What are the cultivation methods and precautions for crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii)?

The crown of thorns stands thin-boned like a withered thorn all over, yet fresh green leaves on the branches. Most wonderful is the flower heart budding flowers, blooming from spring through summer to now. The crown of thorns flowers are small, with a lovely form that stirs affection, but cultivating crown of thorns takes considerable skill. How should we grow crown of thorns?

How to grow crown of thorns

Crown of thorns is also known as iron begonia, qilin thorn, and qilin flower, and is native to the island of Madagascar in Africa. It likes a warm, humid environment with plenty of sunlight. It tolerates high temperatures but not cold. A loose, well-drained leaf mold soil is best. In winter the temperature should not fall below 12 degrees C.

For potted plants, repot every spring, and do not water too much. During the growing season in summer and autumn it needs sufficient water, and should be fertilized once a month. In winter, when temperatures are low, the leaves drop and the plant enters dormancy, so the potting soil should be kept dry. During the flowering period from March to December, keeping the soil moisture moderate allows continuous blooming; if the winter room temperature is above 15 degrees C, it can continue to bloom. When the plant becomes too crowded and dense, the whole plant can be pruned in spring before new leaves sprout.

Crown of thorns has a particular nature: it grows slowly, adding only about 10 cm per year, but it is long-lived and can live more than 30 years in a pot. Its flowering period is long; if light and temperature are suitable, it can bloom all year round. Crown of thorns branches do not divide easily, and will grow very long with few flowers and a messy form, affecting its ornamental value, so it must be pruned and pinched back promptly every year to make it produce more new branches and more flowers. Generally, after a branch is pinched back, it can produce two new branches. Crown of thorns has a well-developed root system and grows vigorously, and can be used as rootstock for grafting Christmas cactus and crab claw orchid, but it is a shallow-rooted type that runs far horizontally, with few root hairs.

Crown of thorns cultivation methods and precautions

Crown of thorns cultivation methods:

Crown of thorns likes warmth and does not tolerate cold. It grows best at around 22 degrees C during the day and around 15 degrees C at night. Kept at 15 degrees C to 20 degrees C in a greenhouse, it can bloom continuously all year; if the temperature drops to 10 degrees C, it sheds its leaves and enters a semi-dormant state, then in the following spring puts out new leaves and continues to bloom. Crown of thorns likes light; the more ample the sunlight before flowering, the more brilliant and long-lasting the flowers. With insufficient light, the flower color is dull, and if placed in shade for a long time, it will not bloom. Also be sure to maintain air circulation.

Crown of thorns can be given culture soil with hoof and horn pieces as a base fertilizer, and fertilized once every half month during the growing season; stop fertilizing after the Start of Autumn, and avoid fertilizers containing grease to prevent root rot. Crown of thorns is drought-tolerant, and in spring and autumn watering should follow the principle of watering when dry. In summer it can be watered once a day; in the rainy season guard against waterlogging; in winter do not water unless dry, and the pot should not stay moist for long periods. Water should also be controlled during the flowering period, as too much water easily causes flower drop and root rot.

In late spring and early summer, between May and July, crown of thorns is easiest to propagate by cuttings. Choose thick, strong branches about 10 cm to 15 cm long, wipe dry the white sap flowing from the cut, coat it with plant ash, let it dry in a cool place for 2 to 3 days, and after the wound is dry insert it into plain sand and water thoroughly; water sparingly afterward, watering again when the potting soil is slightly dry. After about 50 to 60 days it will take root.

Precautions: The main problems are stem blight and rot, for which a 50% captan 800-fold solution should be sprayed once every half month. Pests include whitefly and scale insects, which should be killed by spraying a 50% fenitrothion emulsifiable concentrate 1500-fold solution.

The value of crown of thorns

1. Crown of thorns is a distinctive plant with high ornamental value. Its flowering period is very long, and after blooming it has red bracts in beautiful, alluring colors. The stem of crown of thorns is relatively supple and can be tied into many beautiful and moving shapes, making it a favorite decorative plant for display in some hotels and shopping malls.

2. Crown of thorns helps control aphids and red spider mites. Its stems, flowers, branches and leaves can all be used as medicine; it is a cold-natured, bitter traditional Chinese medicine, and when used it has the important effects of cooling the blood, stopping bleeding, drawing out toxins and reducing internal heat.

Is crown of thorns suitable for indoor cultivation

Crown of thorns is a plant with sharp thorns, and its flowers resemble plum blossoms. When its branches and stems are damaged, a white liquid flows from the wound, and this liquid carries a certain toxin.

The liquid secreted by crown of thorns can have a certain effect on the human body. Once a person touches this liquid, the skin will feel extremely itchy, and if this liquid is accidentally swallowed, it will cause symptoms of nausea and dizziness. So when growing it indoors, try to avoid this situation as much as possible; if an accident occurs, it is necessary to go to the hospital for treatment.

If there are children in the home, they need to be supervised, and picking at the crown of thorns must be forbidden. The sharp thorns that crown of thorns grows also serve to a certain extent to protect itself from harm, so people rarely fiddle with it. Because crown of thorns produces carcinogenic substances in the soil when planted, and because of many other adverse factors, it is not recommended to keep it indoors for long periods.

By the hedge one sees white lilac and crown of thorns blooming together, gleaming petals about to fly, brilliant red crown of thorns. Hand in hand the fence separates, neck to neck the vines and leaves crowd. Hidden feeling passes through the color of the stamens, familiar feeling shares the fragrance of the flowers. In passionate love, shy and often avoiding, when the wind comes, hurrying to hide the head. Crown of thorns has small flowers and large leaves, with small red flowers set off among the green leaves, especially endearing. When growing crown of thorns, one must certainly not only care about its beauty, but pay even more attention to one's own health.