Have you ever heard of the crown plant of Christ? At Christmas, as well as at Easter, is when it is best known for that reference to religion. Actually, we are talking about the Euphorbia milii, of common name crown of Christ or crown of thorns. But, what do you know about her and what are her cares about?
This plant that belongs to the succulents and that has a legend under its beltSince it is said that it was from this plant that they made the crown of thorns for Jesus, the one that appears in the Bible, it stands out for its characteristic shape. But how do you take care of it?
Caring for the crown of Christ
From the crown of Christ you should know, first of all, that it is a plant native to Madagascar. It's about a shrub and can easily grow up to one meter in height. But what most attracts the attention of this plant are the bracts, its "flowers", which can be red or pink, and which attract a lot of attention.
If you provide the necessary care, the crown of Christ is able to bloom all year round and it is ideal for beginners due to its high resistance. But be careful, because as its name suggests, it is full of thorns and that can hurt you if you brush it without realizing it.
Next, we leave you what are the most important care that you should give it.
Location and temperature
As we have told you before, the crown of Christ is a plant that comes from Madagascar, which makes it have a tropical climate. And is that this plant needs a constant temperature between 20 and 35 degrees.
It does not support the cold at all, to the point that it dies, especially if the temperatures drop below 5 degrees. As for heat, although it has a greater tolerance, if it is too much it can also suffer a lot.
Despite this, it is a shrub that you must place in full sun, because it loves it and it develops much better, in addition to blooming more. Now, if you notice that the leaves are starting to burn, it is best to place it in semi-shade and gradually take it to a sunny place. This is done because, at times, the plant needs to adapt to the temperature and light.
Earth
When you see the crown of thorns, the first thing you think of is that it is a "wild" plant that does not require much care. And the truth is that it is so. But in the case of the substrate, although it is not demanding, it does it needs the one you use to be very draining because it does not tolerate too much stagnation of water, and it can impair it to flourish or to grow.
Our recommendation in this case is that you use vermiculite and / or perlite to mix it with the soil you put in it, be it peat, compost, etc.
Irrigation
Among the care of the crown of Christ, irrigation is the one that can attract your attention the most. And it will do so for what we will tell you below: water only occasionally.
This plant, as a good succulent that it is, does not need constant watering. In fact, he likes water, yes, but he also likes to go through periods of drought. So experts recommend that you water only when the substrate looks dry, not immediately, but allowing time to pass.
It is important that you water it, in summer, once a week (if it is in a very hot area it may be two) but, in winter, due to the low temperatures and the humidity of the soil may not be good for the succulent, it is better to water it once a month or even every longer because nothing will happen to it.
Fertilizer
This plant it does not need you to pay it. It is not something that you have to provide, although sometimes, especially when the plant is a couple of years old and has been in the same pot and pot for a long time, that extra nutrient supply can come in handy.
Of course, it must be a fertilizer that does not carry boron and that is specific for succulents, since others may not suit them.
Do not add all the amount that the manufacturer says, it is better to take less, especially in this plant, because if you go over it, even if you think that it will flower more like this, the truth is that the opposite will happen.
Pruning
The crown of Christ is a plant that expands very quickly, which means that you have to control its development a little, especially if you have it with other plants or you do not want it to end up taking up too much space.
Unlike other plants, in this case you have to wait for the summer to prune it. To do this, focus on the branches that come out of the formation you want it to have and cut them. Don't worry if they have flowers, they will grow back.
Then in autumn, you can clean it of withered branches and leaves. Of course, make sure you have gloves on and long scissors to prevent the thorns from scratching you (especially since they contain latex and can irritate your skin). In some cases, when the plant is already adult, it is also necessary to protect the face in case a thorn pops out.
Multiplication
When it comes to reproducing the crown of thorns, it can be done in two different ways:
- By seeds, the longest method since you will have to wait for it to grow to enjoy the new plant.
- By cuttings, the most common and fastest way to have a new plant.
In this second case, what must be done is to cut a stem in full growth season. This stem must be stored with absorbent paper (for example 1-2 napkins) for 3 days.
Only afterwards can you moisten the area of the cut (sometimes rooting products are used) and it is planted in small pots. These should be located in very bright and warm areas, but not in sunlight, and keep the soil moist for only a few weeks to allow the roots to develop. In about a month it will have "grabbed" and you can gradually take it to its location, transplant it, and place it in full sun as an adult plant.
Now you know the crown of Christ and its care is not complicated, so you can consider having it at home. Although if you have children and / or pets, it can pose a danger to them if they approach and touch the stems of this. If you have it, can you tell us about your experience?