It is possible to confuse the cactus anatomy with succulent anatomy. This is hundreds of years slower than normal. These spines are irreplaceable and most branches will lose their spines after reaching maturity in a few decades. The Crown of Thorns plant only requires repotting every 2-3 years because it is a slow grower. Once a plant has established, it can be reduced to once every week during summer and to only once every 2-3 weeks in winter. I found out that it was actually a Mother of Millions Plant, also known under the names Devil's Backbone (Kalanchoe Delagoensis).