Backyard Badass: The Crown of Thorns Outdoor Survival Guide

Get ready to grow an awesome spiky plant outdoors! This guide will teach you how to keep the Crown of Thorns plant happy outside in your backyard. This cool cactus-like plant is perfect for daring plant lovers who want something unique. Get pumped and let’s get started!

crown of thorns plant outdoors

About the Crown of Thorns

The Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii) is a special plant with red flowers from the island of Madagascar. It has bold red bracts and sharp thorny stems. This tough guy loves a challenge and isn’t afraid to show its prickly personality. But with some know-how, you can easily grow this eye-catching plant!

The Perfect Backyard Home

The Crown of Thorns wants warm temperatures between 59°F and 86°F (15°C to 30°C). It loves soaking up lots of direct sun and dry air. This makes it ideal for sunny backyards and patios. However, watch out for lots of humidity, as that can lead to powdery mildew problems. If you see that, treat it right away.

Once the last frost is gone in spring, it’s time to move your Crown of Thorns outside! Give it a sunny spot and let it enjoy the fresh outdoor air all summer. Being outdoors will help keep it strong and healthy.

growing euphorbia milii outdoors

Bring It Back Inside

In fall, keep an eye on those nighttime temperatures. When they start dipping below 59°F (15°C), it’s time to bring your plant back indoors before the first frost. Sudden cold can make it drop its leaves, so don’t wait too long!

Winter Dry Rest Period

The Crown doesn’t need a full winter rest, just a dry period with less water. This dry stretch reminds it of the dry seasons in Madagascar. For at least 4 weeks, cut back a lot on watering and give it under 10 hours of light per day. This will trigger it to bloom its striking red flowers!