Why Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii) Is Not Blooming? 4 Main Causes & Fixes
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Many people who's growing Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii) for its bright and colorful flowers. But sometimes the plant grows many leaves and looks healthy — yet there are no flowers at all.
At PKP Garden, we’ve grown and exported thousands of Euphorbia milii plants from Thailand for over 25 years. From our experience, when a Crown of Thorns refuses to bloom, it’s usually one of these four main reasons.
1. Not Enough Sunlight (This is the main cause 90% of the time)
Crown of Thorns loves to get sunlight. It needs at least 4–6 hours of strong direct sunlight every day to produce flowers. If it’s kept in shade or low light, the plant will grow green but not give flowers.
If you grow it indoors, place it near a bright large window or outside under bright sun. In the UK or cooler climates, use grow lights to help the plant get enough light.
Once the plant gets enough sunlight, you’ll see new buds forming within a few weeks.
2. Watering and Soil Problems
This plant doesn’t like to be watered a lot. Overwatering or poor drainage can stress the roots and stop flowering. Euphorbia milii prefers the soil to dry slightly between waterings.
Use a well-draining mix (similar to cactus soil) and a pot with holes at the bottom. Water only when the top few centimeters of soil feel dry. Too much water can also cause root rot, which prevents the Crown of thorns from blooming.
3. Pests and Disease
Sometimes pests like thrips, mealybugs, or spider mites attack the plant and damage the flower buds before they open. These pests suck the sap from the plant, leaving the buds small or deformed. And the sad story is that if the damage has been done, there's no way to revere that flower damage.
If you see any signs of insects or sticky residue on leaves, spray the plant with an insecticide that targets thrips and mealybugs, such as imidacloprid. Regularly checking your plants helps prevent bigger problems later.
4. Overfertilizing or Wrong Fertilizer
Too much fertilizer, especially one high in nitrogen, will make the plant produce lots of green leaves but no flowers.
Use a balanced or bloom fertilizer (low nitrogen, higher phosphorus and potassium) once a month during the growing season.
This simple adjustment can make a big difference in bringing back healthy blooms.
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PKP Garden’s Experience with Euphorbia milii
At PKP Garden, we’ve shipped healthy Crown of Thorns plants to over 30 countries — including the USA, UK, Canada, and across Europe. All plants are grown under tropical sunlight and shipped with phytosanitary certificates for safe worldwide delivery.
If you’re looking for strong, blooming Euphorbia milii, or want advice on how to improve your plants, feel free to contact us.
