Crown-of-Thorns – Euphorbia Milii
No matter which retail store I find myself in, if there’s a gardening section somewhere in there – hopefully one that includes oodles of indoor plants – I have to stroll through it. More often than not I don’t bring anything home – really - because I’m rather finicky about what I want growing in my home. I don’t buy houseplants just for the sake of buying them; plants that I choose have to meet certain criteria to qualify as ‘attractive’ and ‘interesting’ - from my perspective.
Together with the physical appeal, the price tag has to be reasonable. I typically pay anywhere from $2.00 to $6.00 for my plants but will occasionally spend up to $10.00 for something on my wish list that’s rarely available for purchase. Spending beyond that, but never more than $20.00, only happens when I spot something that is rarely in stock and out of the ordinary. Pricier purchases have included spectacular plants such as the Adenium Obesum (Desert Rose), Beaucarnea Recurvata (Ponytail Palm), Cycas Revoluta (Sago Palm), Vriesea Splendens (Flaming Sword), Aechmea Fasciata (Urn Plant) and the extremely popular Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid), all of which are worth a few extra bucks.
But despite my finicky nature and strict budget, the plants can add up to significant numbers fairly quickly. One of the causes of this is the fact that – two to three times a week - I’m at one place or another that offers a gardening section. And that section almost always offers a vast selection of plants in 4” pots that don’t cost more than a couple of dollars. With that much exposure to indoor greenery - that is also extremely easy on the pocket - I’m bound to find something eventually.
The other contributing factor is that a lot of plants qualify for the ‘eligible-for-my-home’ status because of the magnitude of choices. For example, I love many cultivars available from the Aglaonema, Dieffenbachia, Philodendron, Anthurium, Spathiphyllum and Alocasia groups. A handful of purchases from each one of these gangs alone can fill an entire house – and then some. And that’s just the Aroid (Araceae) family.
What about plants from the Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae), Maranta (Marantaceae), Gesneriad (Gesneriaceae) and Orchid (Orchidaceae) families? Or the Lily (Liliaceae) and Agavaceae families that include beautiful specimens from the Cordyline, Aspidistra, Chlorophytum (Spider Plant) and Dracaena collection of plants? And let’s not forget the astounding Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) family that includes familiar faces such as the colourful Croton and the celebrated Poinsettia. How can you resist any of them?
And when holidays such as Christmas or Easter inch closer, bringing with them an array of flowering bulbs (Amaryllis, Paperwhite Narcissus, Crocus, Hyacinth, Lilium, Calla Lily) that produce spectacular displays to enhance the festivities, how can anyone just leave them behind? And I won’t even get started on all the funky cacti and succulents that are regularly sold.
Furthermore, after practicing my houseplant hobby for so many years, and after having read dozens of books, magazine articles and internet pages, I have developed a substantial wish list that I’m plowing through – one plant at a time. Thankfully, most of the plants I desire are not commonly sold locally or else I’d have to move to a much bigger house – or move the kids out. But it’s that wish list that keeps me scouting those gardening centers regularly, persistently, to check if one of my ‘must-have’ plants is finally available, preferably at a really cool price.
And sometimes that persistence - my children call it obsession – really pays off; sometimes I am at the right place at the right time because of that determination. That’s exactly what happened one day at a local supermarket that I visit weekly where I happened upon the most spectacular Euphorbia Milii, commonly known as Crown-of-Thorns. This plant had been on my wish list for a long time, and although I do see these pretty bloomers being sold now and then, they’re usually too small, too pricey for their size, lacking an interesting shape and too ‘red’; I wanted a bulky, inexpensive plant with white flowers and an interesting structure. I know I was asking for the moon and the stars but sometimes, just sometimes, with obsessive persistence – and dumb luck – you get what you want. And I did. The Euphorbia I happened upon that day was bulky (4 stalks), overflowing with white buds, interestingly-shaped and being liquidated for the dirt-cheap price of 99 cents. That’s right; I paid less than one dollar for it – before taxes, of course.
My undemanding, bargain-basement-priced Euphorbia Milii, one of my top hydroculture performers to boot, has not only doubled – if not tripled - in size from the time I brought it home but it also hasn’t stopped blooming since – at all. The only regret I have about this purchase one year later is that I didn’t buy a dozen more that blessed day.
But at least I finally found one to add to my collection, and managed to check off another plant on my wish list. And if you are lucky enough to run across one, here’s some information that might come in handy if it follows you home.
A Little About Euphorbias
Euphorbiaceae, one of the largest families in the plant kingdom, is a very diverse group that consists of thousands of species worldwide. The bulk of the species occurs in Africa and Madagascar, but a few are native to the Canary Islands, Socotra, India and the Americas. This family contains more succulent members than any other single genus, however, when we think about Euphorbias, the first, and sometimes only, member of this large family that springs to mind is the Poinsettia - the most popular, best-selling potted plant in the United States; that’s a tough act to follow.
But there is a second well-known and adored member in this clan: the Croton (Codiaeum). With so many different types to choose from, Crotons are one of the most eye-catching plants with their dazzling, multicolored foliage in shades of green, yellow, red, pink, copper, ivory, bronze and deep burgundy, and their varied, interesting leaf shapes.
Included in the mix is a third favourite, the Euphorbia Milii, commonly referred to as ‘Crown-of-Thorns’. Thick, fleshy stems armed with numerous thorny ridges support dark green, lance-shaped leaves and small, pretty flowers - in shades of red, pink, yellow or white – on this charmer that blooms freely most of the year. A unique characteristic of this plant, and all Euphorbias, is the colourful bracts that resemble (but are not) flower petals; the actual bloom is in the center of those ‘petals’. The showy bracts, with their petal-like appearance, help to attract pollinators.
Because this family has such a diverse selection of plants with varying cultural requirements, it’s impossible to make generalizations about care. The best way to succeed with these members is to learn about each individual plant’s specific care requirements and apply that knowledge accordingly.
This article focuses on the care requirements of the Euphorbia Milii.
Caring For This Thorny Bloomer
The Euphorbia Milii, attractive and easy to care for, can handle a substantial amount of neglect and keep on growing. Succulent stems allow it to be quite drought-tolerant, but if it’s severely under-watered, it will drop some (or all) of its leaves. On the other hand, constant over-watering can – and will - eventually kill it.
During the active growing season - or while the plant is blooming - water moderately and allow the top inch or so of soil to dry out. When the fall and winter seasons arrive, and when the plant is not in bloom, much less moisture is required; about half the soil ball from the surface can be allowed to dry. However, the plant must never be allowed to dry out completely or it will drop its leaves. Use a porous, fast-draining soil to help roots breathe and to avoid over watering. Never allow a Euphorbia Milii to say too wet for too long or it will rot.
Average light can be tolerated but direct sun is the preference; the brighter the light, the better the blooms. And while the Crown-of-Thorns typically blooms from March to September, if its needs are met and there is ample light, the flowering period may continue all year round.
This native of Madagascar requires a warm, dry location that is well-ventilated. A temperature as low as 7.3°C (45°F) can be tolerated for a very short while but it’s best to never allow it to drop below 10°C (50°F) to 12°C (53.6°F). Average home temperatures that keep you comfortable will keep your plant comfortable as well.
All Euphorbias contain latex, a milky sap that oozes out of cut surfaces. This sticky white substance can be irritating to some individuals, and poisonous to others. Although it’s also possible that you will have no reaction to it, you might want to consider wearing gloves, especially if you will be cutting stems. In addition, keep your hands away from your face until you have had a chance to wash them well. Handle this plant with care; the stems are full of thorns.
Euphorbia Milii And Hydroculture
Hydroculture is the ultimate solution to the otherwise eternal water juggling act. And the Euphorbia Milii takes to the system like a fish to water, flourishing happily as it rewards you with abundant new leaves and generous blooms.
This gorgeous specimen may react to the stress of conversion by dropping some of its leaves, but it will recover very quickly. Conversion is fairly rapid – 2 weeks to 1 month – and new growth, together with more blooms, will shoot out promptly. This particular plant thrives beyond anything imaginable in the hydroculture system and is worthy of a gold medal for best performance.
By The Way
Legend has it that the ‘crown of thorns’ worn by Jesus Christ at the time of his crucifixion was in fact made from the stems of the Euphorbia Milii, thus the plant’s common name. Interestingly enough, the shoots on this plant are pliable and quite capable of being intertwined into a circle. Furthermore, there exists evidence that the Euphorbia Milii had been brought to the Middle East – where it is not a native – before the arrival of Christ. Other common names for this plant include ‘Christ Plant’ and ‘Christ Thorn’.
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