Poinsezie was already cultivated by the Aztecs in Mexico long before Europeans settled in the United States. In 1825 the first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Robert Poinsett, brought these plants to the U. S. A. and since that year they have always been known as poinsettias. It is easy to care for these plants in the summer, as they do not require a lot of attention when flowering. The cards on the table change when it comes to taking care of them all year round, and above all making them flourish again after Christmas. Here we will explain how to do it.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Choose a poinsettia
Step 1. Choose a plant that looks good to you
It should have dark green leaves and brightly colored bracts (i.e. red leaves, which blend in with the petals). It must not be limp or drooping, and the leaves must not be yellow or fallen to the ground.
Step 2. Check his external condition
The plant must look beautiful and lush. It should also not be buried among other plants, as it would risk not making the flowers ripen. It must be two and a half times the diameter of its pot.
Step 3. Check the leaves and soil
Check the moisture of the soil: if it is very humid, but the plant is a little limp, it can mean that the roots are rotting. Also take a look at the back of the leaves, in case there are insects like aphids and whiteflies. Don't choose a plant with yellow or spotted leaves.
Step 4. Examine the flowers
The flowers of the poinsettia are found at the base of the bracts, or colored leaves. They must be like small fresh buds with a red or green tip. If there is a layer of yellow pollen covering the flowers, it means that the plant is very mature and may not last long.
Step 5. Avoid buying poinsettias wrapped in paper or plastic
The plant has probably been kept like this for some time, and in this case the leaves can turn yellow and fall off earlier than expected.
Step 6. Be careful as you bring the plant home
If the outside temperature is below 10 ° C, you need to cover and protect it before taking it home.
- These plants, if exposed to low temperatures even for a few minutes, can cool down or even freeze, thus losing their leaves.
- The store where you buy the plant should provide you with protection for the plant on the way home.
- As soon as you get home, remove the protection so as not to damage the plant.
Part 2 of 3: Taking care of the poinsettia
Step 1. Choose where to put your floor plan
The place must guarantee you at least 6 hours of indirect light every day.
- The ideal would be to place it near a window facing east or west.
- Make sure it doesn't touch cold surfaces as it could freeze and die.
Step 2. Maintain an adequate temperature
Ideal temperatures for poinsettias do not exceed 21 ° C during the day and do not go below 18 at night.
- This is important for maintaining the bright color of the bracts.
- Avoid the plant being near drafts of cold air, a radiator, appliances, or fire.
- Be careful: below 10 ° C the plant will freeze and be damaged. If he stays cold, he can even die.
Step 3. Water the poinsettia when needed
These plants like to have moist soil, but not too wet, so it is best to give it a drink when the soil surface is dry. Water until you see that the water is starting to come out of the holes under the pot.
- After 10 minutes, remove the excess water from the saucer. If you leave the water there, the soil will be too wet and not have enough air, causing the roots to rot or cause other problems.
- If the plant is left dry for too long, the leaves will begin to shrivel and hang. To avoid this, check the soil regularly. If you see that the leaves begin to wither immediately give the plant a drink, and after 5 minutes repeat the operation.
Step 4. Fertilize your poinsettia after the holidays
Of course, it depends on when you bought the plant, but in general there is no need to fertilize it before the holidays, when it is still in bloom. You can wait 6-8 weeks from the time you bought it to fertilize it.
- Obviously, if you do not want to keep the plant it is not necessary to fertilize it. Many people prefer to buy a new plant every year rather than take care of it all year round.
- However, if you want to keep your seedling, you may want to use a water-soluble fertilizer for houseplants that is suitable for a little bit of everything, and fertilize it in early January. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- The fertilizer is intended to keep the leaves green and promote the growth of the plant.
Part 3 of 3: Making the poinsettia bloom again
Step 1. Take care of your plant
You can keep your plant and make it bloom again the following year. However, you must realize that you will have to take care of her for a whole year in a precise way, otherwise she will not bloom again.
Step 2. Water it the same way until April
After the holidays you can keep the same watering method described above: give her to drink when the soil surface is dry. Keep feeding her every 6 to 8 weeks with a general houseplant fertilizer.
Step 3. Allow the plant to dry out
In April, stop watering the poinsettia, and let it dry out. Don't let it dry out too much though, because the stems have to stay alive. During this period, place the plant in a cool and airy place, at a temperature of about 15 ° C.
Step 4. Cut the stems
Cut the stems in late spring when the bracts turn dark green again. Cut them to about 20 cm, although this varies by the size and shape of the plant. At this point, go back to watering the plant, in the same way as before.
Step 5. If necessary, change pots to the plant
If the pot has become small, use one that is 5-10cm larger. Use commercially available potting soil that has a good percentage of peat moss.
Step 6. Place the plant outdoors
In summer the plant can be outdoors (always in its pot). Put it in a dark area. Keep watering and fertilizing her regularly.
Step 7. In August, prune the new shoots
In August, you can cut the new shoots by about 2.5 cm, leaving 3 or 4 leaves each. Fertilize again.
Step 8. Bring the plant back indoors
At the beginning of September (or rather before the first frost) bring the poinsettia back into the house. Place it near a window so that it gets a lot of indirect light. Keep watering it, and fertilize it every 2 weeks.
Step 9. Follow the correct procedures to make it bloom again
The poinsettia is a photoperiod plant, meaning its growth and flowering depend on how much light it receives. If you want the plant to sprout at Christmas you must therefore limit exposure to light in the months before the holidays.
- From October 1st onwards, keep the plant in the dark for 14 hours overnight, from 6pm to 8am. Take the seedling to a dark room and cover it with a box. Be careful: even exposure to artificial light can stop or slow down the flowering process.
- Move the plant around during the day, as it still needs 6-8 hours of light. The temperature must remain between 15 and 21 ° C. He also continues to give her to drink and fertilize her.
- Follow these procedures for about 10 weeks, until the plant blooms again and the bracts turn a bright red back. Return the plant to a sunny area and follow the procedures outlined at the beginning!
Advice
- Poinets were once believed to be poisonous or even toxic, but according to recent studies conducted by the University of Florida Extension Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, this theory is false. However, the plant is not edible.
- If you are regretting poinsettia, use sterile soil that is able to drain water and nutrients so you don't release them too quickly. Use sterile, acidic humus with a pH of 5.5.
Warnings
- The poinsezie contain a white sap made of latex: this can irritate the skin of those who are allergic to this substance.
- Check for bugs or problems. Check for common insects such as caterpillars, aphids, pseudococci, scales, whiteflies and moths.
- Remove the caterpillars with your fingers and kill them. Wash the leaf with a mild soap and water or scrub with a little alcohol to avoid other insects. If there is a real infestation it is better to disinfect.
- Check for mushrooms, such as "poinsettia scab". These are white, yellow or brown spots on the leaves. Fungi can kill some branches or even the whole plant if they don't come
- Be careful that the roots do not rot. You can understand this if the lower leaves begin to turn yellow and fall off. Unfortunately, when these signs are there, it is too late to save the plant.
