If you want to keep the poinsettia you bought this year until next Christmas, here's what you need to do.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Basic Rules for Growing Poinsettias
Step 1. Check for parasites (although many plants do not have parasites inside the greenhouse, they will appear after about two weeks indoors)
If the plant is infected, it is advisable to discard it to buy another one that can be kept for a long time.
Step 2. If you want to keep that plant, with a few applications of soapy water and potting soil you should be able to rid it of most of the infestations
The biggest concern is cottony mealybugs, which can be removed by dabbing them with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol. However, this should be done before the infection spreads to such an extent that it can no longer kill them all.
Step 3. Place the plant in a cool (not cold) place with sunlight filtering through the curtains, and start watering it less
You should water it in moderation and wait until the earth is dry to the touch before watering it again. In fact, excess water is the main cause of plant death during the winter months spent indoors. The plant is not growing, so it does not get the normal nutrition it needs during the growing season. If we water the plant too much, the water could stagnate causing problems such as moss, mold, rot and yellowing of the leaves. When the outside temperature at night returns to above 10 ° C, the plant can be moved outside.
Step 4. Decide what kind of plant you want to have next Christmas
If your goal is a small, lush plant, you need to prune the canopy about two inches above the main stem. If you want to have a larger plant, just squeeze the tips of each main branch and repeat the operation more or less until July. If you want to give it a geometric shape, you need to remove all branches except the tallest, straight one and not squeeze the tip of the plant, just removing the buds for the rest of the season.
Step 5. Do not place the plant in the sun initially
This causes the leaves to burn and fall off and the weakened plant may die. Place the plant in full shade, but after two weeks place it in a partially shaded area, then, after another two weeks, place it totally or partially in the sun for the rest of the season. This will allow the plant to harden and get used to the new external conditions.
Step 6. Start watering it regularly
Fertilize the plant every five waterings or every two weeks (choose the longer time frame) with a special fertilizer for poinsettias, or one suitable for houseplants. Alternatively, if you prefer, try a liquid fertilizer for green plants, to encourage leaf growth (only the leaves should grow at this stage, not the flowers).
Step 7. When it's time to bring the plant back indoors for fall, start the process of coloring the tallest leaves from green to red (or pink or whatever color they had last winter)
This process can take up to two months and sometimes longer depending on the conditions and variety of plant you have.
- Replace the nitrogen-based fertilizer with a universal fertilizer for houseplants or a special fertilizer for poinsettias, then halve the amount of fertilizer.
- Begin to regularly alternate between a few hours of light and many hours of darkness to sprout the sprouts: 13 uninterrupted hours of darkness and 11 hours of intense sunlight each day. Keep the temperature around 16-17 ° C during the night. Move the pot so that it is always exposed to sunlight. Please note: darkness must be total. The light from a street lamp on the street or even the light beam from the high beams of passing cars is enough to stop the formation of the sprouts.
- Stop exposure to the dark after about two months and place the plant in the place in the house that receives the most natural light. Reduce the amount of fertilizer and don't overwater the plant!
Method 2 of 2: Infallible Flowering Technique
Step 1. Grow outdoors if you can
Depending on the climate, poinsettias tend to live better outdoors than indoors, so grow them outside in a partially shaded spot during the afternoon. If the weather gets too hot or dry, their growth may slow down.
Step 2. Be realistic in judging the appearance of your plant
It will no longer have the typical appearance of a plant just bought in the store, because poinsettias are real shrubs. If you want to have plants that look like they've just been bought from the store, cut cuttings from your plant (don't worry, you can still get the mother plant to flower) starting in late April until you move them indoors to flower. You can use a root stimulator, even if poinsettias take root well in plain compost (such as that made from garden scraps such as grass clippings).
Step 3. Think about flowering times
Based on when you want your poinsettias to bloom and how you want to care for them after they bloom, you need to decide when to start the process. For them to be in full bloom at Christmas, you need to start in late October. You can start earlier, but you need to keep alternating the hours of light with dark regularly for them to bloom throughout the season.
Step 4. Place the plants in a dark room, closet or cabinet
Choose a place that is almost completely dark.
Step 5. Use compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or neon tubes that emit warm white light
It is necessary to use warm white light instead of regular indoor grow lights, because this plant needs more red light than these lamps are capable of emitting. All this, together with the alternation of light and dark, will ensure flowering.
- Also make sure you have enough light. A 26 watt (100 watt equivalent) compact fluorescent lamp for two or more plants will not be enough. Use a 26 watt compact fluorescent lamp for each cutting and place it at a height of about 30/45 cm above the plant. Make sure you can adjust the height, as the plants will grow fast during flowering.
- You can also use High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lamps. However, care should be taken with HPS lamps as local authorities may think that you are growing some illegal plants with the same photoperiod regime! The HPS lamp is easily recognizable, in fact it facilitates the tracing of any illegal growers.
Step 6. Determine the times to follow to alternate the hours of light and dark
Establish proper timelines. A good idea is to use standard office hours: 9:00 to 17:00. Do not disturb the plants when the lights are off. It is said that it is sufficient to leave the plant in the dark for 14 hours, although it is safer to do so for 16 hours (with white light).
Step 7. Look for signs of flowering
The first indication of flowering is some kind of deterioration. It happens when the leaves at the top begin to change color as if it were autumn. Leave the plant in the light until it has fully bloomed.
- You could leave the plant in your makeshift nursery for the entire season and put it out for occasions, then flaunt it on Christmas Day.
- The plants you buy this year will also benefit and make great plants to take cuttings from next year, so store them in the nursery too.
Step 8. Avoid leaving the plant in the light for more than 10 hours in a single day
This way it will continue to bloom even after the end of the season. Take care of these plants: water them properly, protect them from whiteflies and make sure they get plenty of light at the right time. With these indications, the flowering of the plant will last well beyond Mother's Day!
If the plant continues to bloom for too long, place it under the light on for 24 hours to allow it to enter the vegetative stage. You may find that some plants still have buds when you take them out for the summer
Advice
- Don't be discouraged if it doesn't turn out as well as you hoped. You can always try again next year.
- Watch out for pests and cottony mealybugs.
- Prevent plants from getting cold (do not place them near a door that is often opened).
Warnings
- Avoid children touching the plants with their hands.
- Some experts believe poinsettias are toxic to some animals, so, to be safe, do not let pets near these plants.
