POINSETTIA CARE
Blooming poinsettias are available starting from Harvest festival time in many sizes, shapes, and colours including the classic well recognisable vibrant Christmas red colour. With striking white and pink becoming as popular. Most will hold on to their colourful bracts through the end of the year and even beyond if they are given good care.
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. Try to provide as much light as possible to extend the life of the flowers.
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.
Most importantly to the lifespan of your Poinsettia at home is that they are very sensitive to temperatures below 18 degrees. So avoid cold, drafty windowsills. On the other hand, proximity to heat sources will cause them to dry out quickly, thereby hastening their demise. Temps that we are comfortable with in our homes are also good for poinsettias too.
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 colourful flowers (technically known as bracts) begin to fall off.
Post Christmas 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 fertilise the plant 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 Autumn.
How to Get Your Poinsettia to Re-bloom: 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 lower than daytime. 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 transporting 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 festive season.
I have been fortunate to receive UK grown Poinsettias that are more hardy to lower temps than ones that have been imported. These have proven to be stronger plants. Overall, I find Poinsettias yet beautiful but fine at a cost, even when following the care instructions closely you may find yourself looking at a struggling plant with no rhyme or reason to why. My favourite type of poinsettia this year has been the highly sought after Glitter version- creamy white flecks amongst red velvety flowery leaves. Absolute show stoppers.
