Poinsettia
The Symbolic Flower for Christmas
Light. Poinsettias perform best in bright, indirect light. However, if watered properly, poinsettias can perform suitably as a temporary centerpiece in areas that receive less light. If your poinsettia is placed near a wind, make sure that no part of the plant touches the cold window pain.
Water. Proper watering is crucial for poinsettias. Allow the soil surface to dry before watering thoroughly. Poinsettias cannot tolerate sitting in standing water, or soil that stays soggy for too long. Always pour out access water from saucers after watering, and make sure that its decorative foil cover has a drain hole.
Temperature. To keep the plant blooming, keep the poinsettia between 65-70 degrees. Colder temperatures can cause leaf drop. Do not place plants near drafts, such as from a front door or air vent.
Reflowering. Poinsettias can reflower the following Christmas. However, if a year-long schedule of care is maintained, the results will not be great. Below are some steps if you want to give it a try:
Water. Proper watering is crucial for poinsettias. Allow the soil surface to dry before watering thoroughly. Poinsettias cannot tolerate sitting in standing water, or soil that stays soggy for too long. Always pour out access water from saucers after watering, and make sure that its decorative foil cover has a drain hole.
Temperature. To keep the plant blooming, keep the poinsettia between 65-70 degrees. Colder temperatures can cause leaf drop. Do not place plants near drafts, such as from a front door or air vent.
Reflowering. Poinsettias can reflower the following Christmas. However, if a year-long schedule of care is maintained, the results will not be great. Below are some steps if you want to give it a try:
- In mid-May, cut the stems back to about 4 inches above the soil and replant in a container that is 1-2 inches larger in diameter.
- Place the plant near a window that allows the most sunlight.
- Keep the poinsettia in an environment where the temperatures are between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Water thoroughly when the surface of the soil is dry to the touch. Do not allow the plant to sit in standing water.
- After new growth appears, fertilize your poinsettia every two weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer at the rate recommended on the label for flowering plants.
- In early June, move your poinsettia to a shady spot outdoors and continue water and fertilize.
- In early July, pinch each stem to remove 1-inch of terminal growth.
- Between August 15th and September 1st, cut or pinch the new stems back, allowing three or four leaves to remain on each shoot. After this second pinch, bring the plant indoors and place near a window with sunny exposure. If the plant is not pinched, it will grow too tall and become unsightly.
- Keep the plant between the temperatures of 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit and continue to water and fertilize.
- Poinsettias are short-day plants. This means that they flower about 10 weeks after daylight shortens to 12 hours or less. Therefore, to have the plant in full flower by Christmas, it will need to be kept in complete darkness between 5pm and 8am from the first part of October until Thanksgiving. During this period, any light exposure between 5pm and 8am will delay flowering. You can place the plant in a closet or cover with an opaque box or cloth to provide the darkness. Remember to put the plant near a sunny window during the daytime.
- Continue to fertilize the plant until mid-December.