Also known by its scientific name Euphorbia milii, and some common names like Christ thorn or the Christ plant, Crown of Thorns is an ideal plant used in decorations of Christmas and New Year.
The succulent is quite famous for its colorful cup-shaped flowers and spiny stems and belongs to the family of Euphorbiaceae. The plants look beautiful if you can arrange them well, like small cutting in tabletops, across mantels, and at place settings.
This beautiful plant is perfect for gifting purposes and once you know how to propagate ‘crown of thorns’ plant, you can set up an attractive atmosphere near you.
However, if you follow the correct procedure, with the right preparation and planning, propagating Crown of Thorns could not be a very difficult task for you. If you are looking for answers on how to propagate crown of thorns, the answer lies below.
Different Ways To Propagate ‘Crown Of Thorns’?
The plant can be propagated through several ways but the stem cutting method is the most reliable and efficient method. Although is not very difficult to propagate, still as it is a Euphorbia, the ‘Crown of Thorns’ displays minor challenges for the owners due to susceptibility of rot and mildly toxic sap. Below are the various ways to propagate ‘Crown of Thorns’
‘Crown of Thorns’ Propagation from Cuttings:
Can you grow crown of thorns from cuttings? Well, yes this is one of the easiest methods a person could use to grow more crown of thorns plants. However, the person should be careful as the plant has toxic sap and sharp spines. Follow these steps for euphorbia crown of thorns propagation.
- Step 1: Process starts two days before you start watering your plant to make sure that on the day of cutting, the stem of the plant is holding water.
- Step 2: Now take a sharp knife and move forward with the process of the crown of thorns plant pruning and cut 3-4 inches of the healthy stem of your plant. Make sure that the cutting that you are taking has some leaves on it.
- Step 3: Now cover the cutting with a paper towel and let the wound heal for 2-3 days. Now, apart from 3-4 leaves, remove all the other leaves from your cutting. Make sure that your plant is never under direct sunlight in this stage.
- Step 4: Time to prepare a good growing medium that is suitable for shrubs like a crown of thorns. Considers a potting mix with equal parts of peat moss, sand, or perlite. Ensure that the soil has good drainage and there is no waterlogging. Poor drainage can lead to root rot and avoid cuttings from rooting.
- Step 5: Now, if you have rooting hormone, put the power on the cut end of the plant and make a hole with something pointed like a pencil, or simply use your finger and dig at least 1 1/2 inches deep. Now, put the cutting in that hole, cover it from all sides gently with the soil, and put it under bright but indirect light.
- Step 6: Water every day to keep your plant damp and your cutting will start to sprout into new plants within three to six weeks.
Propagate ‘Crown of Thorns’ in water
People who want to avoid complications can use water as well for rooting the crown of the thorns plant. The steps of pruning and cutting a healthy part of a healthy plant remain the same. For the thornless crown of thorns propagation in water, all you need to do is put the cutting in tall and narrow glass with at least one inch of water at the bottom.
Now, put the glass in a bright indirect sunlight spot, and in one to two weeks you will start witnessing the roots of your new cutting. Once your plant starts rooting, now it is time to move the plant into a new pot with the special soil mixture having good drainage.
Propagate ‘Crown of Thorns’ from Seeds
People can grow ‘Crown of thorns’ from seed quite easily by just buying them. But rather than buying seeds, people can always pollinate them if they have existing plants. All you have to do is transfer the pollen from one flower to another by using a good paintbrush. The plant will develop a capsule that the user has to wait until ripening. Once done, remove it from the plant and spread it over the paper to collect seeds. However, users might experience crown of thorns problems as they are not suitable for extended storage periods.
Users can sow the seeds on a flat well-draining medium surface. Create a well-draining soil by combining peat moss, sand, and perlite, and cover the seeds lightly with sand to retain moisture. For a good germination process, place the plant in a greenhouse where it receives bright but indirect light and the temperatures stay around 65 to 75°F. When the seeds will germinate in two to three weeks, continue with maintaining surface moisture and plant it outdoor when the plant develops true leaves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the best time to propagate the crown of thorns plant?
As the plant enjoys warn conditions, the time between spring to summer si best suited for propagation.
Q2: Is the crown of thorns plant toxic for humans and pets?
Yes, the sap of the plants is toxic for both humans and pets and causes issues like irritation, dermatitis, and ingestion.
Q3: Which procedure is best for propagating the crown of thorns plant?
Usually, people prefer propagating the plant from cuttings and putting it in the soil for maximum chances of growth.
