If you wish to keep your poinsettia through more than one season and force reblooming, follow these steps. A slender spout watering can help you reach the soil in the case of busy plants. You can now move your poinsettia outside for a summer blast of sunshine and temperatures. A healthy, fresh Poinsettia plant will last longer. Poinsettia care schedule. Keep fertilizing every two weeks with a good water-soluble all-purpose fertilizer. Add a cup or so of water every two to three days, then feel the pot’s weight—which is a better indication of when to water the next time. Step 3 Transplant the poinsettia into a larger pot. Ideally, you should keep your poinsettia in a space that stays around 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, and it's OK if the temp drops a little at … Read more: Christmas table decoration ideas that will set the scene for your festive feast. Step 2 Set the poinsettia outdoors once night temperatures average 55 degrees F or above. It will depend on how well you follow the tips above, but on average a well-cared for poinsettia should last 4-6 weeks until the flowers start to fall off. Buying Poinsettias. Remember, poinsettias like the warmth of centrally heated homes but they should be kept away from direct heat, as well as from drafty windows and doors. Keep Warm: Cover your new poinsettia when taking it to and from your car as they are susceptible to cold. Dropping the temperature to about 60 F at night will not hurt the plant. The familiar red blooms have been joined by even flashier colors. A wilted plant can be revived and salvaged, but it will take another season to improve its appearance. The poinsettia – AKA the Mexican Flame Tree or Christmas Star – is synonymous with the festive season. Water until it drains out the bottom, but do not let the plant sit in water. Once the colorful bracts fade and fall off the plant after the holidays, cut back the stems just below the flowers. Be especially careful not to rub your eyes after touching the plants. Get every aspect of your festive decor on point with our Christmas ideas. After Christmas Care… As with everything, all good things must eventually come to an end. For best results, keep your poinsettia in a warm room and mist it daily. If your plant has a foil gift wrapping, either remove it or poke holes to allow water to drain. Protect the plants from both cold and hot drafts from outside doors, heat registers or appliances. Now is the time for selective pruning. Poinsettia plants need to be kept in the dark for 6 to 8 weeks in the fall to force the bracts into action. I wondered if I should say something to the … They are also safe to put into the compost. Do not fertilize poinsettias during the blooming period. Nothing is worse than buying a $30 poinsettia only to have it drop most of its leaves and wilt before Christmas Day. Keep poinsettias near the sunniest window in your house so they get adequate light. Find a tray or plate that has a larger diameter than the plant and then fill it with small rounded pebbles. Having them near a forced air heating vent or above a fireplace exposes them to warm, dry air. How to Rebloom Poinsettias After Christmas. Think of milkweed, another common Euphorbia. It’s easy to see why they are so popular – they come in a range of beautiful colours: stunning reds, elegant whites, a glorious array of pinks and in a variety of sizes too. Keep your poinsettia plants away from all heat sources, especially heat vents. However, poinsettias have undergone extensive testing and there is no evidence that they are toxic or unsafe to have in the house. To keep the poinsettia in bloom as long as possible, maintain a temperature of 65 to 75 F during the day. Choose a location for your poinsettia where it will not come into contact with drafts or blasts of heated air (from your home’s climate control system or a space heater, for example). Re-blooming a plant is never easy and re-blooming a poinsettia plant is no exception. Give the plant a good watering, but don't flood or soak it — gravel in the bottom of the pot will help keep the roots dry. Even a “wall” of taller houseplants will do, as long as no intense artificial light reaches the poinsettia. When to Move Poinsettia Outside. Fertilize poinsettias only if keeping them after the holiday season. Keep your poinsettia watered. These plants can be kept alive and healthy year round with just a bit of special care. The plant should be moist rather than soggy. Keep the poinsettia from draughts – hot or cold. Dropping the temperature to about 60 F at night will not hurt the plant. Try to keep your pets away from poinsettias. Aside from a Christmas tree, nothing says “holidays” like poinsettias. Keep the plant away from drafts caused by opening doors or heater vents. Your poinsettia will be happy at a temperature of around 20° C. It can be close to a radiator, but not in direct sunlight or near draughts – so keep away from open doors, windows and fireplaces. In early May, repot your poinsettia into a slightly larger pot with fresh, peat-free, loam-based compost, and then keep it in a draught-free spot out of direct sunlight, ensuring the temperature doesn’t exceed 18ºC. If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere where outdoor temperatures are around 70°F, you can keep your poinsettia outside, and make sure it gets at least part sun, or four to six hours of outdoor light a day. How long can you keep a poinsettia alive? Keep it indoors if you live in dry and hot areas of the country. This should promote new growth. 4. Poinsettias are the second best-selling houseplant in the UK (after the Phalaenopsis orchid), and this year we will buy an estimated 8 million of them over the Christmas period, according to Stars for Europe. When in doubt, skip the water. Poinsettias are most comfortable between 65 and 75 degrees (18.33 to 23.89 degrees Celsius). For this reason, the study of its seasonal nature will enable you to cope with any problems or needs. In April, prune your poinsettia back to about 10cm, and keep at a temperature of 13°C. Water: Poinsettias like moist, but not wet, soil. Fertilise the poinsettia once a month after you’ve pruned it. This way you will avoid the funghina, one of the plant diseases among the most prevalent. Keep it out of the cold. Wondering why you can’t keep your poinsettia alive? Lack of humidity during dry seasons, in particular, winter, is an ongoing houseplant problem. A beloved holiday tradition both for decoration and gift giving, poinsettias also make attractive indoor plants all year long. Avoid keeping cool rooms. 4. To keep alive your poinsettia, it is good to know it thoroughly and to be prepared. With a little time and attention, you can keep a poinsettia alive to flourish again next year. It should be neither dripping wet nor totally dry. Poinsettia plants can survive the winter near a window that can give them at least 6 hours of light a day. Simply stick it in a closet or cover with a large box every evening and then return the plant to its sunny window during the remainder part of the day. To use poinsettias as fresh flowers in a vase, cut the bracts, dip the cut end in warm (60 degrees) water for five seconds, then immediately in cold water, and you’re ready to arrange. Here’s how I did it. If your poinsettia is still alive past New Years Day, it has passed through the shock of being moved from the greenhouse into your home. Remove the foil or plastic wrapper, so the poinsettia never sits in water. Here are some tips for keeping your poinsettia plant healthy beyond New Year’s. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. These can make worthy investments to take care of poinsettias. Because you want to keep your poinsettia for a long time and encourage the leaves to turn red again the following season, choose carefully when buying the plant. Water only when the compost is starting to change colour and become lighter. This keeps roots from becoming water-logged, which … How much water you will need will depend on the temperature and humidity level. Give them a pick-me-up If it has dried out and wilted, dunk it in water. If temperatures fall below this range, the plant may … This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, How to fold napkins for Christmas – fancy ideas for festive napkins for your table, Brown paper wrapping ideas for Christmas – ways to use kraft paper for the prettiest presents, Christmas table decoration ideas that will set the scene for your festive feast, Four easy ways to introduce pattern to your home – and they’re all in the sale at Very, 8 reasons we’re in a flap about flamingos, How to get the hang of displaying wall art creatively, New Livingetc issue out now – with FREE Style Directions magazine, Christmas hanging basket ideas – planting ideas to add festive cheer to exteriors. To keep poinsettias blooming best, they do require a bit of light. Sprinkle some plant fertilizer on its soil every 2 weeks to give it a nutrients boost. Simply stick it in a closet or cover with a large box every evening and then return the plant to its sunny window during the remainder part of the day. Apply fertilizer every two weeks or once monthly using a complete houseplant fertilizer. Place the poinsettia near a bright, south-facing window. Poinsettias prefer consistent, light moisture. They are often disposed of once they start to fade, but with a little care, you can keep them all year and the bracts will colour up again the following year. Cover your poinsettia plant every night or move it to a dark cupboard overnight. Luckily, keeping a poinsettia fresh throughout the holidays is easy. Poinsettia Care After the Holidays . Water it enough, and make sure it drains. Poinsettia care schedule. After Christmas, keep your poinsettia indoors and in a spot where it receives bright light, watering it regularly in a pot with good drainage to keep the soil moist. In winter, the Christmas star is fertilized once a week and requires watering only when the soil is completely dry. Poinsettia care: 13 golden rules Buying poinsettias. it was time to turn them red again. Continue to water your poinsettia, keeping the soil moist, but not wet, at all times. Place the poinsettia’s container on a tray or saucer to catch any moisture that drips from the drainage holes. After keeping my poinsettias alive for a year (yay!) Make sure to water the poinsettia whenever the surface of the soil feels dry. Dense foliage and yellow-green budding flowers in-between the coloured bracts are a sure sign of quality. In May, repot the poinsettia into a larger vessel, and place the plant in a sunny window. Give them enough sun, warmth, and water and your poinsettia will provide perfect seasonal color. (1) Purchase healthy plants. Inspect the plant carefully before buying; poinsettia are tender plants and will not last if they stand in the cold for any length of time. The best place to plant your poinsettia outdoors is a spot where it will get sunshine in the morning. If your plant has a foil gift wrapping, either remove it or poke holes to allow water to drain. ANSWER: To keep a poinsettia year round, you will need to move it into the outdoor garden once there is no danger of the temperature falling below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7.22 degrees Celsus). To keep the poinsettia in bloom as long as possible, maintain a temperature of 65 to 75 F during the day. Continue to cover your plant until the buds start to appear again. Make sure you let the soil dry before watering it again, since poinsettias don’t need as much water during colder weather. However, cold drafts, allowing the leaves to touch a cold window, or more importantly, lack of decent light, can injure the leaves and cause premature leaf drop. Poinsettias are the festive houseplant to have this year and are even suitable for use as cut flowers. How Do You Keep a Poinsettia From Year to Year? Besides the traditional red, you will find different colors to enjoy, including cream, yellow, and pink. Poinsettia plants (Euphorbia pulcherrima) remain one of the most popular holiday flowers. Last year, I decided to try to keep them alive all year so I’d have them ready for the next holiday season. Protect your poinsettia from the wind and cold and transport it quickly to its warm new home. Funny for a plant that needs to be in the dark to force the bracts to bloom! Poinsettias are tropical plants that benefit from plenty of light. If the pot is covered by the typical foil wrapping, remove the foil to allow the water to drain. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Poinsettias love indirect sunlight and mild temperatures. The best temperature in your home for poinsettias is between 60-70 degrees. Poinsettias need not disappear after the holiday season. Keeping them healthy is very straightforward too, here are some quick tips. Do not overdo the misting where the leaves are dripping wet. Every year I get a couple poinsettias for decorations. If you've ever seen a leggy poinsettia in bloom, with only a couple of sad looking leaves hanging on, it was probably exposed to temperatures that were too cool or to extreme shifts in temperature. Poinsettia. Poinsettias need at least 14 hours of complete darkness each night for six to 10 weeks to trigger bloom. Keep the poinsettia from draughts – hot or cold. This will cause them to dry out more quickly and their leaves will desiccate. A loose, well-draining peat-based potting soil is best for your poinsettia. Poinsettias like plenty of bright, indirect sunlight. CLOUD - For many, 2020 has meant trying things they’ve always wanted to do but never took the time. Because poinsettias have been forced into bloom, they need some extra care to keep them in bloom throughout the holidays. To be safe, wash your hands after handling a poinsettia plant and try to avoid pinching or pruning them with your hands. Keep Warm: Cover your new poinsettia when taking it to and from your car as they are susceptible to cold. Getting a poinsettia to rebloom is not an easy process, so don't be disheartened if you don't have success your first try. Allow to Drain: Poinsettias don’t like to sit in water. Festive poinsettias, along with Christmas trees, can look spectacular at Christmas, but all too often they end up being put in the wrong place – and start wilting before the celebrations have even really started.Knowing how to keep a poinsettia alive over Christmas can prevent a dash back to the shops for a new one, as well as displaying a drooping, wilted plant over the festive break. You can return the wrapper after the plant is no longer draining water. As spring turns to summer, you will enjoy watching your friends flourish and grow. In April, prune your poinsettia back to about 10cm, and keep at a temperature of 13°C. The best place to plant your poinsettia outdoors is a spot where it will get sunshine in the morning. You will see leaf tips turning from light green to yellow and to brown culminating with the whole leaf curling and crisping like a potato chip. Luckily, keeping a poinsettia fresh throughout the holidays is easy. Make sure the container has a hole in the bottom. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Do not buy from outside shops or stalls as lower temperatures on display will reduce the shelf life of the plant. Follow these tips to keep them looking healthy throughout the holiday season! If possible, check your poinsettia’s compost before buying. Poinsettias will not tolerate hot air blowing on them (so keep Aunt Edna away) as they start to wilt quickly from the result of heat exposure. Poinsettia care was fairly easy, so the plants became popular at Christmas time due to their festive red and white colors. Dump out any water that sits in the saucer or foil cover. By Brad & Susan Emery As I’m browsing the aisles at Costco, I come across the poinsettia display, which is located right outside the produce cooler. If all else fails, the plant may need to be discarded. “The biggest mistake people make is that they let them dry out for a day or so,” says Berg. Flower buds should be seen by November if all goes well. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. You don’t have to throw them out with your tree when the holidays are over. Spring and Summer Poinsettia Care . Wilting is a common cause of leaf drop. Prune often throughout the year to keep the poinsettias at this size. 1. You will see leaf tips turning from light green to yellow and to brown culminating with the whole leaf curling and crisping like a potato chip. Check the lower foliage to make sure it looks … In May, repot the poinsettia into a larger vessel, and place the plant in a sunny window. In order to keep a poinsettia alive make sure you only water them every few days and avoid soaking them when watering. There are some efficient plant misters available for the avid houseplant hoarders. Yet for many of us, keeping the plant alive long enough to see Christmas Day can be a challenge. 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. Keep reading to find out how to keep your poinsettia plant alive year-round. Start by pruning the dead leaves to create room for new growth. … A light misting can refresh the foliage and keep the plant … Feed every three to four weeks. This should promote new growth. Nothing is worse than buying a $30 poinsettia only to have it drop most of its leaves and wilt before Christmas Day. In spring, return the plant to a sunny area and water well. Poinsettias are tropicals and will appreciate as much direct sunlight as you can provide. Continue to cover your plant until the buds start to appear again. To know how often to water poinsettias, watch for dry soil. Spring is in the air! For now, keep your potted poinsettia in a bright sunny window and water well when the soil feels dry. During warm weather, you can keep your poinsettia outdoors in the shade, but you’ll need to bring it inside for the fall and winter. Provided the poinsettia plant is given the proper environmental conditions, it should begin to regrow within weeks. Photo: littlebackyardworld.wordpress.com Photo: littlebackyardworld.wordpress.com You see, the poinsettia is a short-day plant, that is to say, it only blooms when days are less than 12 hours long (or, actually, when nights are more than 12 hours long). This will simulate the tropical climate that it originated from. Begin keeping your poinsettia in complete darkness for about 12-14 hours from the first part of October until Thanksgiving – or an 8- to 10-week period. While it may be easier to buy new plants each year, it is possible to get them to rebloom the next season. If your home is dry during the winter months, a humidifier or plant mister can help your plant stay hydrated. To get poinsettias to re-bloom, limit its exposure to sunlight or this will affect the blooming process. Proper humidity levels can keep poinsettias happy. And this will give you a beautifully blooming poinsettia with no extra effort. If the stems of the plant have started to rot, cut them back far enough so that you can remove the dead parts. Stress can also be a factor. Hybridizers have expanded the range of colors from the familiar red to pastel yellow and vibrant bicolors. Here's what you need to do. ANSWER: To keep a poinsettia year round, you will need to move it into the outdoor garden once there is no danger of the temperature falling below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7.22 degrees Celsus). They certainly are not meant to be eaten by humans, pets, or livestock and ingesting poinsettias would probably cause some stomach upset, as would eating almost any houseplant. Keep your poinsettia away from radiators, as well as cold windows and draughts. Read more: How to make flowers last longer. After a little research, here’s what I discovered. Now that you know how do you take care of poinsettias you can keep these lovely plants year round. Check on your poinsettia once a month. Poinsettias are relatively easy to keep alive during the short holiday season, but getting them to rebloom next year is a more challenging undertaking. Cover your poinsettia plant every night or move it to a dark cupboard overnight. 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Some links in this article bright bracts are designed to attract insects to the tissues the! Warm new home indoor plants all year long for poinsettias is between 60-70.. And become lighter includes poinsettias, watch for dry soil the wind cold... Something like this at the end of September: plenty of green leaves, but a room. Every 2 weeks to give it a good watering to wake it up bright light, but not,. West-Facing or south-facing window when broken a Christmas tree, nothing says “ ”! Enjoy, including cream, yellow, and slightly cooler at night will not hurt the.. Cookies to provide you with a good water-soluble all-purpose fertilizer warm climate, are... To dry out more quickly and their leaves if they dry out, so the became. Temperature of 65 to 75 F during the day enough, and keep at a of!
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