How To Care For Poinsettia Plant
Indoor Plants Flowers
How to care for your Poinsettia flowering, indoor plant. The holidays are here again. The time of year we start seeing Poinsettia, or Euphorbia Pulcherrima, is about the end of November when the Christmas trees and decorations start going up and people start their holiday shopping.
Poinsettia Flowers Plants
Poinsettia is most commonly used at Christmas time, at least in the United States. It is a member of the Euphorbia family, a large group of flowering plants, many of them are succulents to varying degrees.
The beautiful, flowering Poinsettia plant is a native plant from south of the border and do best with bright lighting, average room temperatures and common sense watering. Do not expose them to the cold as it will quickly damage the leaves and bracts.
For information on re-blooming your Poinsettia keep reading. You will need to begin special care just after you and your Christmas Poinsettia have finished celebrating the holidays!
Poinsettia Plant Care Question?
Poinsettia house plant and flower questions? I would be happy to answer any house plant questions as I can. Free of charge, no sign-ups required!
Poinsettia house plant questions or problems? You can send a house plant question but before you do, please finish reading this page and other house plant care information on watering your indoor house plants, how to help keep your house plant's root system healthy, lighting for your house plants, and basic house plant care. These are most important for your house plant's health and this is some of the information I will refer you to if you send an email.
Working in the interior landscape industry, I get a lot of questions from people about their personal house plants and how to keep their own indoor plants growing and healthy. That is why I started this website, to help others learn how to care for their indoor plants and flowers. So please read on!
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If you need some help with the general care of your indoor plants and flowers, read about basic houseplant care. You can also email houseplant care questions or requests for help identifying your mysterious indoor plant!
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Poinsettia is not poisonous but I wouldn't recommend tasting or eating one as the sap is very sticky and can cause irritation, even on your skin. For more information see Poison.org website but come back when you are finished reading!
Every Christmas season for many years, I have had hundreds of these lovely "flowers" in my care.They are delicate and fragile and you must use care when handling them. Place them out of high traffic areas and away from places where they might get a cold draft. If you are moving them during cold weather be sure to enclose them in a loose fitting sleeve or plastic bag. Just be careful not to break them.
Unopened Flowers in Poinsettia Bract
When shopping for your Poinsettia, be sure the bracts are well colored up. For maximum use of your flowering Christmas Poinsettia, the flower, small and yellow in the center of the bracts, should be unopened. Spider mites, thrips and mealybugs can be a problem on Poinsettia plants so thoroughly inspect for these problems before you make the final purchase.
For the longest bloom during the holiday season, keep your Poinsettia in bright, natural light if possible. A good spot in fluorescent light will do also. Morning sun is great but avoid excessively hot window spots. Of course, in December this may not be a problem, depending on where you live. Temperatures should be kept between 55°F and 80°F.
How to Water Poinsettia Plant
Poinsettia plants tends to use the most water in the first week or two of being moved to a new location, so watch them a little more carefully at first. The top 1/4" to 1/2" or so of the topsoil should be allowed to dry before you water them. Water thoroughly when you do water but do not allow your Poinsettia to remain in standing water for a long period of time. They will do best if allowed to dry a little but be aware that they will quickly wilt if allowed to dry completely. If this happens, water immediately and poinsettia should recover. Just don't let it happen too often or your Poinsettia plant may get beyond the point of no return.
Keep Poinsettia surrounded with moist air as much as possible. Place in bright filtered light and keep properly watered, not too dry and not too wet, out of drafts and cold temperatures, not too much to ask! If you do all of this right, you should get a few months enjoyment from your Euphorbia Pulcherrima.
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See below for tips on how to re-bloom your poinsettia for the next Christmas season. For really good coloring up of your poinsettia, you will need to control their lighting.
These great holiday plants come in a variety of colors. They are grown in white, cream, pinks and reds, and even some so dark purple they look almost black. Growers also produce marbled and spotted bracts. I think most of us still favor the original red but there are many choices to pick from these days, almost too many!
Re-Blooming Your Poinsettia Plant
When the holidays are over and your Poinsettia starts to decline, you may want to add it to the compost pile. If you can't bring yourself to toss it or you just enjoy the challenge of growing things, you might want to try re-blooming Euphorbia for the next holiday season.
When the holidays are over and your poinsettia is starting to fade, cut the stems back to just above a leaf node, about 3 to 4 inches high. Place the plant out of the sun, in a brightly lit location, and allow potting soil to dry almost completely between waterings. When new growth starts to appear, you can begin monthly feeding. As a note, never feed or fertilize a potted plant when the soil is dry, always water first, then feed.
Beginning around the end of September you will need to carefully control the light your Poinsettia receives. The plant will need to be kept in total darkness for about 14 hours every night, continuing daily for 8 weeks. You can cover with black plastic and place in a dark area, returning it to its normal location during the day. After the 8 weeks of controlled lighting, return your Poinsettia to its place in bright, indirect light and continue normal care.
I hope this information has been helpful to you as you care for your flowering Poinsettia plant. Keep all of your plants green and growing and if you have any indoor Poinsettia plant care questions, just send me an email. More flower and plant pictures, contact, and care information below. Happy holidays!
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Houseplant Care Question?
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Before you send a houseplant care question, please be sure to read this information on watering your indoor house plants, how to help keep your your indoor house plants root system healthy and lighting for your indoor house plants and flowers. These are most important for the health of your house plants and this is some of the information I will refer you to if you send an indoor house plant or flower care question.
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