1 to 2 tablespoons of fertilizer per dose is ample. Some may be affiliate links, meaning we earn commissions on purchases. Do not fertilize while the plant is blooming. Most people will throw their poinsettias away when it starts to drop its leaves, but with the right care your poinsettia will flower next Christmas, and even the Christmas following that. A popular winter flower, the Christmas Star is not just an annual plant. Anything colder than this can cause leaf drop. Many people, myself included, will either give or receive at least one poinsettia plant during the festive period. Starting October 1, the plant must be in complete darkness each night. It will need watering at least once a week over summer (more often in pots, or when it’s very hot and dry). Finally, in the 1950's, a new cross between the red and white forms of poinsettia appeared that was long‐lasting and often remained in flower through March. The soil should be moist, not soaking wet or overly dry. While this may make the poinsettia seem a high maintenance houseplant, it really isn’t. Place a layer of sterile potting soil in the bottom of the new pot. Regularly check the soil around your poinsettia to make sure that it isn’t drying out. Once the excess water has drained away, return the plant to its usual position. Poinsettia Care Guide Light. If you intend to keep your Poinsettia plant you should feed it with a liquid feed every two weeks during the growing season (April-September). Feed every three to four weeks. Avoid selecting plants with lots of yellow or green-white foliage. Darker areas are okay temporarily but no longer than a few days. This creates a bushier plant. Continue to water and fertilize the plant while it is outside. Remove the poinsettia from the bowl and allow the excess water to drain away before returning it to its usual position. There should also be drainage holes in the bottom. It's one of the most festive holiday florals! Taking care of your poinsettia With proper care, your poinsettia will last through the holiday season and right into late winter. Many people who care for houseplants find that artificial light is just as beneficial as natural light. Feed the poinsettia with a second application of fertilizer six weeks after the last application. If you are one of those gardeners who's determined to coax a poinsettia into rebloom, here's how: Poinsettias do best with bright light even if they are kept short by frequent pruning. The plants also thrive in east or west facing windows as long as there is enough light. No food during bloom time. The plant should be 2-1/2 times taller than the diameter of the container. But still I found upper new leaves are getting black and lower leaves are falling. This will need to be done daily for 8 weeks. I was surprised and delighted to discover a new resource for Poinsettia care that includes details of various plant diseases the Poinsettia is prey to. This should be light and with a temperature averaging between 65 and 70 ℉. Watering and room temperature. However a large amount of foliage would have to be consumed to cause significant poisoning. Play close attention to the following tips: Place in a room where there is bright natural light but not where the sun will shine directly on the plant. Learn how to care for your Poinsettia plants. One of the most common reasons for foliage loss and premature death is improper watering. Take care and always wear gloves when handling the plant. CARE AND FEEDING OF A POINSETTIA PLANT. If you are purchasing the plant for yourself or as a gift, make sure that you buy the healthiest plant available. How to Take Care of a Poinsettia During the Holidays Though they are popular as holiday plants, remember that poinsettias have tropical origins. As you prune, aim to leave 3 or 4 leaves on each shoot. When new growth emerges, feed your poinsettia with a dose of all purpose houseplant fertilizer. Select a light, draft free position. Poinsettias need space to flourish, so be extra careful picking plants from a store where they're crowded into a display. There is no environment change as its winter time here temperature is 15-18 degree Celsius here. To do this simply pinch out about an inch of new growth from each stem. Keep the plant protected from winds and temperatures below 50°F (10° C). With a little care it can be encouraged to return year after year. If necessary cover your plant with a box or light-proof bag between 5pm and 8am. In early June you may transplant your poinsettia to a larger pot or into the garden. Use a clean garden scissors to cut the stems down to about 4 inches above the soil. How to Encourage Colorful Christmas Displays, 25 Fast Growing Flowers to Start from Seed, 23 Types of Sage Plants for Cooking and Splashes of Color, Best Electric Snow Blower to Clear Your Driveway, 24 Evergreen Ground Cover Plants to Add Year-Round Landscaping Interest. At this stage the plant is ready to be cut back. Place in a well lit location. Therefore, move the poinsettia to a location where it will not receive any nighttime light or cover it with a box. Poinsett introduced the poinsettia to America in 1828. Dormancy. Leave the plant in the bowl for about half an hour. Use a sharp garden scissors when pruning. Be brave and cut your poinsettia's stems under the first leaf node, just below the bracts. With the correct care, the Christmas Star is a pleasingly problem free plant. Repotting is a key part of correct houseplant care. Place your poinsettia in a sunny window. Poinsettia Plant Care . Once the soil is dry, you should also repot the plant. You can also prune the plant again in early September. Feed monthly with a low nitrogen, high potassium fertiliser. They’re pretty easy to care for, and you can toss them in the compost at the end of the season. This helps to keep the plant healthy. This helps to promote fresh growth. Poinsettia Care & Aftercare. Favorite Answer. You should see a colorful blooms for Christmas. At night the temperature can be allowed to fall slightly lower. So this time I followed all Poinsettia care tips and put plant in window under shady place with enough light. Never give your plants more than the recommended dose specified on the label. Do not buy your plant from an outside store or stall. 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. Like the Christmas Cactus, this is one of the most popular and recognizable flowers of the festive period. Natural fertilizers are just as effective as chemical products. Fertilize your poinsettia with an all-purpose fertilizer at a rate recommended for houseplants. Consistent exposure to low temperatures can reduce the lifespan of the plant. The poinsettia's flowers are the brightly colored buds in the plants middle. If new growth is particularly vigorous, around the middle of July, you may need to prune the plant. If you are creating an easy to care for houseplant collection, plant in a self watering pot. Follow the poinsettia care tips outlined so far, and you may find that your houseplant survives from winter into spring—or even longer. An indoor thermometer such as the ThermoPro Digital Indoor Thermometer provides an easy to read, accurate measure. Like the missionaries before him, Joel Poinsett, the first US Ambassador to Mexico also noticed the colorful plants. By the middle of April or early May the soil should have dried out completely. If you plan on … While other members of the … To immerse your plant, remove it from its regular position and place it in a bowl containing a few inches of water. Many people prefer using organic or natural products, particularly when fertilizing houseplants. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD0Qmyp7ev4. Nick Federoff America's Master Gardener teaches us how to properly feed and water our Poinsettia plants once we have them. You can still successfully care for the plant. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svC0gwoK9Xo. It is from him that the plant gets its common name. Originally from southern Mexico, the poinsettia is a classic Christmas houseplant. An insecticidal soap or similar organic solution can be wiped on the leaves to remove any infestations. Keep the plant in total darkness for the night before returning it to its light windowsill the following morning. If this can't be provided a spot with good light is needed instead. The temperature should be consistently between 65 and 75 ℉. Temperatures of 60-70°F are ideal (15.5°-21°C ). In nature, Poinsettias are perennials that can grow to ten feet. If the plant absorbs all the moisture don’t be afraid to add a little more. One of the most attractive indoor plants, with a little time and care the poinsettia can be encouraged to thrive, providing year long interest before producing another colorful display the following year. Although it is a succulent, poinsettia does like a reasonable amount of moisture. Choose plants with firm stems, and no signs of wilting, breaking or drooping. A water-soluble fertilizer is easiest to apply, but a dry fertilizer will also satisfy poinsettia fertilizer requirements. When you prune a poinsettia, bear in mind that trimming away a couple of inches from the top of the plant promotes more side branching. Brush away any old soil from the root system. Your chosen Christmas Star should look healthy and robust. Where helpful to the reader, some posts may contain links to products. During the holiday season, there are really only two things you need to worry about when it comes to poinsettia care. After that, the bracts lose their brightness and die off, and at the poinsettia there comes a period of rest. Place your plants outdoors in the spring after you're sure of maintaining an average overnight temperature of at least 55°F (13°C ). In late March or early April cut your poinsettia back to about 8" in height. Move the plant outdoors when outside nighttime temperatures rise above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Also avoid plants that have faded, discolored or damaged bracts. This … Gently firm the soil down and water well. After Christmas, continue to care for your plant as before. Water them regularly so that the soil stays evenly moist—if the surface of the soil is dry to the touch, it's time for a drink. In warmer climates the plants can be placed outside during the summer months. With a little time and care, you can keep your poinsettia healthy before enjoying its colorful blooms again the following Christmas. Prolonged exposure to anything below 60 ℉ can cause leaf drop. 4 Answers. Keep slightly moist. Simply place it under a grow light. Position the plant in a slightly shady location, gradually increasing the amount of light the plant receives. Warning poinsettia foliage contains a sap that can irritate the mouth and esophagus tissue if ingested. Continue to feed the plants regularly during the growing season. The easiest way to do this is by immersion. Place your plants outdoors in the spring after you're sure of maintaining an average overnight temperature of at least 55°F (13°C ). Your Christmas Star should receive about 6 hours of bright light every day. This encourages the flowers and colorful bracts to emerge. In the rules for great poinsettia care, the finger test is the only true way of knowing for sure. Decorating Poinsettia plants for the holidays has become a tradition for many of us. Leave your poinsettia in it's pot, until you need to tend to it again in early summer. You can cut your Christmas Star back earlier than this if it becomes leggy. As I have already mentioned, care begins the moment you get your plant. To keep your poinsettia healthy and beautiful for a long time, you have to consider just a few tips and tricks Keep the plants away from drafts and cold air. In warmer climates, when nighttime temperatures remain over 50 ℉ the poinsettia can be placed outside. Adding fertilizer to dry soil can burn the roots. Keep them high up, out of the way of inquisitive animals. Spotting signs of disease such as root rot early helps to make plant care a lot easier. Light such as street lamps can delay or entirely halt the re-flowering process. Avoid waterlogged soil, especially if the plant is wilted. From mid spring onwards how you care for the plant will change. When you are happy with the position of the plant, continue to fill the pot with fresh potting soil. Water poinsettias sparingly as overwatering can damage plants. Inspect the root system for signs of disease. One of the most difficult parts of houseplant care is knowing how often to water your plants. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive regular updates. Mix a 1/2-strength solution of a balanced, all-purpose household plant fertilizer. Continue to water and fertilize as before. Do not fertilize poinsettias during the blooming period. To make sure your Poinsettia or Christmas plant, is healthy until spring, you can prune it to a height of 20 cm (8" approx.) The foliage should be healthy and dense with plenty of yellow-green flower buds emerging between the colored bracts. From the start of October until Thanksgiving, a period of about 8 to 10 weeks, keep the plant in complete darkness for 12 to 14 hours a day. When you first bring home your poinsettia plant, check its soil every couple of days to establish how frequently you’ll need to water. The branches are very fragile. With careful care the Christmas Star can be encouraged to return year after year, providing a pleasingly colorful festive display. By christmas your plant should be, hopefully, putting on a colorful display. Allow plenty of light during the day so the plant can absorb enough energy for flowering. The buds should also be tightly clustered together. A south facing window is ideal. The flowering life of plants is extended by humidity, so mist plants regularly. Finally, the plant should be free from pests and disease. Continue regular waterings and fertilize every 2-3 weeks. Ever since, the Christmas Star has been a key, colorful part of the advent season. Care begins long before you get the plant home. With careful care the plants can be encouraged to flower for 4 to 6 weeks. A soil mix with a good amount of peat moss or other organic matter is recommended. Earthpods Premium Indoor Fertilizer, is an organic fertilizer that is ideal for indoor and container plants. You may need to add or take away some soil to get your level right. Whatever you do, remember the rule of keeping the soil evenly moist. Regularly check the underside of the foliage for pests such as aphids or white flies. The temperatures should remain between 65 and 70 ℉. From about September through November light becomes crucial in poinsettia plant care. Cease fertilizing completely when the plants begin to flower but continue to water. Poinsettia care is easy throughout the holidays. In early June you may transplant your poinsettia to a larger pot or into the … Otherwise, … You can find it at PlantManagementNetwork.org. and care for it as if it was a green plant.You can even leave it outdoors when temperatures are mild. The poinsettia requires long dark autumn nights in order to bloom. When selecting your plant, try to choose the healthiest available specimen. 1 decade ago. If you cut your poinsettia for a flower arrangement leave at least four inches of stem. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Many different color variations are available, including variegated options. Be sure to water the plant thoroughly after fertilizing poinsettias, especially if you use a dry fertilizer. As previously stated, too much water is detrimental to the roots of a poinsettia plant, but too little water can also kill the plant. Answer Save. If you accidentally consume the plant seek medical advice immediately. Earthpods Premium Indoor Fertilizer, is an organic fertilizer that is ideal for indoor and container plants. This is your complete guide to poinsettia care. This is also a good time to feed your poinsettia with a liquid fertiliser. They like good light and hate drafts. As you can see, once the Christmas decorations come down there is no need to consign your poinsettia to the compost heap. Leaves and bracts will drop in either case. Poinsettia is a plant that you buy and throw away after it is used. Some folks use those water stick gizmos to tell them if their plants need water. 23 Types of Pretty Poinsettias 23 Photos. Here are some tips on poinsettia care that can help extend those blooms as long as possible — and maybe even encourage your poinsettia to bloom again next year. Best Fertilizer for Poinsettia Plants. Use a clean, sharp garden scissors to cut away damaged sections. But once the holiday is over and the decorations have been taken down, what do you do with your poinsettia? But don’t let that put you off. Continue to water the plant until about the start of April. National Poinsettia Day, the 12th of December, commemorates Poinsett’s death. In early fall reduce the amount of fertilizer to half of the usual amount. Don’t allow the plant to sit in water for a prolonged period of time. Repot your plant every year in a clean pot filled with fresh potting soil. Water thoroughly but wait until the compost is quite dry before watering again. This helps to keep the temperature around your plant stable, enabling them to thrive and preventing issues such as leaf drop. During this time it will soak up as much moisture as it needs. When March rolls around (and yellow buds of daffodils are starting to appear), this is when it's time to get started with the re-blooming process. To keep the plant in good condition do not let temperatures fall below 13°C (55°F). How to Care for Your Poinsettia Plant . If you live … This has been proved to be guilt by association rather than by fact. Important! They are prone to spider mites, fungus gnats, and mealy bugs. Keep it in its light, warm position. Instead place it somewhere where it gets at least 6 hours of sunlight every day. Poinsettia plants perform best in temperatures that range from 65 to 80 degrees fahrenheit. Feeding. Well the answer is that you need not put it in a quiet corner of your garden and allow it to wither away. Can you please help me save my plants. Poinsettias are NOT poisonous, that is a myth, however, people sensitive to latex, the milky fluid found in cut poinsettias and other plants, may experience irritation in the form of a rash if they come in contact with the sap. Click on the Paul Ecke poinsettia icon, then on consumer help. I watered them when soil feel dry in touch. Take care to inspect the entire plant before purchasing. It should sit at roughly the same level as in its original pot. Anonymous. Water regularly and fertilize with a good all-purpose fertilizer. Consuming a significant amount can lead to feelings of nausea and vomiting. In late June or early July prune your plant to keep it bushy and compact. Selecting a healthy plant makes care a lot easier. This makes care a lot easier. Poinsettia is a native of Mexico, so it is likely that because of our reduced light levels in this country your plant will get some yellowing and leaf fall. The weak Winter sunshine is acceptable and enjoyed by most houseplants including the Poinsettia. In the past poinsettias has been considered poisonous. Poinsettias need a strict care regime if they are to flower next year and without it they won’t bloom. Poinsettias do fine with any good quality, all-purpose fertilizer. Poinsettia plants can survive the winter near a window that can give them at least 6 hours of light a day. You can save your poinsettia for re-blooming. At the same time, reduce the amount of water and fertilizer you give the plant. Let’s learn about a very important aspect of that care: fertilizing poinsettias. Cease watering in early April, allowing the soil to dry out. Warm Poinsettias With Ample Sunlight. To keep them happy throughout the season, place them in bright indirect light. That could indicate irreversible root rot. Keep the soil moist when the plants are in flower. Poinsettia blossoms in nature for no more than two months a year, but breeders at home managed to extend this period to six months. In late June or early July prune your plant to keep it bushy and compact. Carefully remove the plant from its pot. Avoid keeping cool rooms Natural fertilizers are just as effective as chemical products. Once flowering has finished, begin the process all over again for a colorful display the following year. Care during holidays A great web site Verhoeven suggested for tips on poinsettia care is www.ecke.com. Water the plant when the soil feels dry, and be sure to water deeply. Also known as the Christmas Star or the Mexican Flame Tree, the poinsettia (Euphorbia Pulcherrima) is a popular festive houseplant. To force one to bloom again requires alternating periods of light and darkness. The plants can also be mildly toxic to pets. For a rough guide, aim to apply a quarter strength fertilizer once a week or a full strength dose once a month. Fertilize only when the soil is wet. Keep the plant away from locations where it will receive hot or cold draughts. Place the plant in as light a position as possible. Indigenous to Mexico, in the wild the Christmas Stars can reach a height of 16 ft. During December the plant can turn entire mountainsides crimson in color. During the day place the plant on a brightly lit windowsill or near, and continue normal watering and feeding. Most people get … Reply. In late March or early April cut your poinsettia back to about 8" in height. One of the most important parts of poinsettia care is ensuring the plants are able to develop their distinctive, colorful bracts. Water only when the surface looks or feels dry. As a rule of thumb, only water when the surface of the compost has begun to dry out. The poinsettia will now need to be covered for 14hrs a day (from about 6pm - 8am) with a black plastic box or bag. They’ve never worked well for me but if they do for you – use them. When keeping the plant through the year, begin fertilizing in the spring at half strength when there's no growth—not until then. By the time Thanksgiving arrives you can stop covering the plant. Water when the soil is dry. When new growth begins to appear, it's safe to resume a more normal watering and feeding schedule. Repeat this process every day. A soilless mix can also be used. Position the poinsettia in the pot. After purchasing your poinsettia make sure that it is protected as much as possible from the cold or wind while you transport it home. When new growth emerges, feed your poinsettia with a dose of all purpose houseplant fertilizer. Many people prefer using organic or natural products, particularly when fertilizing houseplants. Avoid temperatures under 12 degrees Celsius (53 degrees Fahrenheit). Always purchase from a garden center or reliable store. Avoid purchasing from anywhere where the plant may have been exposed to low temperatures for a prolonged period. This stops the disease from spreading. Named for Joel Poinsett, the U.S. minister to Mexico who brought the plants home in 1825, the poinsettia is always decked in holiday colors. Water regularly and fertilize with a good all-purpose fertilizer. Poinsettias need exposure to dark periods in order to flower and form their distinctive colorful bracts. Use regular houseplant food, and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Seal the cut end by dipping in boiling water or holding over a flame for fifteen seconds. This is easily done by simply placing your Christmas Star in a closet or covering it with a box every evening. One of the Christmas Poinsettias I'm trying grow out into a tree recently developed a fungal infection. Take care not to expose the plant to temperatures that are too cold. Poinsettia plant care is relatively easy. The new pot should be roughly the same size, or slightly larger, as the original pot. Don’t worry if you struggle to provide enough natural light. Relevance. Missionaries travelling into Mexico noticed the eye catching crimson plants and introduced them to their Christmas festivities. In order to encourage blooming, poinsettia plants require long periods of darkness at night (about 12 hours). Make sure to thoroughly soak it each time. So it's the leaves, or bracts, that give the plant its color. Aim to leave a gap of at least one inch between the soil level and the top of the pot. When the temperature begins to fall towards 55 to 60 ℉ return the plant to its indoor position. Watering and Feeding. Warmer …