Table of Contents
How to Care for Poinsettias Year-Round Step 1: Start with a Healthy Poinsettia Plant. Step 2: Move the Poinsettia to a Larger Container. Step 3: Keep Poinsettias in the Sun. Step 4: Water Poinsettias Correctly. Step 5: Prune Poinsettias. Step 6: Keep Poinsettias in the Dark. Step 7: Fertilize Poinsettias.
How do I save my poinsettia for next year?
After all the leaves have fallen, store the plant, in its pot, in a cool (50 to 60°F), dry, dark area. Keep the plant somewhat on the dry side; water only enough to keep the stems from withering.
How do you get a poinsettia to rebloom?
How to Get Poinsettias to Rebloom Prune your poinsettia plant. Fertilize the poinsettia every two weeks. Repot the plant in warmer months. Transport your plant outdoors. Pinch to encourage side branching. Place the poinsettia in a warm, dark environment. Display your poinsettia plant.
When should I cut back my poinsettia?
In late spring, when overnight temps outdoors are above 50 degrees, prune new shoots back to four inches and sink your poinsettia—pot and all—into a protected spot in your flower bed and let it stay there until early fall when overnight temps dip back into the 40s.
How do you keep poinsettias over winter?
The best way to accomplish this is by covering them overnight with a large box. During October, November and early December, poinsettias require 6 – 8 hours of bright sunlight daily, with night temperatures between 60 – 70°. Temperatures outside of this range could also delay flowering.
What do you do with poinsettias after Christmas?
Place your poinsettias where they will receive at least 6 hours of indirect, but bright, sunlight each day. In mid-April pinch back the stems to 6-8 inches and place the plants in a sunny location. When new growth begins, you may use a liquid fertilizer to ensure the plants get enough minerals, especially calcium.
Can you put poinsettias outside in winter?
Answer: Both the Christmas cactus and the poinsettia are not hardy outdoors and will freeze if planted outside. They should remain in their pots and not be planted outdoors in the garden if you live where it freezes in the winter. Poinsettias can become rather large and need a large pot.
What is the life expectancy of a poinsettia plant?
“Home gardeners generally keep their poinsettias one or two years. If they’re really dedicated, maybe a little longer. But the life span for interior plants when you live in the North is measured in months, not years.”.
Can I plant my poinsettia outside?
Poinsettias aren’t popular only at Christmas time. With the right care, these traditional holiday plants can shed their shiny foil and bows to become long-lasting houseplants. You can also grow them outdoors in your garden if you live in a frost-free area.
Does a poinsettia flower every year?
Find out how to grow and care for poinsettias for Christmas and beyond, in our Grow Guide. However, with a little care and attention it’s possible to keep your poinsettia alive throughout the year and even encourage red bracts and flowers to form in time for the following Christmas.
Can you root poinsettia cuttings in water?
An easier way is to take cuttings of woody stem about 18 in (45.7 cm) long, stick in ground and keep moist (not wet) for several weeks.” It would, then, appear that neither the native nor the non-native plant with the common name “poinsettia” can be propagated by placing cuttings in water.
How do you trim a poinsettia?
Prune off the old stems in late winter or early spring by cutting them back to 4 to 6 inches in height and leaving one to three leaves on each stem. This forces new growth to appear at the leaf axis and paves the way for a full plant that can support many blooms.
What can I do with leggy poinsettias?
Leggy is bad. Once the blooms fall off, prune your plant regularly. This means snipping any leggy or thin stems and keeping just the strong, thicker stems. About every 8 weeks, trim off 2 inches or so to encourage the plant to bloom later.
How do you keep a poinsettia plant after Christmas?
How to Make Your Poinsettias Bloom Again After Christmas Cut it back to 4 to 6 inches tall and move it to a slightly larger pot with good drainage. Keep the soil moist, but never soggy. Provide bright light. Feed weekly with liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half-strength.
Why are all the leaves falling off my poinsettia?
Poinsettias will classically drop their leaves if they are exposed to sudden changes in temperature, drafts or overly cool or dry rooms. They also will lose leaves and wilt in response to an extreme need for water. When choosing a plant, pick a healthy, full one with no discoloration on the foliage.
Do I water a poinsettia from the top or bottom?
When should I water my poinsettia? Water your poinsettia plant only when the top layer of soil feels dry to the touch. Thoroughly moisten the soil to the point that water is draining from the bottom of the growing pot. Discard any excess water that builds up in the saucer or decorative foil pot cover.
What do you do with a poinsettia after the leaves fall off?
Poinsettia Plant Leaves Are Falling Off Keep the plant in a cool, draft-free area and provide plenty of water. If all else fails, the plant may need to be discarded.
Can I put a potted poinsettia outside?
You can keep growing them like a houseplant if you like, but in the spring once the temperatures at night are regularly above 50°F, you can place your poinsettias outside if you want. If you have any pots outdoors, make sure you bring them inside at the end of the summer before overnight temperatures fall below 60°F.
