- origin
- growth
- leaves
- blossom
- Is Christ's thorn poisonous?
- offshoot
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- multiply the thorn of Christ
- sowing
- Properly cut the Christ thorn
- Pour Christ's thorn
- Fertilize the Christ thorn properly
- repot
- hibernate
- Diseases
- Yellow leaves
- Losing leaves
- Christ's thorn does not bloom
- sorts
As a spurge species, the Christ's thorn develops a milky plant sap that serves as protection. Because of its toxicity, plant lovers are unsettled. If you use it safely, you don't have to worry. The shrub will please you with attractive flowers.
The thorn of Christ gets along well with the Central European climate
Table of Contents
Show all- origin
- growth
- leaves
- blossom
- Is Christ's thorn poisonous?
- offshoot
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- multiply the thorn of Christ
- sowing
- Properly cut the Christ thorn
- Pour Christ's thorn
- Fertilize the Christ thorn properly
- repot
- hibernate
- Diseases
- Yellow leaves
- Losing leaves
- Christ's thorn does not bloom
- sorts
- bloody diarrhea and vomiting especially in dogs
- colic
- liver damage
- convulsions and paralysis
- a part of humus-rich soil for an optimal nutrient supply
- part loamy substrate as a water reservoir
- 1.5 parts of sand containing quartz as a mineral supplier
- 1.5 parts gravel, expanded clay (€19.73) or lava granules (€13.99) for permeability
- Euphorbia x lomi: Hybrid of Euphorbia milii and Euphorbia lophogona. Develop thinner stems and thicker leaves than Euphorbia milii. Retain their foliage in winter. Flowers red, pink or yellow. Flowering all year round. Compact growth.
- Euphorbia milii var. splendens: Flowers orange, pink, red or yellow. Up to two meters high.
- Euphorbia milii var. longif.webpolia: Forms branching at the base. Twigs up to two centimeters thick, limp.
- Euphorbia milii var. bevilaniensis: Inverted triangular leaves. Shoots up to five millimeters thick. Spines up to an inch long.
origin
The Christ's thorn bears the Latin name Euphorbia milii. It belongs to the Spurge genus and originally comes from Madagascar. Here the plant grows in the highlands and coastal regions. It inhabits forests and grows on granite rocks. In 1821 the plant was introduced to Europe. The German name refers to the thorny shoots reminiscent of Jesus' crown of thorns.
The plant has a geographically very isolated occurrence. Outside of Madagascar, the Christ's thorn is only widespread as an ornamental plant. For this reason it can be ruled out that the plant was used for the wreath of thorns. The shrub was still unknown in Asia Minor 2,000 years ago.
growth
The plant grows as a succulent shrub. It forms thickened cell tissue in which it stores water. The leaves therefore feel fleshy. This adaptation means that the Christ's thorn survives suboptimal conditions in which hardly any rain falls. The bush develops thorns on the shoots. They developed from leaves in the course of evolution and serve as protection against predators.
Like the leaves, the shoots are thickened and become lignified over time. The shrub grows upright and rarely branches. It grows up to 60 centimeters high.
leaves
Christ's thorns develop oppositely arranged leaves that sit between the thorns. Their shape is elongated to round. The leaves are light green in color and, like all parts of the plant, have a milky sap that escapes at the base of the stem after tearing off. Avoid direct skin contact with the plant sap, as it can cause irritation.
blossom
The flowers of the thorns of Christ are inconspicuous. The leaves that have been transformed into bracts are strikingly colored. They appear reddish or white. Its shape is reminiscent of a kidney. They enclose the yellowish inflorescences, which consist of several branched stems. Each stem ends with a tiny flower.
The flowering time was based on the rainy and dry seasons of the original distribution areas. In the dry periods, the shrub falls into a state of dormancy. It blooms in wetter conditions between January and March. It flowers for the second time from October to December, making it an ideal houseplant with a winter flowering period.
Is Christ's thorn poisonous?
Like all spurge species, the Christ's thorn has a plant sap that contains toxic diterpene esters. These substances irritate the skin and activate dormant cancer cells. If the skin comes into contact with the milk, the risk of skin cancer may increase. Particular caution is therefore required in households with children.
However, you do not have to ban the Christ's thorn from your home as a houseplant. Wear gloves and avoid touching when repotting and pruning. The concentration of diterpene esters is particularly high in the hybrid Euphorbia x lomi and the related species Euphorbia leuconeura.
Symptoms of poisoning in animals:
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offshoot
Severed shoots of the Christ's thorn develop roots within a short time. Therefore, they are ideal for propagation via offshoots. To do this, cut off shoots from the old plant. Make sure that the cutting is between eight and ten centimeters long. Use a clean and sharp knife for the cut so as not to damage the plant. Blot the cut with kitchen paper. To stop the flow of milk, you can dip the cuttings in lukewarm water. Allow the cutting edge to dry before planting in the ground.
A mixture of cactus soil and sand is suitable as a substrate. It offers optimal permeability. In a warm place, it takes about 30 days for the cuttings to develop roots. Topping off the tops of the shoots encourages branching. As a result, the cutting grows bushier.
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Which location is suitable?
Christ Thorns prefer a bright and sunny location. As succulent plants, they thrive in dry conditions, making the shrubs perfect houseplants. Especially in winter, the air in the room is very dry due to the constant heating, which does not harm the thorn of Christ. He feels comfortable at temperatures between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius and prefers a place on the south window. In summer you can place the bucket in the garden. Temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius are ideal during the winter months.
What soil does the plant need?
The succulent shrub prefers a well drained substrate. A loose potting soil is ideal. Cactus soil is an alternative. A high proportion of minerals in the substrate promotes healthy growth. A pH value between 6.0 and 6.8 provides ideal conditions.
The perfect mix:
multiply the thorn of Christ
Propagation is possible by cuttings and seeds. Offshoots are preferably obtained from shoot tips in spring. The plant should be well developed so that it can regenerate afterwards. When cutting back the plant, there are automatically cuttings that you can grow. Be sure to wear gloves when cutting. The cuttings should be between eight and ten centimeters long. The longer you cut off the shoots, the more leaves the offshoot will have.
You can also propagate the Christ's thorn with seeds that you can get from specialist shops or collect from the plant yourself. Wait for the inflorescences to fade. They bear numerous brown to black seeds, which you can strip off by picking them apart. This propagation method is less promising than propagation by cuttings.
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sowing
Propagation by seed is possible, but time-consuming. You can grow the seeds all year round with potting soil. Fill a planter with the substrate and spread the seeds on it. They should only be lightly covered with soil and then slightly moistened. Cover the jar with a clear film. Place the pot in a warm and bright place, out of direct sunlight.
To prevent mold from forming, you should remove the film for one to two hours every day. It takes about three to four weeks for the seeds to start germinating. When the first shoot tips appear, remove the foil from the culture container. From a size of five centimeters, the young plants are transplanted into individual pots.
Properly cut the Christ thorn
The succulent plant tolerates pruning well when fully grown. Pruning is rarely necessary as the plant develops few branches and grows moderately fast. Wear gloves for this care measure so that your skin does not come into contact with the plant sap. This is how you protect yourself from the thorns. If necessary, the shoots can be shortened throughout the year.
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Pour Christ's thorn
The Christ thorn has a low water requirement because it stores moisture in the thickened shoots and leaves. Before you water the plant, the substrate should dry on the surface. During the winter months you should reduce the watering. The substrate is allowed to dry out, but should not be permanently dry. This lack of liquid encourages the shrub to hibernate over the winter. It sheds its leaves to save energy. Use lime-free water for watering. Rainwater at room temperature is ideal. Stale tap water can also be used.
Fertilize the Christ thorn properly
The growing season extends from May to September. During this time, the thorn of Christ needs a nutrient supply every two to three weeks. Add liquid fertilizer to the irrigation water. A cactus fertilizer is also suitable as a nutrient source.
repot
As a slow-growing shrub, the Christ's thorn hardly takes up any space. You can repot the plant into a larger container every two to three years. Choose a pot that is no more than two fingers larger than the old bucket. The ideal time for transplanting is in March, when the shrub awakens from its hibernation.
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hibernate
There are no winter months in the original range. Nevertheless, the plant withdraws and spends unfavorable periods in a state of dormancy. In order to promote healthy growth and rich flower development, you should promote this alternation of rest and activity. Winter is ideal for dry dormancy.
Gradually reduce watering. Water only enough to keep the root ball from drying out completely. Watch out for cool temperatures between ten and 15 degrees Celsius. These care measures lead to a slightly delayed flowering time, which you should accept. This is the only way to prevent the plant from developing unstable shoots and getting diseases.
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Diseases
The Christ thorn proves to be a robust plant that is only afflicted by diseases and pests if the wrong care is taken. If the humidity is too high, the mildew fungus has optimal growth conditions. Mealybugs occasionally appear, settling on the shoots between the thorns and leaves. The milky juice it contains protects the shrubs perfectly from animal pests, because the milk is also poisonous to most herbivores.
If the root ball is permanently in wet soil, rotting can occur. If conditions don't improve quickly, the plant will die. A sudden change in temperature stresses the plant.
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Yellow leaves
If the leaves turn yellow, the Christ's thorn no longer feels comfortable in its location. As a first aid measure, you should move the shrub to another location to prevent leaf loss. Find a warm location with airy conditions. A place by the south window is ideal. In summer you can put the plant on the balcony. Pay attention to a rain-protected location.
A change of location ensures better nutrient uptake, which means that the plant gains resistance. It draws new energy, which prevents leaf loss. If the plant has already lost leaves, it usually regenerates quickly under improved conditions. Also check the substrate conditions, because the plant must not be too damp.
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Losing leaves
Christ thorns prefer constant conditions. They react to fluctuations in temperature and humidity by shedding their leaves. You don't need to worry about the health condition, because this process is normal in most cases. When plants go dormant during dry seasons, they shed their leaves. Reduced watering units encourage the plant to lose leaves. A drop in temperature has the same effect, because this change also serves as an incentive for the start of the resting phase. The plant will automatically develop new shoots and leaves when conditions improve again.
Care should be taken if the shrub loses leaves due to wet soil conditions. Too much moisture in the substrate causes the roots to rot. Unable to draw nutrients and water from the soil, the shrubs shed their leaves. Especially in winter, make sure that the root ball is only slightly damp. After watering, no water should remain in the saucer.
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Christ's thorn does not bloom
Flower development is favored by the alternation of dormant and growing periods. A reduction in the duration of light stimulates the formation of flowers. Reduce light exposure by covering the plant with a piece of cardboard. The duration of light should not exceed ten hours. In addition, you should reduce the amount of water during this time so that the plant goes into dry dormancy.
In September you can put the planter in a room that is not lit in the evening. The days are getting shorter and automatically give the Christ thorn incentives for a rest phase. When the amount of light increases again, the bush will form fresh shoots and the development of flowers will not be long in coming.
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tips
You will rarely find Euphorbia milii in the trade. In most cases it is a hybrid of Euphorbia x lomi. They are considered to be particularly attractive because of their compact growth habit and the wide variety of colors. Note that these cultivated forms may contain a higher concentration of toxic diterpene esters.