Common Poinsettia Care
Poinsettias covered in glitter foil brighten up the holidays with red, creamy white, pink or bi-colored blooms. Some have flowers painted in colors like blue and purple and some are glitter-bombed for extra sparkle. But the colorful parts of this plant are not the flowers. They are bracts (modified leaves). The true flowers are the small green or yellow areas in the center of the bracts. While spray-painted poinsettias usually don't last as long as natural ones, all of these plants do well with a little TLC. In return, they will reward you with their festive colors in the New Year. Start by avoiding these 7 poinsettia care mistakes people often make.
1. Exposure to frost
Poinsettias are grown in colorful greenhouses for the holidays. They are then sent for sale. You can buy them in greenhouse pots or in arrangements or gardens When we carry a pet plant from a warm store through a cold parking lot to the car, it will begin to lose its leaves from the shock of the temperature change. If your plant is going to be outside in cold weather for more than a few minutes, protect it with a bag or paper.
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2. Keeping your plant in a room that is too hot or too cold
Indoor temperatures are fine on the cooler side, says Gary Vollmer, Selecta One's poinsettia product manager. "Outside winter temperatures will kill poinsettias, indoor temperatures of 55°F to 75°F are fine." Keep plants away from cold drafts from doors and windows and heat from vents, radiators and fireplaces.
3. Not providing adequate amount of light
"Poinsettias in the house are living plants and need some light to thrive," Vollmer says. "Keeping the plant in a bright spot will do wonders to keep it going." However, poinsettias can burn in direct sunlight, so give them a brightly lit spot where the sun can't shine properly on them.
4. Watering your Poinsettia
Pots without drainage holes can leave poinsettia roots sitting in water. This can cause the leaves to turn yellow and fall off, or the roots to rot and the entire plant to die. To avoid this problem, make some holes in your container or move your plant to a pot with drainage holes. Try this Better Homes & Gardens White Round Ceramic and Wood Planter and Stand Set to add a stylish touch to your display. If you keep your plant in a saucer or decorative pot, be sure to pour off excess water, says Harvey Long, Ph.D. and Syngenta Flowers North America's senior technology leader. You can punch a few holes in the bottom of the pot sleeve and use a waterproof saucer or plate underneath to protect your tablets.
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5. Forgetting water
This can be just as harmful as overwatering, so don't let your poinsettia dry out. Instead, Vollmer says, water your plant when the pot feels light, when the plant becomes top-heavy, or when the soil feels dry to the touch. The soil should be moist, but not soggy.
6. Fertilizing at the wrong time
Barbara Pearson, nursery manager at White Flower Farm, says you don't need to feed your plants when they're blooming. Poinsettia colors often begin to fade in February. If you want to keep your plant for its green leaves or get it to bloom again, wait until May to fertilize. Follow the directions on your product label.
7. The stress of keeping poinsettias alive after the holidays Poinsettias are grown in greenhouses with proper lighting,
temperature and care so they look beautiful and attractive in stores, says Long of Syngenta Flowers. That's why getting your plant to bloom again can be challenging. Save yourself the stress of trying to keep your poinsettia alive and fertilize your tired plant after the holidays. Then, treat yourself to a new poinsettia next year.
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