How to grow Crown of Thorns? A detailed guide to its care methods

Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii) is a common plant used to accent the home. Do you know how to grow Crown of Thorns? Below we will give you a brief introduction.

How to grow Crown of Thorns

1. Soil:

For pot cultivation, sandy loam is required; it can be made by mixing leaf mold or peat soil with 1/2 sandy soil and a small amount of fertilizer.

2. Temperature:

Crown of Thorns likes warmth and is not cold-tolerant. It grows best at around 22°C during the day and around 15°C at night. Kept at 15°C to 20°C in a greenhouse, it can bloom continuously all year round. If the temperature drops to 10°C, it sheds its leaves and enters a semi-dormant state, then in the following spring it puts out new leaves and continues to bloom.

3. Sunlight:

Crown of Thorns likes light and is not afraid of intense summer heat or blazing sun; it needs sufficient light all year round. If light is insufficient, it tends to grow leggy, which affects blooming. Crown of Thorns likes light; the more sufficient the sunlight before blooming, the more brilliant and eye-catching the flowers and the longer they last. With insufficient light, the flower color is dull, and if kept in shade for a long time, it will not bloom at all. Also, be sure to maintain air circulation.

4. Fertilizing and watering:

For Crown of Thorns, cultured soil with hoof and horn pieces as a base fertilizer can be used. During the growing season, fertilize once every half month; stop fertilizing after the Start of Autumn. Avoid fertilizers containing grease to prevent root rot. Crown of Thorns is drought-tolerant; in spring and autumn, water according to the principle of watering when dry and letting it dry out between waterings. In summer, water once a day; in the rainy season, guard against waterlogging; in winter, do not water unless the soil is dry, and the pot should not stay moist for long periods. Watering should also be controlled during the flowering period, as too much water easily causes flower drop and root rot.

5. Pruning:

Cutting back Crown of Thorns encourages new shoots to sprout at the cut, which can increase the number of flowers. Alternatively, use lead wire or bamboo strips to tie and shape it, while also distributing the branches evenly to increase the light-receiving area of the branches, which can promote flowering and enhance the ornamental value of Crown of Thorns. Crown of Thorns branches do not branch easily, so they grow very long, bear few flowers and look messy, which affects their ornamental value. Therefore, every year it must be pruned and pinched back in good time to make it produce more new branches and more flowers. Generally, after a branch is pinched back, it can produce two new branches.

6. Pest and disease control:

The main problems are stem blight and rot; spray with 50% captan at 800 times dilution once every half month. Among insect pests, there are whiteflies and scale insects; spray with 50% fenitrothion emulsifiable concentrate at 1500 times dilution to kill them.

So how should Crown of Thorns be pruned?

As for pruning Crown of Thorns, many flower lovers prune only because the plant has grown too large. In fact, Crown of Thorns has the habit of flowering at the tips of branches, so pruning can promote branching and achieve the goal of more flowers. When pruning, be sure to wear gloves.

Although pruning can promote branching and more flowers, the beauty of the plant shape cannot be ignored either. Shaping and pruning of Crown of Thorns is mostly done during the peak growth period from June to July after the flowering season. The pruned branches can be used by flower lovers for cuttings to propagate new potted Crown of Thorns.

For young Crown of Thorns seedlings, pruning should aim to form a framework as early as possible. When the seedling grows to 10 cm, the top part of the branch can be cut off to encourage side branches; later, when the side branches have grown to a certain height, cut off their tips again to further encourage side branches and form a basic framework of main branches.

Once Crown of Thorns has 4 to 5 branches, you should plan long-term training goals in advance, such as tying it into a ball shape, a flower screen, or a flower basket, and then set up stakes according to the established goal, properly guiding, coiling and tying the branches so that they develop in the desired direction.

For Crown of Thorns that has already been tied into shape, apart from individual branches that stand out and ruin the shape, generally only light pruning or no pruning is needed; just pay attention to proper coiling and shaping. This is because coiling branches also has the effect of stimulating the plant's apical dominance. If you want a certain part of a branch or trunk to put out new shoots, bend that part downward so that the tip of the branch or trunk is lower than the bend; then 1 to 3 new shoots will quickly grow out at the tied spot.

Crown of Thorns has a relatively long flowering period and bright, lovely flowers. Judging from the care methods summarized above, it is a very easy plant to cultivate, and it is perfect for placing on home windowsills, balconies and similar spots.