How to grow a crown of thorns bonsai? Detailed guide to care methods and tips

  Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii), also known by the aliases fanzai ci, fanzai tree, tiger thorn, qilin thorn, qilin flower, iron begonia and tiger thorn plum, is a spiny, upright or slightly climbing small shrub. It is vigorous and thrives in a warm, dry climate, with an optimum growing humidity of 18-25°C. If the indoor temperature in winter can be kept above 15°C, it can bloom continuously throughout the winter. If the humidity is too low, all the leaves will drop off and the plant enters dormancy. During the flowering period it needs plenty of sunlight; apply a top dressing once every half month, either organic liquid fertilizer or a compound chemical fertilizer, and it grows best in loose sandy soil.

  The crown of thorns plant can reach about one to two meters in height, branches readily, and has white sap in its tissues. The branches are angular with shallow grooves and are densely covered with cone-shaped sharp spines. The leaves grow at the tips of new branches and are obovate, with smooth, bright green surfaces. The flowers have long stalks and two red bracts, and the flowering period is winter and spring. The capsule is oblate-spherical.

  Crown of thorns is mostly propagated by cuttings, which root very easily. For indoor cultivation, it is best to use a growing medium mixed with peat soil and fine sand in a 3:2 ratio. During the flowering season it requires sufficient fertilizer and water.

  Crown of thorns is a sun-loving plant. At the tip of each branch, a thin tender stalk grows close against the leaves; on each thin stalk, two or four greenish-yellow buds smaller than mung beans initially appear. The buds gradually grow larger, and when they stretch out they become two petals. Before long, the two small petals change from greenish-yellow to pink, and the stamens in the center gradually become visible as well.

  Crown of thorns is covered in spines and bears blooms like little red plum blossoms; it is an excellent indoor potted flower and can also be trained into a bonsai. Crown of thorns has a long lifespan and a long flowering period, and is easy to care for.

  1. During the growing season it can be placed at an indoor window or grown outdoors, but avoid scorching sun exposure;

  2. With sufficient light, plus enough fertilizer and warmth, it can bloom all year round; otherwise, it only grows leaves and blooms little or not at all;

  3. For the growing soil, generally mix humus soil with one third sand and then pot it up for planting. Repot and change the soil once every 2-3 years;

  4. Except in midsummer, the potting soil should normally be kept on the dry side and avoid being wet; watering too much or too often can also cause root rot, and this is the key to keeping crown of thorns alive and thriving;

  5. During the growing seasons in spring and autumn, top-dress 2-3 times with a mixed fertilizer of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium;

  6. Because crown of thorns is an upright vine-like plant, its stems and branches tend to topple over after growing large and tall; you can tie and support them with bamboo strips or similar, or build a frame with bamboo strips and tie it into various landscape shapes, such as a sphere or animal shapes, which makes it even more interesting and attractive to look at.