How to Plant a Crown of Thorns Plant
Crown of Thorns--also known as Euphorbia milli--is a tropical plant that thrives in hot conditions. Crown of Thorns will tolerate very high temperatures and drought, but it will not tolerate frost or cold weather. If you live in the Southern United States or anywhere with a plant hardiness zone of 10 or higher, Crown of Thorns can be a great addition to your tropical garden. If you live in a colder climate, Crown of Thorns can be grown in containers and brought inside before the first frost. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Crown of Thorns
- Small pots
- Peat moss
- Sand
- Shovel (optional)
- Pot (optional)
- Potting soil (optional)
Instructions
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Check with your local plant nursery to see if Crown of Thorns plants are available. Most gardeners order these plants from catalogs or Websites because they are relatively rare. If you order Crown of Thorns, expect your cuttings to arrive with dry roots. You will need to re-root the cuttings before planting.
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Re-root your cuttings if the existing roots are dried and stiff. Fill several small pots 2/3 full with a mixture of peat moss and sand. Wet the sand mixture so it is just slightly damp, and place the cut end of your Crown of Thorns in the sand. Keep the pots in a bright room, but they should be placed away from direct sunlight. Keep the sand mixture barely moist, being careful not to over-water the plants. Gentle heat from the bottom of the pot will encourage the cuttings to root, but it's not necessary. Plants should send out new roots in about three weeks.
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Plant your Crown of Thorns in the ground or its permanent pot once flowers appear on the cuttings. If you bought established plants from the store, they can usually be planted right away. Flowers indicate that the plant's root system is established and ready for transfer. Choose a location with full sun and good soil drainage.
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Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the plant's root system; the hole should be approximately the size of its current container. If your soil seems dense, incorporate a handful of peat moss to facilitate water drainage.
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Transfer your Crown of Thorns from its pot to the permanent location, sliding the dirt and root system gently out of the starter pot. Place the roots in the prepared hole and cover them with dirt. Pat the dirt with the palm of your had to make a level surface around the Crown of Thorns. Spread a layer of sand over the dirt to keep the plant from tipping over. Crown of Thorns can become top-heavy and may tip of the soil is too lightweight.
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Tips & Warnings
Allow your Crown of Thorns to thoroughly dry out between each watering. Over-watering can prevent the plant from flowering and can cause damage or death in some cases.
