Poinsettias are a staple of the holidays. Surprisingly they are a relative easy plant to take care of and keeping them looking great throughout the holidays this year. Modern poinsettias stay attractive much longer than earlier varieties. So if it has been a few years, try again!
Poinsettias are native to Mexico, and typically are grown in greenhouses from cuttings. In the United States it is very easy to find these plants between Thanksgiving and Christmas. After the holidays, it can be very hard to find them. Knowing what to look for is key to finding the best plant.
First off, lets learn more about the poinsettia’s parts.
Most folks, think those red bracts are the flowers, but actually those are modified leaves. The flower round in shape and yellow. Look for fresh flowers that appear tight and young early in the season. Watch this video below – its a great tutorial on flower selection!
Put your poinsettia shopping as the last stop of your shopping trip – you will want to head home quickly because they are sensitive to temperature as well soil moisture. If you purchase your plant on a cold day, cover it with a plastic sack as you transport it to the vehicle.
Any temperature under 60 degrees and you’ll have a very unhappy and likely dead plant! Best temperatures are around 65-70 during the day and 60-65 during the night will prolong their growth.
Soil moisture is also another concern. They can’t overwatering, but they can’t handle dry soils either. Dry soils lead to wilting which causes the plant to drop leaves. When watering, use lukewarm water just until some runs out of the drainage holes. Discard any extra water and then water when the top of the soil becomes dry to the touch. Be careful of those plants in foil pot covers, you will need to poke holes and set them in a saucer.
Last but not least, poinsettias do need ample indirect light.
It is purely rumor that poinsettias are poisonous to anyone (children or cats). That is FAKE news!
After the holiday season, most will just want to discard their plants. They are not cold hardy to plant outside in the spring. And the blooming process is a very challenging (and ugly process) for even experienced plant enthusiasts.
But if you want to try, here are steps!
- When leaves, including the bracts (you know now – the red), begin to fall of the plant, cut each of the stems down to only about 4 inches in length. This will help create a fuller plant.
- Allow the soil to dry between watering and keep it in a shady spot in the house.
- In May, repot with additional new potting soil. Move to a sunny spot and increase watering. (Maybe outside)
- Water and fertilize regularly. Pinch back new shoots, keeping a minimum of two notes per stem until late August.
- In September, bring the plants inside and move to a sunny location.
- Poinsettia are a true short-day plant. So you will need to move your plant, at the end of September, to a closet (total darkness) for 14 hours every day. 5 PM to 7 AM, and don’t turn the light on! Another way is to place a box or black garbage bag over them.
- Less water is needed during this time, but you still need to watch for dry soils.
- Keep up the routine of darkness for eight weeks and then just leave it in a sunny spot and let the wait begin. As tiny flowers begin to form, the leaves will turn from green to red bracts.
