2006-11-29 13:27:39 · 7 answers · asked by Cat 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
When selecting a poinsettia look for dark healthy leaves, no yellowing bottom leaves. The bracts (leaves that work as petals) should be bright and completely colored. The true flowers are the tightly clustered, small, green or red-tipped flowers in the center of the bracts. Yellow pollen will shorten the life of the flowers. Do not choose a plant that is wilted or drooping.
Poinsettias are very sensitive to the cold so if the temperature is below 50 degrees outside make sure that it is wrapped for protection when you buy it. In order to maintain a healthy Poinsettia during the holiday season keep the plant in bright diffused light away from heating vents (hot dry air) and cold drafts. A temperature of 55-60 degrees at night and 72 during the day along with high humidity is ideal. The cool night temperatures will extend blooming time. Keep the plant evenly moist as moisture fluctuation can cause leaf drop. When watering, do not let it stand in water, be sure to slip off the decorative foil cover (if there is one) or punch a hole in the cover to drain the excess water.
2006-11-29 13:35:18 · answer #1 · answered by Mystyria xMYQx 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi I grow poinsettias! The first thing that you do is take off the colored foil.
That way when you water the plant it can drain, and speaking of water, make sure the soil is pretty dry between watering's. Almost but not quite crumbly, so about once a week.
Do not put it near a heater or fireplace. I hold my poinsettias at 60 degrees at night, and the heat is shut off in the greenhouse during the day. I live in New England.
Do not put it on a hot window sill, the sun coming through the glass that close up will burn it. Place it on a tray or table in front of the window, but not on the sill.
In the spring you can plant it out,but cut it back to the first or second leaf node, In the fall dig it up and bring it into a room that you don;t use much so that the lights are never turned on. This way it gets window light that matches the shorter days of winter , no artificial light at all! and it will start to color up for you again.
Have fun!
2006-11-29 13:43:13 · answer #2 · answered by bugsie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Treat it like most other houseplants. Once the so called bloom has faded, cut it back to about 3 leaf nodes. Keep treating it normally until around October. In October cut it back one more time and put it in a closet or somewhere where it will be in complete darkness for 14 hours a day. 10 hours a day of light. This will make the leaf bracts grow in red or whatever color it happens to be. After about 2 months you can leave it out for Christmas and start enjoying it all over again. Be sure to re-pot it every spring.
2006-11-29 17:43:50 · answer #3 · answered by mamapig_57 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am going to say the same way you take care of any other plant
2006-11-29 13:36:12 · answer #4 · answered by littlegoober75 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bottom line....just make sure the soil stay moist...that's all you need to worry about.......take the foil off when watering and let the plant drain in the sink...then put back in the pretty foil wrap. That's it!
2006-11-29 13:43:40 · answer #5 · answered by jazi 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
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2006-11-29 22:10:55 · answer #6 · answered by garden.lover 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
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2006-11-29 13:31:16 · answer #7 · answered by Elicia 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋