How to Care for a Freeze-Damaged Crown of Thorns

Crown of thorns, or Euphorbia milii, is a member of the Euphorbiacea family of plants. This succulent embraces warmth and shuns cold, only thriving when planted in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 through 11 where the winter temperatures remain above 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Unexpected cold snaps damage the crown of thorns' tender stems and foliage. Such a scenario requires special care, attention and a whole lot of luck if the plant is to survive the damage.

Garden hose
Pruning shears
Sharp scissors

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the frost from the crown of thorns during the morning hours with a garden hose. This will ensure that the sun does not scorch the foliage in the afternoon.
- 2
  Watch and wait. Caring for frost-damaged plants, such as a crown of thorns, requires a great deal of patience. Giving the plant time to show signs of recovery will help determine the care plan. If the crown of thorns is strong enough to survive the deep-freeze, signs of recovery will begin to show in a few days.
- 3
  Prune your crown of thorns plant with a pair of pruning shears if and when it begins to show signs of new growth. While it may take some self-restraint, do not prune the succulent until you see the growth of new foliage. Once you do, trim off any dead or brown leaves. If green leaves have brown tips, cut off only the brown portions with a pair of sharp scissors.
- 4
  Continue to observe the plant over the coming days and weeks. Signs of new growth usually mean that the crown of thorns has made it through the hardest part of the recovery process and will continue to thrive. If the plant fails to produce new foliage or if it wilts and becomes mushy, this probably means that the freeze has damaged the plant walls to such an extent that recovery is impossible. At this point, there is nothing that can be done.

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