Planting, caring for and multiplying Christ's thorn

The Christ's Thorn (Euphorbia milii) is available in many colors and blooms not just once, but twice a year. Here you can find out, among other things, why the colorful splendor is not actually flowers.

The easy-care Christ Thorn often blooms at Easter. In this article you will find out how you can get it to bloom profusely and what else you need to consider when choosing a location and caring for the succulent.

Christ thorn: origin and characteristics

The Christ Thorn (Euphorbia milii) from the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) originally comes from Madagascar and is also widespread as a houseplant. Like all species of the genus Spurge (

euphorbia) the parts of the plant contain a poisonous milky sap that escapes when injured. The succulent shrub can grow up to two meters tall in nature, but as a houseplant the growth ends at around 60 cm. Thorns sit on the fleshy shoots, which have given the Christ thorn, also known as the crown of thorns, its name. The green leaves, like the shoots, can store water. Euphorbia milii also has colored bracts that appear like flowers. The actual flowers are very small and inconspicuous and are surrounded by the bracts, which can be red, pink or white. But there are also varieties whose bracts are yellow, orange or even multicolored. The flowering period is usually between March and April, ie just in time for Easter. Some hybrids can even flower all year round. Depending on when you order the crown of thorns to dry, flowering can also occur earlier or later.

The most beautiful varieties

Of the kind Euphorbia milii There are other varieties and hybrids, some of which are also available in specialist plant shops. Many people are also familiar with the Syrian Christ's Thorn, although it is a completely different plant. The Syrian Christ's Thorn is a tree from the genus of the buckthorn family and is not kept as a houseplant. Some varieties and hybrids of Euphorbia milii we briefly present it here:

• Euphorbia milii ‘Grandiflora’: This is a hybrid from Thailand. The colored bracts are particularly large and appear light yellow with a pink edge.
• euphorbia x lomi 'Salmon': This is a pink flowering variety of the hybrid euphorbia x lomi, of the species Euphorbia lophogona and Euphorbia milii has arisen. The initial syllables of the parent species are eponymous. The hybrid is evergreen and has large bracts.
• euphorbia x lomi 'Sweet Heart': This variety is also one of the widespread indoor plant hybrids that keep their leaves even in winter and can bloom all year round. The 'Sweet Heart' variety develops pink bracts.
• Euphorbia milii var. splendidly: This variation is quite common as a houseplant. It can flower in different colors and, as a shrub, can reach heights of two meters in nature.

Planting the thorn of Christ: location, soil and procedure

The Christ Thorn is a houseplant that can also spend the summer outdoors. It is best to choose a location with a lot of light for the Christ's thorn, because it likes it sunny. Even a south-facing window with midday sun doesn't bother it and can even help it to have more flowers. If it is warm enough in summer, the thorn of Christ can be placed outside. It requires temperatures between 18 and 25 °C during the growing season. It also prefers dry air, which is why it can thrive in heated rooms without additional air humidification.

Tip: The Christ thorn does not tolerate too much humidity and fungal diseases can occur. Therefore, do not place the crown of thorns in the bathroom.

Although the Christ's thorn is not particularly demanding when it comes to its substrate, it prefers a loose, permeable and not too wet soil. It is best to fill the bottom of the pot, which should definitely have a drainage hole, with a layer of potsherds, expanded clay or stones. This ensures good water drainage and there is no waterlogging, which the thorn of Christ cannot cope with very well. A mixture of potting soil and sand in a ratio of 2:1 is suitable as a substrate. Ours is an example of an environmentally friendly base soil Plantura organic potting soil at. It provides important nutrients for the Christ thorn and, with its compost content and loose structure, offers ideal conditions for the plant.

Plant Christ's thorn outside

If you want to plant the Christ's thorn outside, you should definitely keep it in a pot that you can put inside the apartment in winter. In summer you can Euphorbia milii put it outside without any problems, as long as the temperatures neither drop below 15 °C at night nor rise above 30 °C during the day. However, you should slowly get him used to his new outdoor location. That means, over a period of about two weeks, you put it in its new place for a few hours and then for longer and longer. This should also be bright and sunny or partially shaded outside.

Care of the thorn of Christ

Like all plants, the Christ's thorn requires care, but is not particularly demanding here either. In any case, care must be taken with care, since not only can the thorns cause injuries, but poisonous milky sap can also escape if the plant is injured. Wearing gloves is therefore recommended when cutting and repotting.

Water and fertilize the Christ thorn

The thorn of Christ does not need much water. When the soil has dried out on the surface, you can water again, preferably with room-temperature rainwater or stagnant tap water. In the cold season, even less water is needed. Here the substrate may even dry out, but not over a long period of time. It should be watered from time to time so that magnificent flowers can appear in spring and the plant does not die. Excess water in the saucer must be removed after watering, as the Christ thorn does not tolerate waterlogging.

A year after planting or repotting, the Christ Thorn needs nutrients to continue growing. In the growth period between May and September, you should add a liquid fertilizer to the substrate together with the irrigation water about every two weeks. For example, our is suitable for this Plantura organic indoor and green plant fertilizer, which is not only good for your plants, but also for the environment, since it primarily combines organic ingredients with the best effectiveness. It provides your plants with important nutrients and useful microorganisms that support leaf and root growth.

Cut the thorn of Christ

It is not necessary to cut the Christ's thorn, but it is possible because the plant tolerates pruning well. The best time for pruning is in spring between March and April, but the crown of thorns can also be pruned the rest of the year. Use a sharp knife for this and be sure to wear gloves for protection. For a bushier growth, prune the central main stem of the plant. Cut it off directly at the base - this is where new shoots will form, which will branch out more.

Tip: You can use cut shoots as cuttings to multiply the Christ thorn.

Repot Christ's thorn

The crown of thorns is a rather slow-growing plant. You can transplant the Christ's thorn into a larger pot about every three years, but it should only be a size or two larger than the old pot. Too much space can result in the plant not being able to find a footing and there is too much substrate that could become waterlogged. Be sure to wear gloves when repotting the Christ Thorn. In the years between repotting you can renew the top layer of the substrate. When repotting, a little flower fertilizer can also be mixed in to increase the supply of phosphate in the soil.

Christ's thorn turns yellow leaves or loses leaves: causes and measures

If the Christ's thorn gets yellow leaves or sheds them, there can be various reasons.

• Natural loss of leaves during dormancy: If the Christ's thorn sheds its leaves in winter, this is a natural process and a reaction to low temperatures and less water. There is no need to worry as the leaves will regenerate over the following months. The dormant phase is also important for the development of the flower buds.
• Location not suitable: If the leaves turn yellow or are shed during the summer months, it may be that the location for the Christ Thorn is unsuitable. Then put it in another place that is sufficiently sunny and warm, preferably outside in the fresh air if it is warm enough.
• excess water: Overwatering is one of the common care mistakes that lead to leaf loss. If waterlogging occurs, the roots can rot and the leaves are shed. Therefore, be sure to check the substrate. If it is too wet or there is water in the saucer, repot the plant in fresh substrate.

Tip: Since the Christ's Thorn is somewhat sensitive to new light and temperature conditions, it may well shed some leaves after you've moved it. But they grow back quickly.

multiply the thorn of Christ

Both seeds and cuttings are suitable for propagating the Christ's thorn. However, the use of cuttings is more promising.

Use a sharp knife to cut off a shoot about 10 cm long from a healthy plant. You should also wear gloves when doing this. The milky juice can be stopped by immersing the interface in lukewarm water for a while. After that, the cutting should dry for about two days before it is placed in a mixture of potting soil and sand or special potting soil. Ours, for example, is suitable for growing plants Plantura Organic Herb & Seed Soil, which contains lower amounts of nutrients and thus promotes vigorous root growth of the seedlings. It contains no peat, but is produced in a resource-saving manner, which is also good for the environment. After planting, the substrate should be kept evenly moist. Place the culture vessel in a bright place with temperatures above 20 °C. After about a month, roots should have formed.

Propagation by seeds is also possible. You can either buy these or collect them from the flowers after the flowering period. Distribute the seeds on moistened potting soil and cover them lightly with substrate. With this method, too, the place should be bright and warm. Stretch cling film over the jar to increase humidity. After about a month you should be able to see the seedlings. Then air the foil every day before removing it completely if the small plants have outgrown their mini greenhouse.

Overwinter crown of thorns

In order to form flowers in spring, it is important to put the Christ's thorn into a dormant phase. For this purpose, the temperatures should be reduced to around 15 °C in winter and watered less during this time - just enough so that the substrate does not dry out in the long term. Fertilizers are not required during the resting phase. Also make sure that the Christ thorn only enjoys about ten hours of light a day. After a successful hibernation, you should be able to enjoy a rich bloom in the spring.

Is Christ's thorn poisonous?

The Christ's Thorn is poisonous because, like all plants of the Spurge genus, it contains a poisonous milky sap. This can lead to skin irritation. In addition, the shoots of the plant are equipped with numerous thorns, which can also cause injuries. Therefore, make sure that children and animals do not eat any parts of the thorn of Christ and wear gloves for care measures such as repotting and cutting.

Another flowering succulent is the Easter cactus. In our article you will find important care tips and interesting information about the popular houseplant.