Things You'll Need

Instructions

1

Use a clean, sharp knife to take tender tip cuttings from a crown of thorns plant. The ideal time for doing this is at peak growth time during the spring, but crown of thorns plants will root from cuttings taken at any time of the year.
2

Allow the cuttings to dry overnight on a paper towel. The next day, dip the cut ends in a commercial rooting hormone available at low cost from any good gardening center. One small packet of rooting hormone is normally sufficient to treat dozens of plant cuttings.
3

Prepare a lightweight commercial potting mix by mixing in water and allowing the water to be absorbed into the mixture before placing it in pots. Once the mixture is evenly damp, fill your pots and make small holes using a chopstick or pencil so that the rooting hormone won't be scraped away when the cutting is inserted in the planting medium. Tamp the potting medium around the cuttings to assure good contact and to eliminate air pockets.
4

Cover the potted crown of thorns cuttings with a clear plastic bag to retain moisture in the pots. Check the pots occasionally to ensure they remain moist and to look for signs of growth.
5

Once the cuttings have rooted and top growth has resumed, remove the plastic and place the potted cuttings in a sunny place. Continue to keep the soil moderately moist. Mist the leaves on the cuttings regularly because they will be the main conduit for water absorption until a strong root system is formed. Transplant your crown of thorns outdoors or to a larger pot for cultivation as a houseplant.