Poinsettia

Everywhere this time of year! Here’s some great information about them, for now and for after the holidays.

POINSETTIA CARE

Blooming poinsettias are available starting about Thanksgiving in many sizes, shapes, and colors (red, white, pink). Most will hold on to their colorful bracts through the end of the year and even beyond if they are given good care.

Are They Poisonous?

Perhaps the bright red color or the milky sap that drips from broken stems give people the impression that poinsettias are poisonous. Of course, if large amounts are ingested, you or a pet may suffer from stomach pain and indigestion. However, a study by the University of Ohio found that the foliage isn’t deadly or toxic. Despite scientific evidence, the myth that poinsettias are poisonous continues to spread.

Light: Poinsettias do best in a window with lots of indirect light. If you can’t provide enough light, the poinsettia will not last quite as long. If kept in a very dim location, the poinsettia may only last a few weeks. So try to provide as much light as possible to extend the life of the flowers. But also keep them in a location where you can enjoy them during the holiday season

Water: Poinsettias do not like to dry out. Try to keep the soil slightly damp to the touch at all times. Plants getting lots of light and/or kept in a warm location will need more frequent watering than those in low-light, cool locations. Check your poinsettia at least twice per week to make sure it does not dry out.

Temperature: Poinsettias are sensitive to tempera¬tures below 65 degrees. So avoid cold, drafty windowsills. On the other hand, proximity to heat sources will cause poinsettias to dry out quickly, thereby hastening their demise. Comfortable “people temperatures” are good for poinsettias too.

Plant food and Misting: Don’t bother with either of these. They don’t help.

Bloom Time: How long will a poinsettia stay in bloom? It depends on all of the factors mentioned above. A quality plant in the right location that is well cared for can stay in bloom for up to six months. But that is unusual. Most poinsettias will last for 4 to 6 weeks before the colorful flowers (technically known as bracts) begin to fall off.

Post-Holiday Care of Poinsettias: When the flowers fade and the plant no longer looks attractive, you can discard the plant or you can test your green thumb by doing the following:

1. Cut the stems back to just above the point where new (green) shoots are emerging. This usually means cutting off one-half to two-thirds of the stems. It may look ugly for a few weeks until the new growth has filled out.

2. Move the poinsettia to a sunny windowsill.

3. Do not repot the poinsettia.

4. Water and fertilize the poinsettia regularly. Do not let it get dried out. Avoid temperature extremes and cold drafts.

If you do all of the above you will be rewarded with a full, nicely shaped, green-leafed poinsettia. Keep up this regimen through the winter, spring and summer. If you want your poinsettia to re-bloom, you will have to start preparing your poinsettia in the fall.

How to Get Your Poinsettia to Re-bloom: It’s not complicated, but it’s not easy either. Beginning in late September, you must provide your poinsettia with 12 hours of complete darkness each night and 12 hours of good light during the day. Even a small amount of light from a light bulb for a short time at night can disrupt the formation of the new flowers. In addition, night temps should drop to 63 degrees. You must maintain this regimen for about eight weeks, by moving your poinsettia to a completely dark and cool place every night and back to the sunny windowsill each day. Once the colorful leaves called bracts are well established (usually about eight weeks), you can stop schlepping it to a dark place every night and leave it where it can be enjoyed. This is a lot of work. Most people prefer to purchase a new poinsettia each holiday season.