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**** The Gardener's Forum ****]
How to Grow a Crown of Thorns
Euphorbia splendens
David Comstock wrote:
My fifty + year old crown of thorns is dying. The branches are
rotting. I've had it for 8 years and I've never killed it before. I
moved it to my new (temporary ) office and put it in a corner where it
didn't get enough light. I have since rearranged my office and moved it
over by the window. A few branches seem still to be alive, but for how
long? Is it possible to take a cutting and start over? How is that
done? any help would be appreciated. Thanks
Hi David,
Sorry to hear about your plant. A crown of thorns (Euphorbia splendens) that old is quite awesome.
Cuttings from a Crown of Thorns are possible, but it'll take a little effort, and time.
With a very sharp, clean knife(I like single edge razor blades) cut a branch off at the point where it meets the
main trunk.....
CAUTION!::::::The white milky sap is VERY poisonous, use care, wash your hands
afterwards::::::CAUTION!
Set the cutting aside, and allow the cut to callous over, this will take 2-3 days.
When the callous has formed, dip about 1-2 inches of the cut end into a rooting hormone, such as 'Roottone',
and insert it into a clean pot of sterile potting soil. The pot should then put in a warm place with bright light. Do
not water at all for the first 2 weeks, and then water very sparingly until you see signs of new growth, usually in
about a month. For fastest rooting, the soil should be kept at a constant 75 degrees, but do the best you can.
I would take several cuttings, to be sure that you succeed with at least one of them.
Because of the leaves, most people don't consider a Crown of thorns to be a succulent, but in reality it is.
They should be watered once a week when they are in a growth cycle, but only once a month when dormant.
Whether dormant or active, don't water until the soil is dry.
Cut any of the rotted branches back to a point where you find clean healthy growth. If the rot started in the
roots, you may only be able to salvage a lot of cuttings, however if the rot is at the tips, you can cut it back to
healthy wood, and your plant will come back from the rootstock. I hope that makes sense to you.
***
My crown of thorns has developed some problems over the past several
months. As background, I received the plant from my mom about 7 years
ago (she's had it for about 20 years) and I think it has bloomed, maybe,
3 or 4 times since I've had it. It was in fairly good shape (despite
the blooming) until I moved to NY 6 months ago. Before I moved I think
I repotted it once in 6 1/2 years, it got plenty of sun and I generally
ignored it, only watering it when the leaves would look dry and overly
curly. Now the plant is not very full, the leaves get brown and yellow
spots on them, proceed to dry up, curl over, turn yellow and fall off
with alarming regularity and speed. Several leaves fall off every day.
The plant isn't nearly as full as it once was and the spines on the stem
are brittle and break when you touch them instead of poking you. It
think it gets sufficient light (more indirect than direct) so I
replanted it (regular potting soil) to see if that helps - well it
didn't. They sprayed for termites a few months ago in the apartment -
would that have anything to do with it? I water it about every 7 days
year around - is that a problem? New shoots continue to emerge (but no
flowers) so I think it can be saved. Please advise - you're my only
chance.
Since the downhill slide of your Crown of
Thorns began about the time of your move, my first guess would be that the heating is different in your
new home. (drier air) Even though a Crown of Thorns is a succulent, it has limited water storing abilities,
and has to rely on moisture it takes in through its leaves. I would try misting your plant daily, and maybe
increase the amount of water you give it each time you water it. Once you have solved the leaf drop
problem, start feeding your plant monthly with 'half-strength' liquid house plant BLOOM fertilizer, to
get it to start blooming again. It really should have a little direct sun each day, even if it just an hour or
two each day.
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