Crown of Thorns!
I just love Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii). Funny thing is, when I first started gardening, I didn't at all. I would walk through a garden center and think, "Who would buy that nasty plant?" Then, it was all about the thorny stems. But the more I learned, it became all about the blooms! They bloom almost year-round. Although they drop most of their leaves in winter, a patch of blooms will remain at the tips. And at the first sign of spring, here comes a new set of green leaves. So now I'm a big sucker for these. I mostly buy pinks (you old-timers know that about me), but I've got a few reds and last year, a yellow.
I recently walked through Home Depot and there was a cute yellow with red centers. I was pretty sure my last-year-yellow had yellow centers (and it does). So the yellow-with-red-centers had to come home with me - only $3.98 - who could resist?
Here's photos of last year's and my new guy:
Carol in Jacksonville
Comments (24)
whgille
9 years ago
marcia_m
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Crown of Thorns Diagnosis
Comments (29)I have been thinking about this and looking at the photos. As much as it looks like graft to me, MAYBE - most likely - I AM WRONG and there is no grafting! I apologise for reacting without really thinking about it, it was just so odd looking to me. I kept looking at my plant. If you look closely at this photo: Parts of stems I circled look very similar to what is in your photo, just much, much shorter. Maybe that's how really old stems look? Much smoother, no spines. What baffles me is that weird growth that I thought is graft union. I do not know what that could be. Maybe just how it healed after being cut and plant decided to grow branches anyway??? Bark will eventually grow over the cut to protect plant; look at this photo of Ficus Benjamina - bark is slowly growing over the wound: I don't see anything similar on my plant, you can see thorns further up on the stem. I don't know how old my plant is, it was given to me and I was told : I had it for a long time...3 stems are now 32", 42" and 52" tall, so maybe it is old....See MoreCrown of thorns red leaf underside
Comments (0)I'm caring for a friend's crown of thorns while she's away for an extended period. I don't think it's a Thai hybrid as the red flowers seem to be of "regular" size. One thing I have noticed, however, is that the underside of the leaves are red. I have 7 COT of my own and all of them are green on the underside, except for a newer pink one which has a bare hint of red on some lower leaves. I also notice that the leaves seem to curl on the friend's COT, showing off the red. It's in full sun, as are all my COT's, and they're all getting plenty of water as we've been getting nearly daily rains (yes, the pots have drainage holes). I'd appreciate guidance from those of you who are more experienced than me. Does the COT below look OK? Should I be treating it differently? Perhaps more shade or ? June...See MoreCut back crown of thorns
Comments (2)Euphorbia milii is not a Euph. w/ damaging sap, tho' it is always good to be careful. I have a 1/2 dozen of them & handle them barehanded often. Mine aren't that tall so I've never cut one that height, don't now if it'll cause it to branch or not. One of the more dangerous ones, needing serious caution IIRC is E. tirucalli (firesticks)....See MoreCrown of thorns buds not turning into flowers
Comments (5)Hi EC, You're underwatering, these are unusually thirsty plants for succulents. Mine are in very well draining mix on top of pebble trays & I still water them several times week. Am growing indoors only on a west window w/good strong light. Mine are in bloom most of the time. While I can't see any of your soil, Cactus & Succulent soil alone, despite its name, doesn't drain well enough to be able to water as copiously as I do. You'll need to pls. amend your soil w/at least 50% Perlite or Pumice (if you can get it). Years ago a plant mentor explained that when it comes to COT, water them far more than one would w/ other succulents & fertilizer also (I'm negligent in that). I'm pretty confident it's lack of water preventing them blooming. This pic is from earlier this year. My batteries are low, but I've got 2 plants in bloom now, will try to post pix later....See MoreCarol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
9 years agoIt is interesting how the bracts change colors as they age. The bracts below are all on the same stem - the lightest at the top of the photo is the newest. They fade to true red and then to dark red.
Carol
oldmangroot
9 years agoCarol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agokatkin_gw
9 years agowhgille
9 years agoCarol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
9 years agoSilvia, and I love your profile picture! You inspired me to go ahead and add one. I love all your happy plants around you.
Mine was taken last weekend at the Starke Strawberry Festival. That is a giant strawberry behind me.
Kathy, I'd like to know about your thornless COT, too!
Carol
whgille
9 years agokatkin_gw
9 years agowhgille
9 years ago
cenflagirl
9 years agoCarol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoWhat a great story! You are right, they are so easy to root from cuttings. For anyone who wants to try, the secret is to let cuttings rest or harden off in shade for a few days before planting. The same thing, I imagine, happened in the dry sand when you stuck the cutting in the ground. If you water in a new cutting, it will usually rot, because it has no roots. Since COTs are succulents, they store enough energy and moisture to form roots before needing any water.
In April, when starting to leaf out:
Later, in June:
Carol
juneroses Z9a Cntrl Fl
5 years ago
dirtygardener
5 years ago
Sommai Tan
5 years agojuneroses Z9a Cntrl Fl
5 years agoFlorida_Joe's_Z10a
5 years agodirtygardener
5 years agoFlorida_Joe's_Z10a
5 years agoCarol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago
Sommai Tan