Poinsettias have long been associated with Christmas and add beauty and warmth to any home during the holiday season. Poinsettias are a tropical plant with long-lived bracts (vivid color leaves) and golden yellow flowers. To ensure that your poinsettia retains its beauty, keep these tips in mind.
- Place in a room with bright, indirect light.
- Avoid temperature extremes. This includes heat from registers as well as cold drafts below 50° F.
- Water plant thoroughly when soil surface is dry to the touch.
- Discard any excess water from the saucer.
- Temperatures should not exceed 72° F during the day or below 60° F at night.
- Poinsettias should not be fertilized while in bloom.
- Poinsettias are not toxic to animals but ingestion could cause upset stomach.
It is possible to keep your poinsettia and try for a re- bloom for the next holiday season. Don’t be disappointed if your Poinsettia does not look as nice as when you got it originally. Typically, commercial growers have ideal conditions that enable them to grow such compact, high quality, colorful Poinsettias.
- When bracts age and become muddy green, cut plant back to 8” and grow as a foliage plant.
- It may be moved outdoors once temperatures warm and stay above 50° F.
- In September, replant with fresh soil and move indoors. Indoor temperatures need to be between 60° to 70° F at night.
- It must have direct light for 6-8 hours daily.
- Beginning October 1, give your poinsettia 12 to 13 hours of complete darkness daily for 8 to 10 weeks.
- Avoid artificial light after October 1st.
- Fertilize weekly with 20-10-20 beginning November 1st.
