You'd be forgiven for thinking the vibrant red colours of the plant are flower petals but in fact, these are called bracts. A healthy plant will re-sprout leaves a couple of months later, so keep the soil fairly dry, and the plant warm until new growth occurs. Look for crisp, brightly colored, undamaged bracts (leaves). Poinsettia plants need 14 hours of darkness per day for about 6 … These showy, leaf-like bracts come in red, shades of salmon-pink and creamy-white, so there’s one to suit every taste. Allow the surface of the soil to dry between waterings, and be sure to apply enough water so that the pot is evenly moist and some drains out the bottom. To ensure it survives until next year, you will need to prune the poinsettia in April, to about 10cm (4in), and keep it at a temperature of 13°C. Because they are sensitive to cold and winds, which can damage the foliage and cause it to drop prematurely, never buy one from an outdoor market or garage forecourt. No light, not even coming in under a closet door or opening the door, can happen. Keep the plant near a brightly lit window, in a room where the day temperatures are between 65 and 75 degrees. The true poinsettia flowers are small, greenish-yellow and clustered together in the centre of the rosette of brightly coloured bracts. Poinsettias look beautiful at Christmas. Then call off the search because poinsettias are just the ticket. Care for poinsettias starts when you buy them. Caring for outdoor poinsettia plants is not very time consuming or intricate. Make sure to thoroughly soak it each time. April 1, Poinsettias are short-day plants, meaning they naturally flower when the day length is less than 12 hours. Be aware that poinsettias weep a toxic, sticky milky sap when cut or damaged, so smear wounds with white petroleum jelly to stop them ‘bleeding’ to death. The holiday season is filled with cold temperatures, dark days, and bleak colors. Poinsettias aren't quite what they seem. If the poinsettia is planted in the ground, you can expect a shrub-like plant during the summer. Starting Oct. 1. Water the poinsettia when necessary. If you need something to drink so does your poinsettia. You can keep your poinsettia healthy and vigorous throughout the holiday season with the right care. In spring, cut it back and transplant it to a bigger pot. If you moved your plant outside, bring it back inside around the middle of August, and continue to water and fertilize through the rest of summer and early fall. So here's how to care for your ponsettia. Poinsettia care begins with proper light, water, and temperature conditions. Do not let the plant sit in standing water. Do not let it sit in water. Start the process in early Autumn and be aware that even a nightlight or the glow of a street lamp can disrupt the transformation process. If it has grown since the last check, trim the stems back down to 6 inches (15 cm) or to your desired size, leaving 3 or 4 new leaves on the stems. Having been re-energized, perky bracts will start to show colour within weeks when given the ‘short day’ treatment and be ready to fill your home with the Christmas cheer for which these wonderful plants are known. Alternatively, use slow release pellets in spring. Over time the hormones are leached from the compost, so some judicial pruning will be necessary to restrict growth. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Here's what you should do for your poinsettia now and through 2011: Once the holidays are over, January through March, continue to care for your poinsettia as you did when you first brought it home. This is also a good time to replant your poinsettia into a larger pot. In order to keep its bright and cheery appearance the poinsettia must be given proper care. If your pot was wrapped in foil, be sure to poke a few holes through the bottom to allow excess water to drain away. Night temperatures can be cooler, but make sure your poinsettia doesn't get colder than 55 degrees. Be aware that poinsettias weep a toxic, sticky milky sap when cut or damaged, so smear wounds with white petroleum jelly to stop them ‘bleeding’ to death. There's also no guarantee that your poinsettia will bloom again next December, even with year-round care. Continue watering as before, but keep in mind you will most likely be watering less since you removed a lot of foliage. Poinsettias like moist but not soggy soil, so you should water your poinsettia when the surface of the soil feels dry to the touch. And if you’re giving a poinsettia as a gift, be sure to protect it from frigid outdoor temperatures during transport. Leaves curling, drooping and falling usually means they have suffered low temperatures or sudden draughts. Avoid exposing the poinsettia to freezing conditions. Read on to get our best poinsettia care tips! Around mid-July, pinch each stem back, leaving three to four leaves on each stem. §         The soil should be kept moderately moist; check every few days and water when the soil feels dry to the touch. Poinsettia plant care is relatively easy. Poinsettias are often disappointing in their second year, but this is the best way to try and get a good display from them in their second year. Common to poinsettias are red spider mites, which through sucking the plant’s sap cause the leaves to become pale and red-speckled. To restore healthy green plants into their original show-stopping colour in time for Christmas you need to keep plants in total darkness, for 14 hours each day for up to eight weeks to trick them into thinking winter has come early. During the day, plants need bright light and will thrive throughout the winter if kept on a warm windowsill. It will need watering at least once a week over summer (more often in pots, or when it’s very hot and dry). Spring And Summer Poinsettia Care When spring arrives, you can move your plant to the great outdoors. If plants are covered with the mites’ fine webs then the only solution is to dispose of them in the dustbin. BUY NOW White poinsettia with glass planter, £25, Marks and Spencer, The best long-sleeve dresses to buy right now, The best letterbox Christmas trees to send, The best luxury Christmas crackers for 2020, The mistake gardeners make when growing peonies, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Pinch back new growth in June, July or August to promote a bushier plant. After 10 minutes, remove any excess water from the saucer beneath the pot. How to Plant Poinsettias in a Warm Climate. For now, keep your potted poinsettia in a bright sunny window and water well when the soil feels dry. Poinsettias need not disappear after the holiday season. This makes your poinsettia nicely branched and bushy, and also creates lots of blooms. Prune often throughout the year to keep the poinsettias at this size. If you find woolly-coated pests clinging to plant leaves and stems then you might be able to remove them with a cotton bud soaked in methylated spirits – these sap-sucking pests are mealy bugs that will cause the leaves to pale and pucker. Before watering, remove the pot covers or foil wrapping; water to saturate the soil, and then allow the pot to drain. A poinsettias planted outdoors when warm weather stabilizes can turn into the prettiest tropical plant in your yard. Do not let it sit in water. Light: Place your poinsettias in an area where they’ll receive a minimum of six hours of bright (but not direct) sunlight each day. You can also move your poinsettia outside for the summer months. Once the holidays are over, January through March, continue to care for your poinsettia as you did when you first brought it home. First, be sure you choose a plant with small, tightly clustered yellow buds in the center. Plant the poinsettia in the ground or leave it in the pot if you wish. Poinsettias should be watered when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Avoid putting them close to windows that are glazed with frosted glass though, as these can magnify sunlight and scorch leaves leading to brown sunken patches. The leaves will naturally drop off around March time, which is when you can re-shape and cut back straggly plants down to about 10cm. Poinsettias are short-day plants, meaning they naturally flower when the day length is less than 12 hours. Simply continue to water the poinsettia as you would any plant, never allowing the soil to completely dry. But how do you keep the festive plant alive and care for it throughout the year? Although it is a succulent, poinsettia does like a reasonable amount of moisture. Check on your poinsettia once a month. That’s why holiday decorations are so popular – they add some color and warmth to a dark and cold season. The dark treatment must be done every day from Oct. 1st until Thanksgiving. Water the plant until you see water begin to seep through the holes at the bottom of the pot. If you opt to use water soluble fertilizer, add it to the watering can every other week. They flower naturally in winter, but can be forced to bloom in summer during the Australian Christmas and with a little care, can delight year-round. Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are native to Mexico and in the wild grow into tall shrubs and to turn them into compact houseplants, growers treat them with dwarfing hormones. BUY NOW Large poinsettia, £26, Marks and Spencer. That is why we have created a poinsettia care guide for those that want to decorate their homes this holiday season. Night temperatures can be cooler, but make sure your poinsettia doesn't get colder than 55 degrees. Give tired, overwintered plants a boost in spring by feeding them every two weeks with a half-strength liquid fertiliser and then increase to every week when growth is in full swing during the summer. Once you see green shoots in spring, start a regular watering and feeding program. Although it is a succulent, poinsettia does like a reasonable amount of moisture. Make sure to thoroughly soak it each time. Though they are popular as holiday plants, remember that poinsettias have tropical origins. BUY NOW Poinsettia 'Premium pink', £12.99, Thompson & Morgan. Here is an in-depth look at how to keep your poinsettias blooming and booming through the holidays – and how to overwinter them after they finish blooming to use again next Christmas season! Give them enough sun, warmth, and water and your poinsettia will provide perfect seasonal color. Plants will deteriorate if overwatered, causing the leaves to yellow and fall off after wilting. §         Place your poinsettia in a spot with bright natural light, but do not expose it to direct sunlight. §         The color of your poinsettia will last longer with temperatures around 65 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 60-65 degrees at night. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Houseplant, indoor plant, summer patio plant. Caring for poinsettias Poinsettia plant care is relatively easy. Do not leave it in the car while you finish shopping. First, let’s start with how to care for poinsettias during their “blooming” season. No light, not even coming in under a closet door or opening the door, can happen. April 1st, cut the poinsettia stems back to about 8 inches, and don't worry if you don't have many leaves left after you cut it back — more leaves will sprout along the stems. As soon as new growth appears, begin fertilizing once a week with a well balanced, all-purpose fertilizer. Bracts are technically leaves but are the plant's way of attracting pollinators in the wild, turning a different colour to … But if you'd like to try, here are a few tips. Keeping Poinsettia Plants Beautiful In Season. How to stop your bathroom mirror from steaming up, This is how to stop Facebook from tracking your internet activity, A step-by-step guide to making your fresh flowers last longer, How to stop your under-eye concealer from creasing. Repotting may be necessary at the end of summer after the plant has grown. Your poinsettia plant should have a rounded shape, with dense and compact growth. Starting Oct. 1st, poinsettias need 14 hours of complete darkness daily, 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.. Cover the plant with a cardboard box, or place the plant in a closet or cabinet or even garage. As a poinsettia grows over the summer, its roots grow as well, and they can get cramped in a small pot. Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites, Don't toss it: Year-round care for your poinsettia. A combination of high temperatures and dry air can have a similar effect so to help them to survive in centrally heated rooms stand plants on a tray of moist pebbles to keep them cool. At the end of the dark treatment, the bracts (modified leaves that turn the showy colors we think of as poinsettia "flowers") start to change colors. How to Care for your Plant. If poinsettias are left trapped behind the curtains then they may become frosted. The dark treatment must be done every day from Oct. 1st until Thanksgiving. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, 9 best pillows for a comfortable night’s sleep, Good Housekeeping, Part of the Hearst UK Fashion & Beauty Network. If you want to save your poinsettia and bring it to bloom again next year, you can follow the repotting and reblooming procedure. If you want to go the extra mile, you can take a few extra steps to ensure your plant flowers again in time for the next Christmas. Looking for a plant with festive red leaves? 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. How to care for poinsettias. Take it home and place it inside the house as soon as possible after purchasing it. The poinsettia you brought home from the garden center or grocery store could be your first step toward sustainability. How to Care for Poinsettias Year-Round (DepositPhotos) Once the holidays come to an end, many of us find ourselves with a lovely assortment of poinsettias that … It will need watering at least once a week over summer (more often in pots, or when it’s very hot and dry). Keep the plant near a brightly lit window, in a room where the day temperatures are between 65 and 75 degrees. Allow the surface of the soil to dry between waterings, and be sure to apply enough water so that the pot is evenly moist and some drains out the bottom. Learn how to care for poinsettias and help yours stay healthy and happy all holiday season long! If the container is too large, the soil can hold too much water, causing the roots of the poinsettia to rot, so it's best to choose a new container that is no more than 4" larger than the original. Prune back the plants hard in April, to about 10cm (4in), and keep at a temperature of 13°C In early May, repot them, growing them in a light, cool place over summer. Stop fertilizing at this time, and continue to care for your poinsettia the same as when you first purchased it. Happy, healthy houseplants are less vulnerable to pests and diseases but it’s always worth keeping your eyes peeled for symptoms, as pests are easy to ‘import’ from infected plants that you buy to add to your collection. It’s also important to take plants off windowsills at night. Starting Oct. 1st, poinsettias need 14 hours of complete darkness daily, 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.. Cover the plant with a cardboard box, or place the plant in a closet or cabinet or even garage. These plants can be kept alive and healthy year round with just a bit of special care. A holiday gift of a poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is almost a certainty. Poinsettias are perennial plants, and if provided with the appropriate growing environment and regular care, they can live quite a long time, and if they are given enough room, they can even grow into massive bushes, reaching heights of ten to 15 feet. Poinsettia plants should be watered thoroughly, taking care not to drown them by ensuring adequate drainage is available. Poinsettias are relatively easy to keep in good condition for two or three months but with a little know-how and skill, it’s also possible to keep these festive plants for another year and bring them into flower again. Temperature: These plants prefer temperatures from 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and from 60 to 65 degrees at night. Space smaller varieties of summer poinsettias 8 to 12 inches apart and large varieties 18 inches apart when planting. During the holidays, while in full bloom, they typically enjoy semi-cool, humid locations in bright, indirect light with plenty of moisture. Plants can be planted into the ground, but you will need to dig them back up in late summer. Even if it doesn't bloom again next Christmas, you can still enjoy it for many months. To keep them happy throughout the season, place them in bright indirect light. In other words, consider keeping the plant around for a while instead of tossing it in the trash once the tree is down. §         Do not place your poinsettia in an area where it will be exposed to drafts, heat from appliances, radiators, or ventilation ducts.