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HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR POINSETTIA
How to Care for
YOUR poinsettia
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The signature plant of the Holiday season is the beautiful red poinsettia. By the third week of December, most people have killed this beautiful plant. Not too many people know that the color of the poinsettia has an impact on the life of the plant. There is such a variety of colors available. Red is the most durable with white being the most finicky and pink in the middle.
Did you know poinsettias don’t like to be watered from the top down? They prefer to be watered by being placed in a basin of water with at least 2” of water and then letting the plant soak the water up from the bottom. This is the best way to water the plant every 2-3 days, depending on how dry your house is. Remove any damaged leaves and debris on the soil level. Make sure the soil is moist to the touch, but never allow it to become soggy or completely dried out. Display your poinsettia in a bright part of your home but not in direct sunlight. Keep your plant away from all heat sources, especially heat vents.
After blooming, the poinsettia will enter a period of slow growth. Water it once a week and fertilize once a month. Cut back the stems to half their length in April. When new growth begins to appear on your plant, it’s safe to resume a normal watering schedule. You can move your poinsettia plant outdoors when the nighttime temperatures stay above 55 degrees throughout the night. Put your plant in an area that gets light, but not direct sunlight. Bring your plant back in when the temperature drops in the fall. If your poinsettia becomes root bound, you can repot it into a larger container. This is usually done during the summer. From October 1 to December 1, your poinsettia requires a strict light/dark regimen to bloom. In the morning, move the plant to allow eight hours of indirect sunlight.
Use these tips on how to care for and keep your poinsettia alive this year so you can see it rebloom next year.
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