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Crown of Thorns plant -- winter?
Hi. Last winter, my Crown of Thorn plant lost many leaves. It got so scraggly, I cut it way back in the beginning of the season this past spring. Now it's a nice leafed out tiny bush. How can I keep more of its leaves this winter? It is in a good southern exposure window.
Oh, this just occurred to me -- would it prefer the window with the radiator under it? Same exposure. Radiator's rarely on, however, as I'm on the top floor of a townhouse and we get the heat last up here. Anyway, asking if the problem could be more temperature, or light, or both?
Thanks for any suggestions. (A few weeks ago, I asked on here about a grow lamp for it, but
people said no. Were they correct?)
Yes -- Cowboy's Sweetheart, I forgot to write this, but I did figure that since they are desert (or semi-arid?) plants, that the cold nights wouldn't bother it, but was just checking. Thanks.
2 Answers
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
They loose their leaves when they go dormant(right about this time of year) or when they don't get enough water. If you are watering the plant the leaf loss is normal. Crown of Thorns grows naturally in the desert which gets very cold at night. Top floor of a townhouse should be plenty warm enough. They don't need grow lights, especially in a southern exposure.
- fluffernutLv 71 decade ago
I wonder if the radiator might be too warm? They really like their mid levels temps...about 70 with moderate humidity. They will tolerate cooler night temps......as do most houseplants.
They suck up all the winter sun you can give them...unless you live at high altitude where the intensity is so much greater.
Leaf drop might be mite problems or other suckers.......mealy bugs are a real problem. It's far easier to over water these.........which I don't think you are doing. You'd be reporting yellow spongy stems and wilting. Make sure you are watering completly each time, letting the water run out the bottom and then waiting the week or more between waterings--whatever your plant demands. Water demands also go down in winter as the sunlight hours are less thus not as much action...unless the house is hot and dry and soil is evaporting.
Grow lamp only if you didn't have southern windows and sunshine. Then I'd just supplement during daylight hours, not run into the dark hours...unless you are in Canada or Alaska.
