If they are exposed to temperatures below 10 Â°C (50 °F), this can cause them to drop leaves and bracts. The poinsettia, native to Mexico, has become a traditional plant that can be seen in many homes around the winter holidays. I hope it’s a challenge that some of you will take up. Since poinsettia plants are from the tropics, they prefer surroundings that simulate that type of environment. All Rights Reserved. Poinsettias are notoriously hard to care for as a houseplant. And that all begins with knowing a little about the plant, and it’s blooming cycle. After the end of November, you can resume normal light conditions for your plant. Once night time temperatures start to fall again in September, you should bring the plant inside again, and place it in a location conducive to healthy growth. At this time, decrease watering … This is often a sign of insufficient light. If you want your holiday guests to be greeted with poinsettias when they approach your front door, wait until just before your company will arrive to place the poinsettias outdoors. Poinsettias should be kept in a warm area away from drafts, so make sure that the poinsettia you purchase from the store is on display in suitable conditions. April: Starting April 1, gradually decrease water, allowing the soil to get dry between waterings. You may wish to try misting your plant, placing it next to other houseplants, or placing it on a wide based humidity tray, to increase humidity and keep your plant happy. The red “petals” we prize are actually leaflike bracts surrounding small, cup-shaped yellow blooms, although the bracts last longer than the tiny flowers. During the holidays, while in full bloom, they typically enjoy semi-cool, humid locations in bright, indirect light with plenty of moisture. Keeping Poinsettia Plants Beautiful In Season. Our gardening obsessed editors and writers choose every product we review. Continue to feed and water the plant on its normal schedule. If you live in a place with mild winters, you can plant the poinsettia outside as a … With dying or dead roots, the plant is unable to absorb and use the water in the soil, despite there being an abundance of it available. This will encourage the plant to become fuller and more bushy, producing a more aesthetically pleasing plant. If possible, check the soil before buying. Poinsettia Care Tips Start By Selecting A Quality Plant. Poinsettias are synonymous with the festive season, when we all have our central heating on and indoor air can become very dry. At this point, ensure not to over-water. Touch the soil and make sure it is neither too wet or overly dry. Not completely necessary for those plant bought with intention of being enjoyed for the festive season. Examine your poinsettia carefully before purchasing, as this will ensure that you pick a healthy plant that will thrive and provide color in your home for as long as possible. Poinsettias are absolutely everywhere during the holidays, and for good reason! Look at the small yellow flowers in the middle of the plant to ensure they are still in bud form. Temperatures higher than the ideal range can result in a shorter lifespan for your poinsettia. Hi, I’m Andrew, and Smart Garden Guide is my website all about indoor gardening and houseplants. 7 Ways To Make It Bloom. You may wish to ask an employee how long the plants have been on display, and pick one which has only just arrived, to reduce the risk that it has suffered cold stress or draughts while in the store. If you identify this, you should move your poinsettia to a less bright area, although the color is unlikely to improve. Poinsettia plant care is relatively easy. At the start of October, comes the most crucial step to encourage your poinsettia to bloom for Christmas. Many people buy poinsettia plants to decorate for Christmas and aren't sure how to care for them when the red leaves fall away. If you thought that all Poinsettia plants had red flowers then think again. The temperature in winter is much too cold for poinsettias to be comfortable in most of the world. Throughout the spring, you should aim to expose your poinsettia to lightly cooler temperatures, of between 13 °C to 18 °C (55 °F to 65 °F). This is likely due to over-watering and root rot. They are often disposed of once they start to fade, but with a little care, you can keep them all year and the bracts will colour up again the following year. Your email address will not be published. Beneath the layer of colorful leaves surrounding the flowers, there should be several layers of healthy green leaves. Learn how to care for your Poinsettia plants. If you need to repot your poinsettia, an all purpose potting soil will ideal. Cold damage occurs when poinsettias are exposed to temperatures of 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7.22 degrees Celsius) or below. Once the plant has fully matured, it can safely be positioned in a less bright location and you can halt fertilizing it. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Poinsettia “blooms” are actually bracts, and not a flower at all. If you want to keep it, you can do so. Come Christmas time, poinsettias are sold left and right. Decorating Poinsettia plants for the holidays has become a tradition for many of us. Poinsettias are typically grown and sold as annuals, however you can grow poinsettias year after year. Poinsettia plants are native to Mexico, where they can grow up to 16 feet (4.9 m) tall. A window that faces south, east or west is the best location to place your Poinsettia. Poinsettias are fairly delicate plants, and careful transport home will ensure that your plant looks as good in your house as it did in the store. This should be done once at the start of July and again in mid August ideally. Poinsettia Plant Care Keep your Poinsettia plant near a sunny window where it will have the most available sunlight. The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) you bought for Christmas last year is probably now a small green shrub … and will remain a small green shrub if you don’t do something about it.Most poinsettias look something like this at the end of September: plenty of green leaves, but not a flower in … Don’t forget to look at both sides of the leaves, the stems and soil for any evidence of infestation. Once you arrive home, unwrap your poinsettia as soon as possible and place it in a bright, warm, moderately humid location, free from draughts. They are absolutely everywhere during the Christmas season, from Christmas trees to wreaths, it's the ultimateChristmas decoration– aside from the Christmas tree, of course. The best indoor spot for a poinsettia is in a west-facing or south-facing window. There are a number of ways to eradicate pests such as whitefly, including using soap solution, rubbing alcohol, commercial insecticide and pruning severely damaged sections of the plant. Poinsettia plants thrive best in slightly moist soil. However, if you purchase a young plant early in the season, your poinsettia will thrive better by feeding with a general purpose, water soluble fertilizer every two weeks. Photo: gpnmag.com. Once the outside night time temperature is consistently above 10 °C, you should move your poinsettia outside to a bright, shaded location. If you want your plant to “bloom” throughout the holiday season, be sure to select a plant with bracts that are fresh and bold. You will need to prune the plant back to keep it below the height you wish your mature plant to be the following winter. Make sure to thoroughly soak it each time. If your windows are a bit leaky and prone to drafts, it may be better to place your plant in a bright position away from the windows. Indoor poinsettias love a moist environment, but are also prone to root root. Poinsettias are most comfortable between 65 and 75 degrees (18.33 to 23.89 degrees Celsius). The solution to this problem is to monitor the dampness of the soil of your poinsettia on a daily or alternate day basis, and only water the plant once the soil is almost dry. Poinsettia plants are susceptible to a number of infestations, but are most prone to whitefly. This can result in leaves gradually turning yellow before falling off. Poinsettias are a lovely gift for Mothers day, Christmas or used as a table centrepiece or decoration around the house. Temperatures towards the lower end of the temperature range will reduce the metabolism of the plant and prolong blooming time. Poinsettias are cheery plants that are widely grown indoors over Christmas for their brightly coloured bracts. If your poinsettia came with paper or plastic wrapping around the pot, you should ensure that this does not occlude the drainage holes in the pot, or consider removing it. So in the case of a poinsettia plant, those pops of colors are actually leaves. Although it is a succulent, poinsettia does like a reasonable amount of moisture. At the end of April, you should prune it back to about 4 in 10 cm above the soil. Your email address will not be published. Make sure that your poinsettia is wrapped up well when you purchase it to protect it physically for the journey home. They're beautiful, festive, and easy to take care of. I’m here to share my experience and help you have more success and enjoyment growing plants. First, let’s start with how to care for poinsettias during their “blooming” season. This will ensure that the poinsettia is nearer the start of it’s colorful display than the end. Poinsettia care begins with proper light, water, and temperature conditions. This is a sign the plant is too stressed and is dying. Re-blooming a poinsettia for next Christmas is a challenge that will bring you great satisfaction. Look for plants with healthy, dark green foliage. The poinsettia actually gets it top leaf color from bracts, like these white one on this gorgeous plant. Copyright © 2020. Some stores sell poinsettias in cellophane cones that … Holiday Poinsettia Plant Care. Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is THE most famous seasonal plant on the planet. They are not difficult to care for during the Year, but it is a challenge to get them to flower again next Winter. To make sure your Poinsettia or Christmas plant, is healthy until spring, you can prune it to a height … ... How to Care for Your Poinsettia Plant . Gardening Channel. It should be neither dripping wet nor totally dry, and if it is, … Poinsettia care should begin immediately. Excessive cold or draughts can cause leaf drop to occur within days, so it is important to confirm that your plant has been looked after well in the store. DON’T Forget to Protect the Plant in the Car. This is often a sign of insufficient light. Poinsettia (botanical name: Euphorbia pulcherrima) are a native plant of Mexico, where the plant is a flowering shrub that will grow 10-15 feet tall. You should water the poinsettia enough that water drains out the bottom of the plant, but avoid watering excessively. You can do this by putting your plant in a dark room or by covering it with a box to ensure it receives at least 12 hours of darkness. But these festive plants, which range from the traditional red to pale yellow, can be a mystery when it comes to care and maintenance. Poinsettias, despite being popular during the holiday season, are tropical plants, native to Mexico. It is most likely to be a problem if you purchase a young plant early in the season. It is most likely to be a problem if you purchase a young plant early in the season. It is far more common for poinsettias to suffer from overwaterng than underwatering, so take care to ensure your plant is not becoming waterlogged at the roots. Root rot sets in if soil is waterlogged for too long, resulting in the roots being unable to access the essential oxygen that they need to respire. Poinsettia Plant. Care and Maintenance Below are some of the most useful tips to ensure the tip-top shape of your poinsettia: If the bracts have fallen, this is an indication that it is about time to discard the plant. Every year my blooms fall off and they look terrible after just a few weeks. Learn How to grow Poinsettia plant, poinsettia care, Growing Poinsettia and more about plants in this article. Breeders are bringing us more varieties each year, different color combinations to add even more interest to the Christmas plant. – Michelle R. ANSWER: Don’t feel too bad. It is very common for this to occur if a plant has been kept in a pot with insufficient drainage, or the pot has been wrapped in waterproof wrapping, impairing drainage. I would advise stopping feeding your plant about the middle of December as the flowers and bracts develop. You should ensure that poinsettias are kept away from warm draughts from heating vents or radiators. Of it’s poinsettia plant care display than the ideal range can result in leaves gradually turning yellow falling! South, east or west is the most festive holiday florals many people buy poinsettia plants the! This poinsettia plant care most popular potted plant during the holiday season, when i worked in shorter. 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