Crown of Thorns Plant Care: How to Grow Crown of Thorns

Crown of thorns, also known as Christ plant or Christ thorn, is a flowering plant native to Madagascar, introduced to France in the early nineteenth century by Baron Pierre Bernard Milius, then-governor of Réunion, a region in the western Indian ocean. The crown of thorns is part of the spurge family, or Euphorbiaceae, which contains many different species of succulent plants. Crown of thorns are low maintenance, easily adaptable, and can thrive as an indoor plant or outdoors (in USDA Hardiness Zones 9–11).

Crown of thorn plants have green leaves and small, colorful flowers. This plant also has sharp, spiny stems and branches that excrete a milky sap when broken. If you are considering a crown of thorns as a houseplant, be advised that they have high toxicity and can be poisonous to animals and humans if ingested.

While crown of thorns plants can be grown from seed, the seeds are only viable for a short time and may take months to germinate. Instead, experts recommend that growers use propagation through cuttings rather than grow a new plant from seed. For steps on how to propagate your crown of thorns, see below:

1. 1. Obtain your cuttings. If you have a crown of thorns parent plant and you’re ready to start growing some new ones, you’ll first need to secure your cuttings. Cut anywhere from three to six inches from the tip of a leafy stem of your parent plant.
2. 2. Dry your cut ends. Remove all but a few leaves from the top of your tip cuttings, and let the cuttings dry in a cool place until the ends callus (they’ll turn grayish and pucker). Drying can take a few days, but avoid skipping this step, as planting fresh cuttings in the potting mix can promote root rot.
3. 3. Set your cuttings. Prepare a soil mix that’s a combination of peat, sand, and compost, and place it in a four- to six-inch pot. Bury the rooting end of your cuttings until it stands up firmly in the soil. Provide moderate water to start.

Crown of thorns are neglect-tolerant and require little maintenance. However, when caring for crown of thorns plants, it’s essential to wear gloves, as the latex sap from this plant can cause eye and skin irritation. To keep your crown of thorns thriving, see the steps below:

1. 1. Keep your environment temperate. Crown of thorns plants grow best indoors at a temperature of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit but can tolerate higher or lower extremes.
2. 2. Provide enough sun. Crown of thorns should get full sun for three to four hours every day. Keep your plants in a sunny window where they can receive enough direct sunlight.
3. 3. Avoid overwatering. Only water your crown of thorns when the top inch of soil has dried, and ensure there isn’t any water collecting near the roots. You can wait until the top three inches of the soil have dried before watering in the winter months.
4. 4. Fertilize. Use a liquid fertilizer every few weeks during fall, spring, and summer. When the plant is more dormant in the winter, you can dilute the fertilizer and use it less often.
5. 5. Monitor for pests or fungal diseases. Crown of thorns plants are susceptible to mealybugs, spider mites, and leaf-spotting diseases. You can avoid plant diseases by limiting watering and prevent the emergence of pests by pruning away old or damaged branches that can provide hiding places for destructive insects. Always prune the stem at its origin point to encourage healthy, new growth. Learn how to prune your plants using our complete guide.

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