How to propagate crown of thorns
Euphorbia milii
Quick answer
Use a healthy 3 to 6 inch terminal cutting from Euphorbia milii. Let its cut end dry for 2 to 3 days before setting it in barely damp, well-drained mix.
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What plant material to use
Use a healthy 3 to 6 inch terminal section or pruning as Euphorbia milii stem-cutting material. This is an easy way to propagate it.
How to propagate this plant
Wear gloves and eye protection before cutting or dividing. The milky latex can irritate skin and seriously harm eyes, and the stems have sharp spines. Avoid contact with the sap and wash your hands after handling. Keep cut pieces away from children and pets.
Use a stem or terminal cutting, rooted in a well-drained planting mix after the cut surface has dried. Rooting in water is not part of this method.
Root the cutting in a well-drained mix such as sharp sand, perlite, and peat. Keep it just barely damp and warm. Roots usually form in about 5 to 8 weeks.
After taking the terminal section, dip the cut end in cold water or powdered horticultural charcoal to reduce milky sap flow. Let it dry for 2 to 3 days, then place it in the well-drained mix.
Signs of roots or failure
Roots may form in roughly 5 to 8 weeks under warm conditions. No reliable sign above the medium shows when the cutting is ready to move on.
A cutting kept too dry will not root, and one kept too wet may rot. Both point to moisture, not to a particular disease.
Aftercare and hygiene
During rooting, keep the medium just barely damp and the cutting warm. There is no set time for moving a rooted cutting to its final pot or for changing how you water it.
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Sources: NC State Extension.
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