How Do I Keep Poinsettias Alive and Thriving for Next Christmas?

Here are her tips to help your poinsettias, and mine, live to see another Christmas. Poinsettias work best when the thermostat is between 65 and 75 degrees F (18 to 25 degrees C).
Poinsettias also like a lot of direct light. Place your plants near a south, east, or west window and keep the soil moist while they are still in bloom. Balsis cautions against allowing poinsettias to remain in water. Instead, carefully remove the plant from the container, soak it well, and return it to the pot.
"When the surface is dry to the touch, water again," she says. "Don't do it on a schedule because of the heat coming in and going out."
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Stay tuned in spring
Let your poinsettias dry a bit more between waterings in the spring, says Balsis. In May, cut about 4 inches from each stem to create a lush, winter-full plant. Spring is also the best time to start fertilizing.
Change location
As temperatures rise around June, it's time to move the poinsettias to an area that receives a moderate amount of sun. "They really don't like the afternoon sun," says Balsis. "Even if you see them growing natively in the good sun."
Find a spot that receives the morning sun and partially shaded afternoon sun. Poinsettias also tend to work well in a garden or under a tree. "Just protect them from the strong, hot sun or they'll dry out so fast you'll have to water them daily," he says.
As the fertilizer starts to do its job, you should start to notice new branches. Balsis says it's time to rip one more inch off each rod.
He continues to add a quarter strength fertilizer weekly or a full strength fertilizer monthly. Also, he fertilizes while the soil is wet or he could burn the roots.
Watch out for insects like aphids and whiteflies, which tend to collect on the underside of leaves. Organic insecticides will help correct the problem, but be prepared to use them more often than heavy chemical insecticides.
For an easy homemade insecticide, add a teaspoon of mild detergent to a gallon of water. Put it in a spray bottle that you keep close to the plants.
Look at the temperature
When the temperature starts to drop below 65 F (18 C), these poinsettias should come back inside. It's also time to grow that deep red flower. "Starting October 1, make sure the plant has a 12-hour night," says Balsis. "It's 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness, without entering the room, turning on the light and going out, or you will delay flowering."
Some gardeners place a cardboard box on the plant within 12 hours of bedtime. Placing plants in a dark room starting at 5 in the afternoon. at 8 am the problem will be solved. Return them to a space that receives a lot of sunlight during the day.
"It's a bit tricky," admits Balsis, "but you only do it for about eight weeks. That's the key to getting them to bloom at the right time."
Once the poinsettias have bloomed, you don't need to add fertilizer. Keep watering like you did this Christmas. If the plant is located near a heater, be prepared to water more often.
"Then you start over; it's fun," says Balsis.
I intend to follow your advice to the letter. Hopefully we have some beautiful plants around this time next year.
Enjoy This Video Tutorial About How Do I Keep Poinsettias Alive and Thriving for Next Christmas?
Source: Gardening4Climate
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Last update on 2025-02-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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