Poinsettias are traditionally planted at Christmas time. Many people throw out poinsettias after the holidays. Did you know that you can keep these plants looking beautiful all year round? If you’re willing to put in some effort, you could even rebloom them.
Care for Poinsettias After the Holidays
If you plan on keeping your Poinsettia after the holidays are over, you should fertilize it about once a month. But in the heavy flowering period they do not fertilize.
Water the poinsettias regularly, but do not allow the soil to become too wet. Allow them to dry somewhat between waterings. If you allow poinsettias to dry out too much, they will lose many leaves. See if you can push it correctly.
Be sure to remove your Poinsettia from the plastic sleeve. If your poinsettia came in a foil sleeve, you can leave it at this point. Make sure that the bottom has drainage holes.
Give your Poinsettia bright, indirect light for about six hours a day. Don’t put it too close to cold windows. If they are going to be in a south window, try to filter the strong summer time light with a sheer curtain.
Wipe it
In late winter or early spring, you’ll want to prune your poinsettia to about 4 – 6 inches tall. Otherwise the plant will be tall and leggy. Pruning the back of the plant will promote the growth of side shoots and keep your Poinsettia bushy and full.
Your Poinsettia Repot
In early spring, you may want to repot your poinsettia. However, before you do this, check if you really need it. If there is still room left for the roots to expand, don’t report it now. It does not need to be the author of the course of the course, but it should be great. Make sure that the new pot has holes in the bottom and the dish to catch the water that runs out. For specific instructions on repotting plants, check out my article titled Repotting Your Plants Made Easy. You can find it at www.associatedcontent.com/article/108520/repotting_your_plants_made_easy.html.
summer time care for Poinsettia
You will want to keep your poinsettia outside for the summer. Nothing like the plants will thrive if they are placed outside. Your poinsettia is no exception.
Make sure to wait until all threat of frost has passed. A good rule of thumb for this in the New York area is to wait until Mother’s Day moves the house outside of the plants.
When you first bring out your Poinsettia, or any other house plant, put it in a place where it will get indirect light, but not direct sun. If you put the poinsettia outside and directly into the direct sun, you will burn it and it will die. After a few days of acclimation, place them in a sunny place. Part afternoon shade would probably be beneficial.
Make sure to turn the pot in line. Otherwise, you will end up with a poinsettia that grows from only one side. Also, you want to be fertile every week.
Getting your Poinsettia to Rebloom
What a task not to be attempted by the faint-hearted! You can keep our Poinsettia as a regular house plant and it will be lovely. Maybe even some leaves with color extinguished for the next few days.
If you dare, give this arrow a shot. Poinsettias will only rebloom when they have had short days and long nights. Nights of at least twelve hours are required from the end of September through the middle of December.
When you bring your Poinsettia from outside, place it in a room that won’t have much light at night (no Light Bulbs count). During the twelve hour long nights you will have to have some night light. Place a dark paper bag or something similar over the top of it every night. Leave the place for at least twelve hours. You should also consider the amount of fertilizer you provide at this time.
Enjoy your poinsettias for the next holiday season
For more care and reblooming Poinsettias, check out www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/poinsettia/history.html. If you lovingly cover your poinsettias every night for two months, and follow the other instructions in this article, you will be rewarded with a happy green season a second time (or more). However, if your care and poinsettia have not re-bloomed, know that you are not alone. This can be a difficult task. At least you’ll have a lovely, full, healthy plant for years to come.
