The Euphorbia milii receives its common name from plant corona de Cristo or crown of thorns plant Because there is a legend that this was the plant that was used to make his crown of thorns. This plant, from Madagascar, is a shrub that reaches, and even exceeds, heights of 1 meter and stands out for the red or pink bracts of its flowers, which are very showy.
It is a very hardy succulent plant that can flourish throughout the year in the right climate and conditions. If you want to learn more about how to care for the crown of Christ plant, keep reading us in this Green Ecologist article where you will find one care guide of the crown of Christ plant.
Climate for the crown of thorns plant
Due to its original tropical habitat, this plant cannot withstand low temperatures or exceptionally hot and dry summers. The plant thorns of Christ should ideally be kept at temperatures of between 20 ºC and 35 ºC.
Cold winters can do a lot of damage or even kill it, never exposing it to temperatures below 5 ºC, not even occasionally.
Location and light for the crown of Christ
Is the crown of Christ plant sun or shade? Definitely, the answer is the first option. The Euphorbia milii grows best and produces more flowers in full sun, even in hot climates. So if you want to enjoy the christ crown flower, find him one location as sunny as possible.
It may happen that, if your crown of Christ was indoors and you move it to a place in full sun, it suffers from burns on some leaves due to lack of habit. However, in a few days or weeks the plant will have adapted without any problem and will recover quickly.
Substrate for the crown of Christ
The crown of Christ is not demanding with its substrate other than in one characteristic: the drainage. The plant does not need a soil that is very rich in nutrients, but it does need a substrate that does not retain water or moisture for too long.
If you plant in a garden, find an area where the water does not stagnate when you water. If you grow it in a pot, prepare a mixture with peat moss and river sand or coconut fiber, which lighten and improve the drainage capacity. A little bit of vermiculite and perlite will also help.
Watering the crown of Christ plant
The thorn of Christ is a very rustic species as far as drought resistance is concerned. May withstand long seasons without irrigation and, in fact, he is grateful to have them. Water your Euhprobia milii only when the substrate has dried completelyeven a little beyond the top layer. Then apply to the plant a abundant watering, although always without flooding it, a detail why it is so important that your crown of Christ have the best drainage soil possible.
If you cultivate your Christ's thorn plant in potMake sure it has drainage holes. If you put a plate under it, always empty it about 20 minutes after watering so that it does not reabsorb the water and suffers from puddling.
In winter, space your waterings even more, especially if the temperature is low, since the humidity in the ground can do a lot of damage in conjunction with the cold.
Fertilizer for the crown of thorns plant
This plant does not need fertilizer although, like all plants, a small dose can help with flowering. You can use specific fertilizer for succulents well diluted in water. It is very important that it does not contain boron, as it does not suit you.
Do not apply too much and, if you are not clear about the amounts, in this case it is better to be lacking than excess: if you fertilize it too much it will not flower.
Pruning of the crown of Christ
The plant does not require pruning either, although if you want to control its growth and shape, the best time to do it is at summer.
How to prune the crown of Christ It has no secret: sterilize the tools and cut off the parts that have grown too much. After the summer, in autumn, you can remove the withered leaves and branches so that in the next season the euphorbia stimulates its growth.
Wear thick gloves and watch out for their spines and latex, which is irritating. In fact, wearing safety glasses can also save you annoyance with small splashes.
How to reproduce the crown of Christ or thorns plant
The christ crown seeds They are perfectly valid for the reproduction of the plant, but it is more common to multiply it by cuttings, since it is also very simple and much faster.
- To multiply by cuttings, cut off a stem or a section of the center stem in the growing season.
- Store on absorbent paper for 3 days to let the cut dry.
- After this time, moisten the area of the cut and plant the cuttings of the crown of Christ plant in seedbeds or small pots.
- Place them in a warm and well-lit area but without direct sunlight. You can use homemade or specific rooting before planting them, which will help an even faster and more optimal adaptation.
- Keep the substrate slightly moist for the first few weeks, until the cutting takes root, and after a month, move it to its final location, either a large pot or the ground.
Why is my Christ crown plant not blooming
If you plant crown of Christ does not give flowers It can be mainly due to two main reasons: it is not getting enough light or it is too cold. Move your euphorbia to a warmer and brighter location, avoiding excessive proximity to air conditioners, heaters, or other artificial heat sources.
However, it can also happen that you have exceeded your subscriber or that you have not used a specific one for plants of its type and, therefore, it costs a lot to flower and does not get to do it or does it in little quantity and late.
If you like succulents, we encourage you to discover these 21 succulents with flowers: names, characteristics and photos. Also, here below you can see this guide to the care of the crown of Christ plant on video.
If you want to read more articles similar to Crown of Christ: care, we recommend that you enter our category of Cultivation and care of plants.
