How do you best take care of poinsettias plants?

Question

How do you take care of poinsettias? What temperature? Inside light? And what do you do if the leaves fall off?

Janet Pizaro · Answer

Make sure you cut the bottom of the foil off first and put a plastic saucer under neath the pot.They should be in bright indirect lighting and temperatures should be about 65 degrees or more. Do not water until the soil feels dry to the touch.Never allow the plant to sit in water as this will cause them to die. If you are losing alot leaves this is a sign of improper watering.A few leaves however is normal and not a reason for concern.

360 Sod (Donna Dixson) · Answer

Water underneath the leaves directly into the soil so that you don't damage the leaves. You can add some light feed liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks, they like a mix with some calcium/magnesium in it. Most are damaged from over watering and not underwatering.

Jen · Answer

Think Mexico! Thats where they are from....very hard to maintain unless your in a similar climate! (or maybe its just me!)

Cathy · Answer

Good info given---and in the late spring, you can plant it outside if you desire, they will get very large so make sure they have lots of room---but most people just throw them away when they start to lose leaves---that is normal as in the wild poinsettias are very leggy, not the compact ones we are used to for the holidays.

Susan East More · Answer

I have no trouble caring for them. I had one that lasted for 15 years. During the winer months in a south window and ourside in indirect light in the summer time.  It turned into a 4' tree. The branches all turned to bark. It didn't  always get red leaves, but was very pretty.

Susan East More · Answer

It died bc I forgot to bring it in and the frost killed it. We in zone 9.

Teresa · Answer

Teresa's Garden Blog

· December 16, 2016 at 6:31pm ·

If you have bought or received a poinsettia this Christmas or Holiday season, and you just cannot bear to part with it when it stops blooming, here are some suggestions to keep it for next year..

~ By early December they should be in full bloom and full bloom normally last at least 6-8 weeks. In most cases they will continue to have some blooms or colour until March or April.

During blooming, keep the plant watered as needed, allowing the soil to dry almost completely – but not quite, between watering

Do NOT place it near a heating vent.

Around New years – fertilize with a 20-20-20 fertilizer

When the colour fades (around April) keep it close to a sunny widow and fertilize with a diluted 20-20-20 when you water. Cut the stems back by ½.

In late May or early June, after the last frost and when temperatures stay above 10C, repot it into new soil and put it outside for the summer or plant it outside for the summer, placed in light shade or on the east side. Water when dry.

In late August repot it if you put it in the ground.

Bring it in the house after checking carefully that you have no hitchhiking bugs and cut the stems back leaving 3 or 4 leaves per stem, and place in a sunny window. Water and fertilize as needed.

To make it bloom for Christmas, from Sept 20 until November 20th, keep it in light from 8 am til 5 pm, and put it in the dark –

with NO light from 5pm til 8am

They should be blooming like mad!

Back to the beginning….By early December they should be in full bloom and full bloom normally last at least 6-8 weeks. In most cases they will continue to have some blooms or colour until March or April.......

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season’s Greeting, Joyous Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah and all the best for a Glorious Yuletide!

How do you best take care of poinsettias plants?

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How do you best take care of poinsettias plants?

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