houseplant should be kept away from small children and pets. See colorful pictures and get more information about poisonous houseplants in Don’t Feed Me To Your Cat! A Guide to Poisonous Houseplants #2 toxicity. Broken or damaged leaves and stems of a Crown of Thorns Plant 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 a Crown of Thorns Plant, severe mouth irritation, gastro- intestinal problems, and even hemorrhage can occur.

1. Why are the stems of my Crown of Thorns Plant getting mushy and the leaves turning yellow and falling off?

The stems of a Crown of Thorns Plant get mushy and the leaves turn yellow and fall off when the soil of the plant is too wet. Move your Crown of Thorns Plant to a warm bright location with good air circulation. Allow the top 50% of the soil of your crown of Thorns plant to dry out before you water again.

2. How long should the stem tip cuttings of a Crown of Thorns Plant be if I want to use them for propagation?

If you want to propagate a Crown of Thorns Plant use stem tip cuttings that are about 3”-4” in length. A Crown of Thorns Plant is a succulentLearn how to grow and care for succulent plants at Houseplant411.com houseplant so be sure to allow the stem tips to dry out for a few days and form a callus on the ends before planting them.

3. How do I get a Crown of Thorns Plant to bloom?

A crown of Thorn Plant needs as much bright indirect lightVery few houseplants should be placed in direct sun. High light refers only to bright indirect light since direct sun often burns the leaves of indoor houseplants. An area that is too hot and dry encourages Spider Mites and causes blooms to quickly fade. A northern exposure really doesn't provide enough light for high light plants. These plants need to be placed directly in front of an east-facing window, within 1-3 feet of a west-facing window, and within 5 ft. of a south facing window. A high light area has over 300 ft. candles of light. as possible in order to bloom. Using a plant food low in nitrogen but high in phosphorous also encourages a Crown of Thorn Plant to produce flowers rather than leaves.

4. How do I cut back and prune a crown of Thorn Plant that is very top heavy and keeps falling over?

The best way to prune a Crown of Thorns Plant is to cut back a lateral branch to the height you want the plant to be. Wherever you prune a Crown of Thorns Plant, spray the cut with cold water to stop the latex sap from flowing. You can use 3 or 4 inches of the stem tip cuttings of a Crown of Thorn Plant to start a new plant.