Sunday 18 October 2015

Growing Crown Of Thorns In My Garden

I once had a pot of this cactus like plant with deep red flowers or bracts but it rotted away due to the rainy season. Much later, I received some stem cuttings from my church member when I visited her home. 
The common names of this plant are Crown of Thorns, Christ Plant or Christ Thorn. The scientific name is Euphorbia milii.
Crown of Thorns is a woody and thorny succulent shrub.
Crown of Thorns is easy to grow and maintain.
  Crown of Thorns can tolerate full sun and high temperature.
  It does not need regular watering because it can tolerate dryness.
  If it is over watered or the soil is water logged, the plant will rot and die.
The leaves are pale green.
The leaves are found on the young parts of stems.
The leaves will drop off from the older part of stems.
 I have 2 pots of Crown of Thorns.
One plant has deep pink flowers or bracts.
Another plant has pale pink or yellowish flowers.
The plants flower throughout the year.
Less flowers may be due to too much water or too much fertilizer.
If over fertilized, there will be more leaves and less flowers.
 This plants love direct sunlight. The more sun, the more flowers.

My plants are only exposed to the morning sun and looks like they have more leaves than flowers. If the plants are placed in shaded area or in cool temperature places, the plants will also slow down their growth. 
 Propagation is through stem cuttings.
Let the sap of the newly cut stems be totally dried up.
Then plant the stem cuttings in slightly damp soil.
The white sap or latex is poisonous, will cause irritation to skin or eyes.
If swallowed, will cause severe stomach pain, throat and mouth irritation and vomiting.
Its main pest problems are the mealy bug, scale and white fly.
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the perilous pestilence.
(Psalm 91:3, NKJV)

45 comments:

  1. Nice...looks petite and cute..as I said you have green fingers :)

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    1. Thank you, Elin. These are easy to grow. Have a wonderful week!

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  2. Nancy, the flowers are so delicate and pretty! But I am afraid of the thorns.

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    1. Phong Hong, you will have to handle them gently and with care. Have a great week!

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    1. Thank you, Francisco. Have a beautiful week!

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    1. Sharon, just handle them gently and with care and you will not get pricked.

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  5. I had a pot of this once and loved it. I now realize I probably over watered it and it died....but it grew to be very large. I must get another pot of it started....
    Happy Sunday

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    1. Hello BJ, I too have one larger specie but I over watered it and it rotted away. I think it will be very pretty as a bush with the tiny flowers all over them. Have a happy Sunday too!

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  6. Like the small pretty flowers but not the thorns. Will get prick if not careful when you want to trim it.

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    1. Hello Irene, initially I was hesitant about growing this but was so attracted by the tiny flowers. Have a wonderful Sunday!

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  7. The shape of the flowers is so special. I noticed some look as if they have two petals and some look as if they have 3 petals. So are there two or three petals?

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    1. Thank you, Mun. The flowers are indeed special. Mostly are of 2 petals but I too noticed some with 3 petals. Have a lovely Sunday!

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  8. Such a beautiful flower, love the delicate shade of pink.

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  9. Nancy lok great but dangerous

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    1. Thank you, Gosia. Have to handle with care.

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  10. Hello Nancy, it is a pretty plant. I like the tiny pink flowers. Have a happy new week ahead!

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  11. A beautiful succulent plant, Nancy.
    Have a great week ahead!
    Angie

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  12. They are all so beautiful and you have a fabulous green thumb. That's awesome. That one plant has some serious thorns though. Yikes.

    Have a fabulous day Nancy. ☺

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    1. Thank you, Sandee. This have to handle with care. Have a fabulous week!

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  13. You really do have a green thumb Nancy. The flower is so delicate and the leaves, so pretty but oh my, those thorns would deter me from growing them. I have a beautiful rosebush with lots of thorns and no matter how carefully I handle it., I get pricked often when I weed around it.

    Have a great Sunday.
    Hugs,
    JB

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    1. Thank you, Julia. Initially I was reluctant to grow this but when I saw the pretty flowers, I changed my mind.. Have a great week!

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  14. Wow- your plants look beautiful. I had fun viewing several months of your posts and checking out your part of the world. So different from here in the Northeast US. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment and come back soon. I will stop by your blog too.

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    1. Thank you, Erika for your visit an comments. I will be visiting you too. Have a beautiful week!

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  15. my mother had a crown of thorns plant. it was beautiful.

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    1. Thank you, Theresa. It is beautiful but thorny. Beauty and the thorns! Have a beautiful week!

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  16. Hello Beijos Marie, thank you for your visit and comments. I will be visiting your blog soon. Have a happy day!

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  17. Your choices are always a surprise.
    I love this plants


    www.tomntins.com

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  18. What a gorgeous plant, Nancy. I never tire of reading about your gardening adventures! Pretty sure I'm learning a thing or two too. :D

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    1. Thank you, Sharon. I am so encouraged by your comments. Have a beautiful week!

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  19. Very pretty and while I am familiar with the name- I don't think I have ever seen the plant. You have a green thumb!

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  20. I always did like the look of this one. The many thorns put me off having them in my garden though.

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    1. Stacy, if you handle it carefully, the thorns are not that threatening!

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