Crown of thorns
Also called Christ plant, Christ thorn.
| Light | full sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Every 12 days in the growing season, every 30 in winter |
| Humidity | low |
| Difficulty | easy |
| Height | Up to 90 cm (35 in) tall |
| Pets | Cats not known, dogs not known |
Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, toxic and non-toxic plants, no entry for Euphorbia milii.
From Madagascar, and one of the very few succulents that flowers more or less continuously given enough light. The flowers are not really flowers: the coloured parts are bracts in red, pink, yellow or white, held in pairs above small green stems, and they hold for weeks. The plant that carries them is armed with long grey spines along every stem, which together with the caustic white sap makes it one to place carefully rather than one to put on a low table. Give it full sun, a gritty compost, a snug pot and long dry spells, and feed with potash rather than nitrogen. It will flower for most of the year and live for decades.
Ailments observed
| It will not flower | Not enough light, or too much water and nitrogen. Move it into full sun, feed with potash rather than a general feed, and let it dry properly between waterings. |
|---|---|
| Leaves falling off | A dry spell or a cold snap, and the leaves come back. It sheds leaves under stress and keeps flowering regardless. Water a little more consistently and keep it above ten degrees. |
Filed underPlants that forgive a beginner, Succulents and cacti, Plants for infrequent watering, Plants for a balcony or a small space
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