Someone in my office gave me a large pointsettia for my desk, but I don't know how to properly care for it... I found out it was very expensive and don't want for it to die quickly.
2006-12-28 06:03:37 · 5 answers · asked by NestleGirl 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Here are some tips from a web site (see url below). They can last a long time and stay beautiful if you care for them!
The Do's and Don'ts of Poinsettia Care
DO place your plant in indirect sunlight for at least six hours per day. If direct sun can't be avoided, diffuse the light with a shade or sheer curtain.
DO provide room temperatures between 68 - 70° F. Generally speaking, if you are comfortable, so is your poinsettia.
DO water your plant when the soil feels dry to the touch.
DO use a large, roomy shopping bag to protect your plant when transporting it.
DO fertilize your plant AFTER THE BLOOMING SEASON with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer.
DON'T place plants near cold drafts or excessive heat. Avoid placing plants near appliances, fireplaces or ventilating ducts.
DON'T expose plants to temperatures below 50° F. Poinsettias are sensitive to cold, so avoid placing them outside during the winter months.
DON'T overwater your plant, or allow it to sit in standing water. Always remove a plant from any decorative container before watering, and allow the water to drain completely.
DON'T expose your plant to chilling winds when transporting it.
DON'T fertilize your plant when it is in bloom.
2006-12-28 06:09:59 · answer #1 · answered by boots&hank 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
POINTSETTIAS ARE NOT HOUSEPLANTS!
Most people here in America do not know this, but the pointsettia plant is actually a bush that grows in Mexico. The ones that are sold here in America have been chemically treated to stay at a dwarf size, those are the ones everyone gets at holiday time. After a few months, your plant will start to look "gangly"...just not looking right and never quite filling out the way you want it to. This is due to the chemical treatment of this bush plant. Long story short...you will never be able to grow most of the pointsettias that are given during the holidays for more than a few months before they begin to look terrible. This is when most people throw them away. The chemical retardent will prevent you from having a nice looking plant, so don't plan on keeping them.
2006-12-28 15:41:36 · answer #2 · answered by PrincessOfFun35 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Give it lots of indirect light and water it twice a week. When the leaves start falling, cut it back at least halfway and keep taking care of it the same way. Fertilize it once a month. In October, cut it back about halfway again. Give it 10 hours of light a day and put it in a closet, or somewhere where it won't get ANY light, for 14 hours a night. All the new growth will come in red or whatever color it is. Take it out for the holidays. Then you start all over again.
2006-12-28 14:22:17 · answer #3 · answered by mamapig_57 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you keep it in a dark place the leafs stay red if not they turn green, keep the dirt moist.
2006-12-28 14:08:43 · answer #4 · answered by Silver Fox 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
keep the dirt moist and keep it away from cold breezes and air...
2006-12-28 15:28:30 · answer #5 · answered by redshoes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋