The Crown of Thorns houseplant is an interesting plant that originates from Madagascar. It is a great plant for inside the home or in a greenhouse. It is a fairly easy plant to grow. It does not need a lot of extra care. If you do not have a green thumb, this may be the plant for you.
Here are some tips for the care of the Crown of Thorns plant:
Temperature
This plant does well in normal house temperatures. The temps can range from 60 to 96 degrees Fahrenheit. You will not have to adjust your normal house temperature at all for this plant to grow well.
Humidity
You can place the Crown of Thorns in any room that has a medium temperature. If you find that there isn’t enough humidity in the room, you can purchase a small humidifier at your local Home Center at a low cost. You can also create natural humidity in the room by placing a dish beneath the pot. Add some stones or pebbles to the dish. This will allow the excess water to drain from the plant and create humidity for it as well. Be sure the plant isn’t sitting directly in the water to avoid root rot.
Light
You can place this plant in an area of the house that gets bright light coming from the South, East or West directions of the home. It does enjoy bright light but make sure the sun isn’t beating directly on the plant to avoid burning it.
Soil
Crown of Thorns needs a soil that will retain water yet allow it to drain. A good general purpose potting soil should do the trick. If you wish to mix your own, you can do so easily. Use 3 parts coarse sand or perlite, 2 parts garden soil, 1 parts leaf mold, 1 part rinsed aquarium charcoal chips and a little bit of bone meal and limestone. You can use two eggshells in place of the lime if necessary. Be sure to always use a pot that has a hole in the bottom so that the water can drain out.
Water
Get the soil very wet. Allow it to get slightly moist before watering again. Reduce watering during the winter months. You should also keep in mind that rainwater can be very acidy. If you use this method to water your plants, be aware that this can be bad for this plant. The water that you use should always be warm.
Food
You will only need to use fertilizer twice a year for this plant. Once in April and again in July should suffice. The fertilizer should be water soluble.
Pests
The Crown of Thorns is known to get Mealy bugs and sometimes scale. Be sure to check the plant before purchasing it to be sure that it doesn’t have any of these problems. You don’t want to introduce these types of pests to the plants that already live in your home.
Other Tips
Keep the Crown of Thorns cool in the Winter months. These plants can cause irritation to skin that is sensitive. It requires good ventilation. Keep it in a room where the air will not become stagnate. Prune it after it flowers and do not over water it.
This plant is a great conversation piece that will give you years of pleasure if taken proper care of. Give it all that you have and it will reciprocate. Enjoy your new find.
