Product Description:
Euphorbia Milli is an ornamental cactus-like plant native to Madagascar and other tropical regions throughout the world. The plant was first introduced into cultivation by Baron Miliu. Euphorbia has Bright-green leaves grow along its thick, thorny stems. The true flowers are small and green, surrounded by showy bracts in red, orange, pink, yellow, or white. Although crown of thorns can grow into a woody shrub, it is also an ideal houseplant for most homes. It likes the same room temperature that people enjoy and it can handle the lack of humidity prevalent in most homes during the winter. This slow-growing plant will grow into a shrub reaching 3-6 feet tall outdoors. As a houseplant, expect it to reach only about 2 feet in height.
Light:
As with most flowering plants, the better the sun exposure, the more blooms you will get. However, crown of thorns will reliably bloom as long as it gets at least three to four hours of bright, direct sunlight per day. Outdoors, try to place it under full sun. Indoors, place your plant in a west or south-facing spot during winter.
Soil:
All Euphorbias, especially the succulent varieties, need well-draining soil. A sandy soil with a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH is best, though most will do fine in slightly alkaline soil as well.
Water:
Water whenever the top couple inches of soil feels dry from spring to fall when the plant is actively growing. During the winter, reduce watering to only when the plant shows signs of wilt.
Most Euphorbia species can tolerate hot temperatures and prefer a warm environment with average daytime temperatures around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold tolerance varies among the species. Some will handle a light frost while others don’t grow well in temperatures below roughly 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity tolerance also varies. It’s important to have good ventilation around the plants if there is high humidity to prevent fungal disease.
Fertilizer:
Feeding requirements vary by Euphorbia species, but in general all of the plants will benefit from some fertilizer. Adding compost or a balanced organic fertilizer to a new plant will help to promote healthy growth. Then, many Euphorbia species will do fine with a weak liquid fertilizer applied throughout the growing season.
Propagating Euphorbia
Euphorbias can be grown from seed, but the seeds are difficult to germinate (or even find). This plant is usually propagated by stem cuttings planted in a seed-starting mix or cactus potting mix. Fresh cuttings can ooze sap and irritate the skin, so wear gloves when handling them. Allowing the cut stem to dry overnight will improve your success rate of rooting the cutting, as will the use of a rooting hormone. Keep the growing medium lightly moist as the cutting develops roots. Once you feel resistance when you gently tug on the stem, it is ready to be planted wherever you plan to grow it.
Care for Euphorbia:
- Also, avoid placing the plant in an area with direct sunlight before the plant establishes a mature root system.
- It is advisable to wear gloves when taking euphorbia cuttings because the latex can cause skin irritation.
- Prune off growing tips to control plant height.
- Plants that don’t bloom arent getting enough light. Move Crown of Thorns to a sunny window where it gets about 4 hours of direct sun every day.
- CAUTION: Wear thick gloves when handling this plant — those thorns are sharp! Also, watch out for its toxic, milky sap, which can irritate your skin, eyes, and mouth.
