By Victoria Torley

Digging into the origin of the plant inspired by the biblical passage of the crown of thorns of Jesus, in the Spruce magazine I found all the answers to my questions.

According to the New Testament, a woven crown of thorns was placed on the head of Jesus during the events leading up to his crucifixion.

The Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii) is a pretty succulent plant that can bloom almost year-round, even indoors. 

The thick, bright green leaves grow along the new stem growth, but watch out for thorns. The true flowers are small and green, surrounded by showy bracts in red, orange, pink, yellow, or white.

 

This slow-growing plant will grow into a shrub reaching 3 to 6 feet tall outdoors. As a houseplant, expect it to reach only about 2 feet in height. 

Euphorbia is poisonous to humans and pets.

Although a crown of thorns can grow into a woody shrub, it is also an ideal houseplant for most homes. It is often grown as a houseplant. If growing it outdoors, give the plant plenty of room. 

It makes an excellent specimen plant. Give it some renewal pruning cutting away any older, fading leaves to encourage new growth.

A container-grown plant can spend the summer outdoors wherever you need color or interest. Of course, you can keep your crown of thorns indoors all year. 

The plant will repeat bloom throughout the year. The actual flowers are the insignificant green centers, but they are surrounded by showy bracts that look like colorful petals. Despite its thorns, the plant is easy to handle if you grab it by its leafy stems or hold it by its roots. 

As with most flowering plants, the better the sun exposure, the more blooms you will get. The plant needs direct sunlight and it will reliably bloom as long as it receives at least three to four hours of bright sunlight per day. Outdoors, try to place it under full sun.

If growing outdoors, plant in well-draining soil and full sun. In dry climates, the plants will appreciate some midday shade for better blooms. Crown of thorns is a very adaptable houseplant.

It needs a well-draining cactus potting mix and should not be planted in a container that is more than an inch or two larger than the root ball. If there is excess soil, it will retain water and could cause the roots to rot. 

Since it is a succulent, the plan is very forgiving about water. Water when the soil feels dry, about 1 inch below the surface. Water thoroughly and allow any excess to drain off. Do not let your plant sit in water or wet soil for prolonged periods of time or the roots will rot. 

Crown of thorns will go semi-dormant in the rainy season and need less frequent watering and no food. 

At least half a day of sunlight is a major requirement for the plant. Temperature-wise, a comfortable 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit is good.  

Feed your crown of thorns with a balanced houseplant fertilizer. You can do this every other time you water if you dilute the fertilizer to half-strength. 

Most modern crowns of thorns are hybrids and are not started from seed. However, they are easy to propagate from tip cuttings. To limit the amount of sap you come in contact with, wear gloves and dip each cutting into warm water, letting them sit in it for a couple of minutes. Then lay them out to dry and callus over for a few days before planting. 

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For more information on this article or about gardening, Ms. Victoria Torley, gardener columnist, can be reached at victoriatorley1@gmail.com.